The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-07-28
BY GEORGE II. BEALE
Unitsd Press stan Corrsspondsnt


HOLLYWOOD. July %. Marie
DRESSER started her professional ca
reer ~ the age Of IL and al sal
airy OF 50 week.
A. SIS. when she was forced 10
sick bed from which physicians fear
she never will arise, she drew $4,000
weekly
Between the 50 and the $4,000
was most amazing pOor-to-ricnes
story.
Beginning as a general utilities
woman IN a travelling stock troup,
she worked her way 70 the top OF
the American stage Then her iof-
tune turned and for nine years she
could get no work. She was pTac-
ticauv destitute when she made her
drst hit in talking motion pictures.
As she reached her present age, o.
she became the best box Office at
traction in all Hollywood.
When Leila Koerber, the Can
adian-born daughter Of a retired
German army officer and renned
English woman. earned her hrSt 30
she thought she was rich.
Her father taught music, out me
uanderlust in his makeup kept MN
moving from one city 10 another De
fore profitable clienteles could Oe
set up.
So from her first weeks earnings
the Young girl-now travelling unoer
the name Of Marie DreSsler' when
she borrowed from an aunt-sent -
to her mother.
Always Helped Mother
Ever after she was able to help
her mother IN a financial way anu
the Coincidence always was HAPPY
mat she could enable her mother
TO pass her last days IN luxury.
Between the lack of funds ana the
constant changing OF homesltes
Marie never went to school IN
stead she was tutored by her
mother when Marie left home at
"a she promised her mother 10 reao
a good newspaper every day
NV whole education since l
went on the stage she related IN
after wears. has been gained
through newspapers and through
studying people.
the Young actress toured for sew
eral wears through Canada and me
United states. She lived IN the
cheapest lodging houses. Her purse
denied her every luxury. Gradual
~ however. she worked her way up.
Producers began 10 realize that she
had possibilities Of great
coincidence. She still was IN her
carly twenties when she was ilrSt
featured in . New York musical
show.
Appears in One-Reeler
Then followed a series of sue
cesses with Lillian Russell, Weber
and Fields and by herself. Perhaps
the greatest was TITLES Night
mare which played two years IN
New York and three more on the
road. II was in this production that
She sang the famous song Heaven
Will Protect the working Girl"
shortly after il concluded its run
she was persuaded by Mack Sen
nett to make a one-reel motion pic
ture. The film was entitled "llllie 5
Punctured Romance Supporting
her we're two unknowns at that time
Charlie Chaplin and Mabel Nor
mand. both of whom were TO go 10
the top Of the screen ladder.
She did not take screen work Sc
riously and few people did at that
early date, so she returned to the
stage -
During the World war she dlo
heroic work in Liberty bond drives
Once il was over. however, her posi-
ton became precarlouS.
The postwar period demanded
oirlv-girlv shows and goOd-looklng
Young women There was no place
for the elderly hOmely comedlenne.
Popularity Returns
There came a period when for
nine wears she could get no WORK.
She was practically destitute. Fln-
ally. she got a bit in pictures ana
then 70 her fell the part OF Marthy
in Anna Christie She handled
Nfarthv so we'll that she stole the
show from Greta Carlo.
Miss DresSler now shot again 10
stardom and a high salary. she
was IN demand at all studios For
her acting IN Min and Bill she
was given the award of the Academy
Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
for the best performance Of the year
by an actress.
DreSsler was made again Every
picture in which she appeared was
assured Of success She became
more and more popular, both with
her fans and with those with whom