The Washington times., 1936-12-10
TAYL0R'S RARE
PERSONALITY
WINSFAME
BY LYDIA CALVERT
CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER l6
Whispering goes on around
studio lots just as it does at q
boarding school.
And so Robert Taylor had heard
little snatches about his screen
test.
''Mr. Mayer was going to look
at 1t SOON"
, "Mr. Mayer had seen it."
When a messenger tapped Bob
on the arm and told him the big
boss wanted to see him, Bob i'm
1nediately had the weakening SEN
sation of being called up 5efore
tthe dean for some unremembered
msubordination.
When he walked into the office
he was greeted by man who was
casual and friendly, not effusive
but encouraging enough to put
him at ease.
Louis B. Mayer is noted for his
uncanny ability to recognize
genius when he sees it. He had
studied Taylor's screen test.
Whether or not he recognized
the qualities of greatness in the
boy was not evident when Robert
walked in that morning. He was
only one of hundreds of other
young hopefulS who were under
observation.
They talked casually for a time.
Robert was conscious of the mans
magnetic personality and OF the
observing mind which behind the
kind eyes analyzed him shrewdly
'IBut something in the attitude OF
his host gave him confidence.
The talk became more personal,
~adroitly pioted by Mr.. Mayer.
'The subject turned to the matter
Of individuality and appearance
"An actor or an actress" Mr..
Mayer observed, "belOngs to the
public. He is subject to closer
scrutiny, and more critical
opinion, than any other prOfes'
siOnal person I can think Of. In
pictures this is more pro-
nOunced than it is on the stage.
It's easy to understand. More
people see pictures. The audi
ence is spread over q wider ter
ritOry and opinions are more
divergent"
TALK SHIFTS
The talk shifted to an actors
personal appearance; the impress
sion he gives to a watching world.
"One should dress WELL" Mr..
Mayer remarked. "a great deal
may depend on it. Now If I
were you, I'd go over to" he
named q famous Hollywood
tailor. LET him measure you
. and suggest a wardrobe. Get a
complete outfit, everything"
The young actor gazed at him in
namazement.
"But, MIR. Mayer, / can't pos
sibly buy my clothes from that
fellow. Why, he charges"
Mr.. Mayer smiled.
81 know. Tell him I sent you.
Charge it to my account"
Imagine, If you can, the thrill
that came with these words. All
hope, all ambition and widest
dreams came together in this mo-
ment for the boy from Filley, Neb.
It was like fairy-tales he had
read it couldn't be real. It
couldn't be that this was actually
happening to him. He sat in a
sort Of q daze and listened to the
voice.
It was saying:
Personality is q GOd-given
thing. One must do everything
he can to cultivate and en-
courage 1t. 1t is the actors
greatest asset. He must walk
and talk and dress in harmony
with his personality"
AS the man talked on emphaSiz'
ing the Importance of patience,
~Robert thought of his father.
"Patience," "fortitude"-it was as
though his father had always
known what was in store for the
boy. It seemed his father were
talking to him now.
All his life he had been working
unconsciouSly to this end, and as
he sat and listened and learned
that all of the studio facilities
were to be at his command, he
knew within that nothing would
keep him from living up to this
mans standard for him. Nothing
would change that habit of hon.
esty which had grown into his
very bones. Only physical dis,
ability could keep him from 1t.
And he was strong.
Suddenly he became calm. At
home he discussed it with his
mother. She smiled at him proudly
but cautioned him again against
overconfidence.
But that wasn't necessary. Now
that he was a man he knew the
fickleness of fate and never once
from then until now has he held
) out too high hope. 1t was a dream,
and as such he accepted it. In
a week, in a day, it might diSsi.
pate into thin air.
He went about his studies with
renewed effort.
TO Be COntinUed)