The Washington times., 1936-12-12
TAYLOR AT B,
EARNS $4,000
WEEKLY
BY LYDIA CALVERT
CHAPTER 18

Here is a story with a happy
ending. We leave Robert Taylor
at the very height Of his career
rich, young, popular.
His age-only %; his salary
$4,000 a week.-Mrs. popularity-so
immense it can't be estimated.
If it is a mistake, you made It.
If he's too young to bear the bur
den of so much success, you have
only yourselves to blame-not him.
It was because of the public's loud
cries for more! Because of the
tons of fan mail that poured in
demanding him, that Robert Tav
lor was released in one picture
after another.
But was it a mistake? No!
Don't worry about this boy from
Filley. He'll get along whether
it's eating apples out Of a wash
tub or making love to Carlo. He
has what it takes.
Has Character
Yes, I repeat, he is magnificent.
He has the thing that moderns
somehow find embarrassing 70
talk about-character. All the
looks in the world couldn't have
made him what he is without that.
He has never compromised with
his principles.
Now he says to his mother:
"I'm lucky. l got the breaks"
This is his favorite way of &C
counting for his sudden turn of
fate.
mot altogether, son. Luck.
doesn't just happen. We have
to learn it. We have to do our
part to deserve it."
But he refuses to take his sue
cess with casual thanks. He won't
take the whole credit or be too
sure of the morrow.
I'm doing all right now. But
what about next year, and the
next?"
81 don't really act" he tells
me. Talking to you now, I'm
not acting. It's the same way
in front of the camera"
But that's the best kind Of
acting-being natural"
"Oh, no, it isn't" he says with
real conviction. "LOOk at some
Of these old birds around here.
They have marvellous technique
they can really act. I'd like
to be like they are"
REAL GOAL
He takes his success as an i'm
portant thing but it is secondary
to his real goal. He wants to be
Q great actor for his own satisfac-
tion, and not for the alulation it
brings him.
With his name blazing in elec-
trio lights from coast to coast,
Robert didn't have long to enjoy
his triumph in Society Doctor"
He was cast next, in Times
Square Lady"-again with Vir-
ginia Bruce and again he scored
in the public mind.
Then came broadway Melody
OF 1885," and that was his great
est triumph up to that point. His
mother accompanied him to the
premiere, where he was lauded
with the generous praise Of his
fellow-workers and fellow-actors,
in whose minds there was no
longer any doubt of his greatness.
More Triumphs
After that, other triumphs fol-
lowed in quick succession-each
picture a personal success. There
was Magnificent ObSession," with
Irene Dunn; Small Town Girl"
opposite Janet Gaynor; private
Number" with Loretta Young,
and more recently ''The Gorgeous
Huzzy," with the glamorous Joan
Crawford. Now he is finishing
Camille" co-starring with M
GINS most effulgent star
Greta Garbo.
Now on the M-G-M lot, where he
comes and goes in his black-and-
white checkered bathrobe:
"Gee, I'll have to get another
one. Everybody must be sick
Of this One-I know / am"
Heads turn. There's not a
grudging look, not a suspicion Of
jealousy, for anyone looking at
him, seeing the long stride, the
flashing smile, the gay friendli-
ness unknown to self-adulation,
would say:
"But, Of course. He was made
for fame. If he hadn't attained
1t here, he would have won it
elsewhere"
The End