The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-20


quit, and I'm one. I've been ar
actor for over 35 years and that
means I started carrying a spear az
an extra and have come up through
the grind of one-night stands, stocl
companies, and Broadway successes
to Hollywood.
I'm old enough to sit in a rock
ing chair on my front porch; Tn
tired enough to fall asleep in the
afternoon sun-but am just an ole
fool.
I looked at a sheet of paper the
other day which, when signed, woulo
probably keep me acting for the resi-
of my life. What did 1 do? blus-
tered and raved about time to re-
tire" I yelled take it away" ano
then the soothing voice of Para
mount "big chief" said, Nov
George, the screen needs you, we
can't get along without you," and
an actor to the finish, fell for the
fattery. I signed the contract.
Was to Have Been Minister
Too many years ago I was born
in Philadelphia. Being the only
child, my mother thought I ought
to be a minister. At eight fellow
hasn't many ideas for the future
and so I listened to a family discus
sion with an occasional Eyes, Ma
and Eyes, Pop"
He would make fine minister, "
said mother, Il always wanted a
minister in our family"
What about it, son, would you
like to be a preacher?" asked father
YES Pop"
Nov then, you must be good
little boy because ministers have 70
be good men,"
Eyes, Ma"
School Play Started 1t
And so, up until the time I en-
tered Crozier College, was going
to preach. Then one day the dean
cast me for a tWo-line part in a
school play and all bets were off
I left school abruptly and made
for the theatrical agencies. I got a
Job with a small company doing
some one-night stands in New Eng
land. We got stranded and had
fare to New York-that'S all.
When I arrived at the old Grand
Central Station, I sat down in the
waiting room to think things over
I was hungry, didn't know New
York; perhaps I should have been
a minister after all There was a
fat man sitting across from me. He
was we'll dressed and had a kindly
+. face. I avoided his steady gaze by
hanging my head over my knees
He got up, walked away. And when
lifted my head, saw a lone green
bill on the bench where he had
been sitting. I imagined I was
hungrier, I even felt faint to justify
my looking around to see Il any one
else saw that bill. No one noticed
and jumped over and sat down on
it. I stayed there one-half hour be-
fore had the courage to put the
bill in my pocket. Outside the sta
ton 1 looked at it-$2-and I went
in chop house and ordered. I have
thought of ibid I steal? Or had
the fat man with the kind face
noticed my predicament and left It?
Leading Man, Plus
In my next job 1 was leading man
drummer in the daily parade adj
vertising the show, the melodeor
player between acts, circular dis
tributor-all for SIS a week-prom-
Used. 1 was years in repertoire anc
stock before Daniel Frohman no.
ticed me. Speaking of Frohman
there was a man of quick decision
and courage. I hadn't played or
. Broadway, had never been on so.
called big time" when he calico
me to his Office.
Barber" he said, II have great
play here-'Hunchback of Notrt
Dame'-and l want you to pla!
in it,"
I'D like to, Mr.. Frohman, wha
is the part?"
THE lead-youll create the rolf
of the Hunchback."
But, Mr.. Frohman, 1--we
never"
Listen, Barber, If I can take tn,
risk, surely you can. Don't ever re
mind a producer that you're not ;
big timer. He knows that-you
job is to prove that you were worth
the risk"
Longs for Old Days
I have been saying Eyes" eve
since. There's scarcely a type o
role written which haven't played
The original "Hunchback of Notr
Dame" played at the old Daily
Theater in New York and 1 hop
/ made good with Daniel Frohman
Since then, there was one stretch O
II years in which I was not of
Broadway and almost continually il
a PlOQuSllOll
How hate to see those days O
the successful theater pass on. AM
one by one my old actor friend
pass on with them. I now find my
self here in Hollywood, at the ent
of my fifth year. It's a great place
1t gives me every luxury and Secur
ity for which man could wish
There's something tremendous abou
motion pictures. feel like a littl
piece of metal in a vast industrial
machine. And that machine is trav
cling ahead into a great future.
If get homesick at times for tn
good old days when a star held hi
hand out to help poor extra" ge
a job, If / miss the F'rohmans, tn
Belascos and BradyS. I am certain
that I miss the last of the grea
producers in the theater. There Wi
be no incentive for such a grou
of men :. again.
/. N7YTv1TvWl1T,YT31,