The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-13

often has she repeated this trick in
public places, arriving after the start
of show, creeping away before the
end. in order to cheat her admirers
of the chance of mobbing her!
Curiously, her first speaking parts
at the Royal Dramatic Theater were
OF all those old women!
She was just 10 when. in Febru-
airy, 1924, they selected her to play
the mother in drama called DAN
lei Hort" and old Katri in Dan
ish piece called 1.-The Blind" in
which she gave a very. notable per-
Torrance.
She was as good as a Katri," wrote
30 Bergman, the famous critic, "as
one could expect a 20-year-old girl
to be. But her feminine charm
would be better suited to younger
parts"
THIS performance marked
Il turning point in her career as
a student. 1t was the direct cause
of her being raised to the position
of premiere eleve,' which meant
that in the future she could take
small parts in ordinary public pro-
auctions at the Dramatic Theater.
and at the same time complete her
studies.
The position carried with it a SAL
airy of $50 kroner (about $40 a
month-not a princely sum, but
sufficient to relieve her of financial
worry for the time being and to pay
off a few small debts.
Discussing her appearance and
general characteristics at the time
of her student days, Holger Lowen-
adler said:
THE thing I most wildly remem-
Der about Greta is her voice. She
seemed to take special delight in
pitching it very low. 1t was vibrant
and beautiful. On the stage she had
what we call a good presence.
When you saw her walking along
the street in her own rather shabby
clothes, you could not help wonder
ing what she would look like dressed
in the height of fashion and luxury.
Some people imagine that Gretas
mysterious charm is put on. that
she has acquired it along with her
success. I can assure you that is not
the case. She possessed, even in her
student days, that remoteness which
acted like a magnet.
1--WE took it for granted, as some
thing peculiar to Greta, and 1 am
not even sure whether we consid-
cred it an asset or a disadvantage
on the stage. 1t never really oc-
Cured to us that some clever pro-
Queer would come along and develop
Greta's aloofness to spellbind the
world"
4 LIGHTER side of Greta's tall
"A ents made itself known about
this time. 1t was the gift of MIN
icry.
In this talent all her admiration
for the idol of her childhood the
actress Naima Wifstrand, found ex-
preston. She would take the floor,
walking, as Naimi walked, talking as
Naima talked, throwing out her
arms with the singers sweeping ges-
ture, warbling thrill of notes with
the singers fearless bravado.
Miss Wifstrand herself eventually
heard of it. She, at that time,
reigned like a queen at the Oscars
Theater-the whole world at her feet.
1t amused her to near of the little
dramatic students clever imitation,
but tributes of all kinds came so
thick and fast that she gave the
matter no further thought.
Nor did she associate it in any
way with the tiny nosegays of field
flowers which were frequently left
for her with the stage-door con-
cierge by a young girl named
"Greta," who would shyly run away
before any one could question her.
Though Greta was nearly always
shy and reserved, there were times
when she would throw herself heart
and soul into the spirit of a party.
and hold her own with the liveliestl
On these occasions Greta had
habit of throwing out her arms as
If she would like to take the whole
world into her embrace.
She was full of personality, and
many of her colleagues tried seri-
ously TO persuade her that her tai