The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-01-24
JOHN MACK BROWN,
ANDY DEV|NE only
TWOAbLE TO STICK
Hepburn, Mohler, Morrison and
Bio Jim Thorpe 0utstand.
ing Failures
MONTGOMERY, SMITH TRY
Saunders, Duffield and Rosen-
berg Making Good as Di-
rectors, However

who gain lots OF ground on the GRID
iron are thrown for huge losses when
they try to crash the pearly gates OF
movie town. There Is whale OF a
difference between side-stepping to a
touchdown and whispering love to a
film siren in dramatic boudoir scene.
At least that's the discovery made by
most Of the campus heroes who have
been ballyhooed to Hollywood through
their gridiron names.
With the exception OF romantic
Johnny Mack Brown. former Alabama
All-America back, and comedian Andy
Devine, who starred as guard at
Santa Clara University. ex-grid stars
haven't Jared well in the movies.
Scores Of football players trek to Hol-
lywood at the close Of each grid sea-
son, obtain screen tests on their repu-
tations, and then go right back home.
= + +
IT'S no secret that to become . sue
cess in Hollywood one must have a
striking personality and pleasant
voice, and be able to act. And It's no
secret that 99.9 per cent of our college
football players lack these require
ments. That's why ex-touchdown
manufacturers fail to kick goals in
Hollywood.
weldon Hepburn played football
a. George Washington University In
Alabama, but as Hollywood actor he
wasn't SO hot Orv Mohler, Southern
CALIFORNIA; star quarterback two
years back, took a screen test and
then went to work for an oil COM
oany.
Duke Morrison, another Trojan pig
skinner, appeared in one big picture
under the name Of Johnny Wayne,
but didn't make the grade.
Big Jim Thorpe took crack at the
flickers and learned he wasn't suited
for the game. Others. including the
great Red" Grange, tried and dis
covered the same thing.
Even as this Is being written, Capt
Cliff Montgomery of Columbias Rose
Bowl championship team. and Bill
Smith, University Of Washington's
A]l-American end. are thinking about
film careers. Montgomery took test
during q visit to Hollywood studio
while he was In California, and he
may forsake Gotham for movie town.
Smith is al! set to preserve IN cellu-
loid the physique and features Of the
.handsomest football player In the
vest"
Behind the scenes in Hollywood.
however. several ex-Rrid stars are do
ing right we'll by themselves. Race
horse Russ" Saunders, Marshall Duff
field, and Galley Cop" Aaron Rosen-
perg, all former Trojan stars, are
working as assistant directors and as
prop men.
Alan Dwan, former Au-America at
Notre Dame, Is a successful director,
and Jumbo Pierce. late Of Arizona,
finds lucrative pay as a technical adj
WISER. AL these boys agree Hollywood
Il okeh, but acting Is out for them.
i \ X
Brown. who was All-America for
two years at Alabama, attracted cast
ing directors when his team played in
oasadena's Rose Bowl In 1929. He's
handsome, romantic and possesses a
Lleasant voice with a heavy southern
accent. He's due for several top roles
in Hollywcod's 1884 production sched-
ules.
Devine Is as ho,nely as they make
EN-. but q gravel throat, personality
and the ability to act have carried
him to the top since his football play
ing days at Santa Clara U. ended in
a blaze of glory. Oddly, Devine was
spotted wearing his Santa Clara foot
ball sweater by an assistant director
while walking along Hollywood boule-
ward. The a. d. thought the mono
pram stood for Southern California,
and asked him II he wanted extra
work In q football picture.
When Devine replied in that crazy
voice Of his. his career was made
Since Their he has played hundreds OF
.o!es. He stole top honOrs as pro-
totype Of George Gipp IN the Spirit
Of Notre DAME" released about three
years ago. But his efforts have not
been in football pictures only. Like
wise, Brown played in pictures fol
five years before he made gridiror
story.
Though former football players
take it on the chin In Hollywood
town, other sports characters are do.
u.g right well. Johnny Weissmuller
nne-time swimming great, and Buster
Crabbe, 1892 Olympic Games swim.
ming star, are getting lots Of work
Max Baer showed he was quite an &C.
<n0p n his film dehllt