The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-11-21
PickfOrd- Rogers Romance Dates From 1927,
When Mary Was Buddy'S Screen Best Girl
By PAUL HARRISON
NEA Service STAFF Corresponde,


Hollywood, Nov. 81 - Any tracing
Of the romance Of Mary Pickford
and Buddy Rogers must begin away
back In 1897, when they made their
first and last picture together, my
Best Girl" without this Aim ap.
pearance, there wouldn't have been
any romance.
But not" said Americas erst-
while boy friend, for the reason
that many people think"
Spare their bushes. No affec-
ton was involved In that brisf as
ISOLATION which was scarcely more
than acquaintanceship. Americas
Sweetheart had Just passed the
zenith Of nearly I3 years Of ideal
marriage" to Douglas Fairbanks.
Rogers had scarcely begun his
career Is q perennial juvenile and
hts name was still to be linked In
gossip with many young actress.
But that picture marked two
Of o strong friendship between
Charles Rogers mother and Miss
pickford, and the beginning Of the
actress interest In Rogers as an &C.
tor. From these came romance.
Mary Was BuddyIs Boss
Buddy was at first merely an
actor, and Miss Pickford was his
boss. AS both q star and an inde-
pendent producer, she found herself
In something Of plight. She need
ed talent desperately--young talent.
She particularly required o lead
ing man. Looking over the field, she
selected few candidates: Johnny
Mack Brown was one, Rogers an
other.
The latter won the lead In my
Best GIRL" which was trifle based
on the usual Cinderella pickford
formulas girl working In q dime
store meets and marries the son
Of the owner. Americas Boy Friend
was the son.
He was protege Of the First
Lady Of Hollywood, and the screen
colony heard that she regretted
that she could not further advance
his career. But she made no more
independent productions. and there.
fore was cast with other leading
men.
Greatest Of Friends"
Nevertheless you can get an idea
OF what Rogers had In mind when
he said In London, MARY has done
more for me than any other per-
son in the whole wide world. Mary
and I are the greatest Of friends
and have been for six years. But
marriage!--ah, how can I talk Of
that2"
As early as 1881 rumblings were
heard about Hollywood that all was
not well at Pickfair. Fairbanks be-
gan to wander about the world.
Miss pickford, tight-lipped, work.
ed harder than ever in the colony
And In no time at all gossips In the
night spots began to wonder whe-
ther the star and the perpetual col
legian really were close friends.
In 1888 Miss Pickford confirmed
the fact Of her separation from
Fairbanks. In that year, also, In.
terested observers noted consider
liable display OF affection between
Rogers and Mary Brian.
"Weli, we were wrong" said the
loose tongues. 'They must be mere
| ly pals"
MET Casually"
And they were wrong. II you'll
give credence TO the somewhat hazy
recollections Of Miss Pickford and
the one-time It.Boy Of celluloid.
I'VE just met casually" said he.
"There were months and months
when we never saw each other at
all," said she.
"Weli, really now" Rogers con-
tinued, "there wasn't any talk 70
marriage until Just few months
ago. think maybe IL was the ru-
inors going around that gave me
courage to soy something to Mary"
And 80 it'J quite clear that the
announcement OF their engagement
was merely the result Of whirl-
wind courtship. beginning q few
months ago, when they first were
seen together openly.