The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-04-01
ONCE THEY SCALED THE HEIGHTS -.
NOW THEY'RE MOVIE EXTRAS!
by DAN THOMAS
KEA Garvlcc Writer


Hollywood.-Once their names
were in headlines. Now they
are obscure movies extras and bit
players.
This statement applies not only
to former celebrities of the movie
world but also to those of the great
outside world. Screen celebrities
although staying right here in Hol-
lywood, have dropped out of sight
and been forgotten. About the
& only persons still conscious of their
existence are those with whom they
/. come in contact while earning their
IS day--some days.
For years Hollywood has been
the melting pot for former celebri-
ties from the world at large. They
have come here hoping to capital
ize upon their fame and perhaps
win new laurels on the silver
screen. In this, practically all OF
them fail. Some get discouraged
and go elsewhere.
Never does a week go by that
don't run across one or more once
famous persons in making my
rounds of the film factories. AS
a whole they are a contented, al
always hopeful lot. No matter how
many years they fail. they still hold
on to that hope that tomorrow
they will be discovered" And, as
q matter of fact, the traits which
made them outstanding once be-
fore give them better chances than
the average extra enjoys.
III Jim Thorpe, once the greatest of
NIL football stars, was discovered
here a couple of years ago digging
bitches. AS a result of the pub
licity given to him on that job, he
flared up for few weeks. Studios
sought his services. Then the flare
died down. Jim continued in pic
lures, but only as bit player
whose name never is seen on the
screen.
Grace Cunard, who is said to
have earned and spent a fortune
of nearly million dollars during
the days when her named blazed
in electric lights, now works in bits
whenever she can get them. So
does Francis Ford, who was So
Starred with her in a great many
films.
Robert Louis Stevenson, nephew
and namesake of the famous
author, was found doing small
Dlt III III Jehyll anu 10y Wv
one Of his uncle's best known nov
els. AS result of that he has
been able to get other bits to do
but never anything of sufficient i'm
portance to warrant screen billing.
81 Louis Van den Ecker's name is
carved in marble in Paris as one
of Frances great war heroes, hav-
ing been wounded % times during
the World war. He also served
for 10 years as lieutenant in the
French Foreign Legion. He came
to the United States as a member
of Marshal Foch's staff and never
returned to his native country. He
recently played a small role in
stBroken Lullaby" and has done
other bits around pictures for some
time.
Major Fred Farrell, who fought
with the French for more. than
four years and who was the Oldest
flying officer in the war, has lost
hope that there ever will be any
thing more than extra and bit parts
for him. But he carries on just
the same.
Florence Lawrence and Florence
Turner, two of the greatest stars of
their day, both are classed as
sGxtrd women Tor CHARACTER IoleS
now. Both enjoyed fame and for
tune but neither has anything but
memories left to show for it.
Art Loeb. hero of the Eastland
disaster in Chicago many years ago
has been in Hollywood for some
time and manages to work quite
regularly as an extra. The boldest
type was none too big for his name
at one time. Now l doubt if his
name is remembered even in Chi
eago.
Pat Somerset, who was just
about the leading matinee idol of
mis- day, now takes about anything
he can get when he can get it.
Others who have headlined in
the show business and who now
are satisfied to be classed as at
mosphere'' are Helene Chadwick.
Alice Lake. Barbara Tenant. VIOLA
Vale, Ted Doner, Ruth Renick and
Wilfred Lucas.
There is something about the
picture racket that makes them
stay on. Even when the stars be-
gin to fade they won't turn to other
Vacations, preferring the uncertain
ty and excitement of studio life to
normal living.
3 3 So they join the great throng of
extras, becoming one of the null
titude which they disdained!