Imperial Valley press., 1937-11-30
SPORTS
PARADE
Ry Henry McLenOre

HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 30 WR)-At
last my dream has come true-I
am in Hollywood
| have dreamed of coming here
ever since that Fourth of July day.
years ago, when l played Uncle Sam
in the fourth grade pageant. l
won the admiration and acclaim
of all the critics that day by keep
ing my beard stuck on longer than
any of the Uncle Sans who had
trod the boards before me in this
grade school classic. All the praise
for my performance. and the ad-
miring glances bestowed on my
Star-Spanglei pants, did not go to
my head, 1t only increased my
determination to make an actor of
myself.
I followed the strenuous patriotic
role. with its demand for a COM
plete knowledge of all the verses of
America, with a stirring success as
minor prophet in a Christmas
pageant. Again my beard stayed
on nearly to the end Later, in
high school. I was urged by the
D ami p teachers tdramatics and
paintings) to handle the difficult
role of one of the sailors in Pima
fore. but measles prevented my
acceptance.
I tell you these things not in a
Dragging way, but that you may
know that ! come to Hollywood,
not as an outsider, but as fellow
craftsman. Today I was up with
the dawn to play the Hollywood
game-trying to spot movie actors
and actresses. I walked up and
iown the streets. peering into
strange faces. Ten O'Clock came
and all the luck l had had was to
see police dog puppy which great
ly reSembled the canine Barrymore,
that kennel MUM, Rim Tin Tin.
Then 1 turned a corner and saw
an immense crowd. packing streets
and sidewalks so that it was al
most impossible for me to make
my way through to vantage point
on the curbing. My heart leapt. I
know that a great star was about
to appear. "All OF Hollywood" I
said to myself, doesn't stand in
great crowds on the street for moth
ing"
Slowly gaily decorated float
made its appearance and a tremen-
dous shout went up. I rushed up,
fully expecting to see Clark Gable,
Spencer Tracy. Claudette Colbert.
Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and
hosts of other famed stars.
But no! There was only Santa
Claus, wearing the familiar red
flannels, and pack, and waving to
the crowd
My heart fell. I was sorely dis
But only for a moment, because
A sudden little gust of wind whirl-
ed down the street and tugged at
the Whiskers. To my amazement
and my full appreciation of his
didn't grab his Whiskers
with his hands. but went right on
being Santa Claus as if nothing
had happened.
l knew tnen tnat l was looking
at a true artist, man capable of
his own with the greatest
actors of all times. Because my
own experience in the trying
Uncle Sam performance, and the
even more trying minor prophet
role, had taught me the skill it
required to keep a beard on, even
indoors. And here was an actor
his beard harassed by the winds,
who paid it no attention. I recalled
how used to have to keep wctting
mine with my fingers. and keep
screWing up my face, to keep it
from falling off.
paid this Santa Claus the high
est tribute I could. I followed the
float the full fifteen blocks of its.
route, now and again calling out
Bravo! Bravo!"
AS I walked home it made me a
little sad to know that the STAGE
was lost to me forever. I thought
bitterly of that attack of measles
which ended my histrionic career
and prevented me from playing the
role which would have made me
or broken me-that of Rip Van