Evening star., 1934-07-29

near her hostess at dinner and it
was the first and last time that Marie
ever sang for Mrs. Fish for q check.
Marie sang frequently after that IN
the Fish home, but as q giest-for
she and Mrs. Fish began a friendship
on that memorable night which made
Marie one of the darlinRs Of society
and which lasted until death parted
them.
These friendships, all made through
Mrs. Fish, carried Marie through the
lean years after the war, when girly-
grly shows were the rage and when
the world didn't want Marie DreSsler.
Marie visited hornes in Scotland. In
England, on the Continent, during this
period. But in the New York agency
Offices came the same dull story-no-
body wanted Marie Dressler, once the
worlds darling. That world. shocked
by war, torn by grief. numbed by
trouble, had forgotten the marry Marie
whom them once had adored. only
the friends of the smart set who
loved her remembered her and wanted
her.
At this time came small offer from
Hollywood. Marie Dressler laughed
at it. Hollywood was a place for
young beauties-not for homely. aging
comediennes. Nevertheless Marie,
down to q small pittance. went to
Hollywood. In New York she had
lived at famous hotel whose pro-
prietor had known her in the days of
plenty. He gave her a room for less
than she would have paid In a small
boarding house In Hollywood, Marie.
accompanied by her faithful colored
maid. Mamie Cox, who had been with
her for years, rented a little hillside
home and a car and tried to keep her
smile undimmed.
She got small parts here and there:
she got pathetically low salaries She
smiled always. although she was car
rying a breaking heart. And deep in
that breaking heart she had one plan.
She would go to Europe and open
small hotel and the smart friends she
knew in America would patronize her
when they went abroad. Frances
Marion, whom she had known as a
newspaper reporter In San Francisco,
knew her at this time end pooh
poohed this idea. Hold on. Marie.
until can write you q part and you'll
be set" she'd say. and so Marie waited
on In Hollywood.
"Old Marthy' Scores.
Frances Marion wrote the adapta-
ton of "Anna Christie" for Greta
Carbo and the part of the old boat
woman was done with Marie Dressler
in mind. Marie got it--and played
1t to the hilt Marie became, over
night, a Hollywood sensation. "Old
Marthy" put her over with studies
that had laughed at the idea Of giving
her a real part. They now fought
for her services, but she signed a
long-term contract with Metro-Gold-
wyn-Mayer.
And Just about this time she learned
that she had also signed that contract
with death.
But Marie played CALAMITY on. She
never let the studio suspect her sor-
row, nor did the audiences that roared
with laughter at her antics dream that
those antics were accomplished often
In the midst of pain which sent super
visors blinded in tears from the set
and made actors who worked with her
tremble and turn ashen with pity.
"I expect to finish out my life in
California" Marie Dressler told re-
porters at this time. They little knew
that back Of the crinkly smile Of the
comedienne was the vision always OF
the final days-of the Billings cottage
at Santa Barbara and those few
friends of the smart set who would
cheer her of the scene Of the world
as they had cheered on II SO long ago.
Marie died as she lived smil-
| inply