Evening star., 1932-07-03
Hollywood Breaks Ill

and his face, which had, relaxed, got tense
again.
oh please-no-" he said kind Of agon-
lied.
Joe smiled. You can afford to be blunt when
you've got the kind of smile Joe has. 1t takes
all the sting away.
"All right Kid" he said, patting him on the
shoulder. Lets talk 1t over"
What's the story, Nap?" demanded. Prom
the beginning"
We'll, guess the beginning of this was when
was playing juvenile lead in Bulls and Bears
in New York. and this scout from Magma Pic
lures got on my trail and brought me out to
the Coast with a six months contract in my
pocket and me thinking the world was just
my private oyster bed"
He grinned at US: Yeah, that's what I
thoughts Funny, isn't it? And so drew my
pay check each and every week for six months
and never worked day: and when the time
was up, got my blue Slip
nodded. had heard that story before, too.
Lots of time.
/ filed up his coffee cup. That boy could
sure register gratitude!
We'll" he started again. IT went around to
the studios and interviewed agents. Now and
then I'd get a call, make test and then
nothing but a great silence. Oh, worked a
few days here and there only to find I was
just the face on the cutting room floor when
the picture was released. They offered me
every reason from stealing a scene to my feet
being too large too SMALL"
I'd heard silier reasons than those.
And" he went on, when had just about
enough left for my car fare back to New York
and decided that I'd better go back where
somebody knew me and where had been on
my uppers before, heard something!
They were going to film Bulls and Bears
Say, did I get hot on the traill I promised
agents anything If they could get me my orig
inal part in it. ! went to the studio and
talked to everybody could find to talk to.
finally sold myself to the casting director and
one morning got call to go and see Van
Bourne, who was going to direct the picture"
Joe and were quiet. The kid was talking
like he was rushed for time, as If the story
had been bottled up so long he had to get 1t
out even If he split tonsil.
Say" he looked at us earnestly and kind
of hdlike IT prayed before went to see Van
Bourne I wanted to work for him. He's
swell director. knew the part-it was made
for me. Sure, went out with all the conf
dence in the world in myself and met Van
Bourne.
He talked to me. He looked at my notices.
I guess he saw how anxious I was and he
looked kind of troubled.
"'See here, winston he finally told me, I
like you for the part but there's lots of COM
petition. It's fat part! Wen take tests and
If yours is o. X. I'll do my best for you Only
remember I'm just the director. I'm not God
He gave me q twisted smile: God sits IN the
presidents office. Now take 1t easy, SON, and
weH see'
Gee, he was swell But wasn't afraid. I
knew nobody could do that part any better
than mel He looked at us kind Of anxiously.
Say" he said apologeticaly II don't want
you to think I'm Dragging" j.. =
Not a chance said dryly. Go on"
well, they took my test"
"And the lighting was rotten" interrupted.
mo" he assured me quickly. 'it turned out
swell" He looked sheepiSh, which liked him
for, and added, I mean, everybody tolc me
that. Even Van Bourne said so. had con-
ferences with everybody on the lot I talked
to cousins, sisters, brothers and aunts. Finally
I even talked to the man in the presidents Of
fice feeling kind of scared at the honor, but
he was very decent.
"An this was taking a lot of time you un-
derstand, and my money was getting lower
and lower and nothing was happening. And
then, one afternoon" He closed his eyes
for a moment as If they hurt and went on:
"One afternoon. the presidents secretary called
me up and said the president wanted to see
me next morning about contract.
Gee, wanted to run up and down Holly
wood boulevard and yell the news to everybody.
But that's practically all Of the story. When
L went out 70 the sguulo the next niokLile' Sne
President was in conference. The secretary
looked at me as If he didn't quite remember
who was. finally got hold Of Van Bourne
and asked him what it was all about.
He was swell. Kid he said, kind OF gently
try and take 1t. Here's the lowdown. They
want Judith Eltinge for the lead. She's nice
kid they got her under contract and they want
to build her up; but she's not strong enough
with the public yet TO let her go under her own
steam. So they've got to get a name for the
box-ofice and your name doesn't mean two
cents to any -ofice. except perhaps in your
own home town, wherever that is"
THE kid had talked enough, decided. II he