Evening star., 1936-02-16

So here goes-Robert Taylor speak
ing for himself:
-" THINK one of the most perplexing
experiences in lifetime must be
sitting in front of a piece of blank
paper and trying to think of some
thing to write on it-particularly when
what is written must concern ones
self
mo. Ill amend that statement.
II think the most perplexing expe-
rience of all is to be suddenly lifted out
of the peaceful obscurity of a college
campus and flung headlong into the
white glare Of the studio lights, with
all the attendant hullabaloo.
For the first few months I'd find
myself sitting at home in the evening
after whirligig day in pictures, and
around and around in my mind
would be going a kaleidoscope of
questions: What should I do in such
case? Should I try to assume the
poise of a seasoned actor-or just con-
fess frankly that I'm a bewildered
young fellow trying to get along?
Nov, fortunately, some of that
early indecision has been conquered
but not all.
And just as things begin to settle
down, along comes your letter asking
me to write column about myself!
so we get back to the sheet of
blank paper, and the question of what
to put on it.
Il must confess that my widest
fancies never visioned any such thing
as has happened to me this last year
and a half.
when first became interested in
dramatics at Pomona College out here
in California was studying medicine
and intended to go on to Yale. I
intended to be paychiatriSt. What
it is about the theater that ruined
that ambition, I'll never be able to
explain; which may indicate that I
might not have made such a good
psychiatrist.
I'VE had presented a number Of
college plays, some good, some bad,
when along came Journeys End"
They gave me a chance in that play,
and it just happened that in the
audience was a talent scout from the
Metro-G Goldwyn- Mayer studios. A
week or so later 1 was given an op-
portunity to enroll in the studios
training school-and get paid Tor it.
Somehow, all thought of Yale and
medicine just went out the window
X X
I'VE got to confess that I'm lucky
guy. You can't explain these
things any other way. For a solid
year went to school at M-G-M every
day from to 5, and never even saw a
camera or microphone. About the time
was getting good and sick of it, a
messenger boy handed me an envelope
one day, and in it was an order to
report for juvenile lead. Nobody
will ever know what a thrill that
gave me.
But I didn't set the world on fire
In that picture. I was scared, for one
thing. It wasn't until Society Doc
tor came along that began to get
my studio legs, so to speak, and even
then I wanted to hide under the seat
when I saw myself on the screen. I
still have that feeling, as a matter Of
fact, every time hear my voice COM
ing from the screen.
TITS hard to select the picture I
have enjoyed most although I think
my choice would be the one we're max
ing now. Small Town Girl in which
Janet Gaynor is the star. I liked
broadway Melody of 1885, too, al
though ] never expected anybody to
notice me with all those beautiful girls
running around. Times Square Lady
was a lot of fun, and so were Murder
In the Fleet and Magnificent Obses-
sion and There's Always Tomorrow
"I think the greatest kick I've had
In the studios is meeting Janet Gaynor
and learning that she's the same
sweet, honest girl In person that she
Is on the screen. She's been one of
my pets ever since Seventh Heaven
and If anybody had told me then that
I'd be appearing in picture with her
some day-well, whittle your own
answer.
THE thing that worries me about
writing this column is that there
doesn't seem to be much to say. I
read about famous stars who have slept