The Washington times., 1934-11-24

III.
achieved the be attributed in large
to the many-sided career mine before made my
initial appearance before the
To consider the matter chronoOgcay, was born in New
Yorks Hes Kitchen" don't have to tell YOU what kind
of place it in those days. The district apprO
prateIy named Only it was little tougher than the
suggests. just how sinister and vicious the place
better today than in my earlier life. 1t matter
of Regardless of what people might tell
Andy Hollywood quite civilized place AT least it is to
me, who got his first glimpse of the world in lleIlS
Kitchen'
But to get on with my story. There exprize fighter
bv the name of keves who had ring in vacant lot
close to nv home kids in the neghborhOOd watched
the professionals working out there.
Well you guess what happened to me. became prize
FIGHTER of course. wasn't good boxer got kicked
around quite bit In fact took the count seven times
While pretty detected about at the time believe
+odav that my compensation merely delayed have
heen nad we'll for the fights engaged in. AS matter of
fact am still being paid and expect to collect for many
years to come
But after the fights over, and I knew that my
career was limited took up professional baseball
signed as an oueder the Springfield Eastern League
team where didnt fare much better than had in boxing
But again had into field, and it opened
vista of life for which had not known before The
knowledge derived still proves very valuable to
My next experience that | will draw heavily
upon portrayng my current role of dancer in Rumba
which doing for Paramount with Caroe Lombard
had occasion, ALSO to use it in the picture just com
pleted, LmehOuSe Blues, in which played with Jean
Parker and Anna May Wong.
The experience refer to is that of professional dancer
1t took up several of e and proved to be more
had always been somew hat of hobby with me and got
the position of 'hOoer' at Churchs and RectorS i'll
New York city. With Elsie Pilcer my partner, next
appeared in such shows "Cty Chap "Gay Paree,
NTanhatters 'Palm Beach Nights,'' and ''No Foon'"
From there took swing around Europe One of my
experiences was have the Prince of Wales in
formal pupil | taught him couple of dance steps and in
appreciation he presented with cigarette lighter which
I still treasure.
Ny career a dancer not intense my expert
in the ring but I learned more about what | will
term the subtees of life. 1t the opportunity to
study night club crowds in New York. London, and the
Continent Nothing gives better insight to the folbes
of humanity than the life of professional dancer.
For that I'm glad that | dancer. For
slightly different | glad that | a fighter
professional baseball player. 1t all be summed
up by saying that because of these things, am today
better actor than | would have been without them-if,
indeed would be actor at all.
AS | have already suggested, in my present picture,
"Rumba, am again teamed with Carole Lombard This
is of satisfaction to because of the approval
with which last appearance together met. 1t
"Bolero' maybe you remember
It is strange the way Hollywood mpreSScs upon that
it is the vast audience extending throughout the
country that determines just how shall be cast. That
is particularly of actor-andacreSS the
spoke with Bng Crosby the other day, and discussed
the matter You know, he appearing for the second
secutive time with Kitty Carlisle the former New Orleans
society girl who fame a singer. They have just
finished "lIere Is My Iear which friends of Bng at the
studio the best picture he has made His second
appearance with Miss Carlisle dictated by fans be-
of the popularity of the in 'She Loves Me Not
| hope that Carole and may continue win the ap-
prOva that persons said when played in
'Bolero" Our picture has coorful back
ground than last vehicle The for "Rmba is
set the night spots Havana I'm sorry that pro-
posed trip Hollywood ism timed that might be
guest the studio while "Rumba' is in production.
Sincerely yours,