The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1937-02-24
In New York
Q 1887, NEA
BY George Ross

New York, Feb. 24-Over IN the
shady side Of Brooklyn, which the
Indians presumably tossed in with
their original sale Of Manhattan
Island, Erasmus High School boasts
not only of a high scholastic stand
ing but Of a corner on Americas Sex
Appeal. f1 81
This is the girlhood alma mater
of quintette Of lovely Holly
Woodians who in its clustered
classrooms had their first en-
counters with the Board Of Re-
gents.
1t is recorded in Erasmus ar
chives that Clara Bow, the ia
nous 'It" girl Of yesteryear, once
put aside her algebra lessons
while attending Erasmus and en-
tered a Brooklyn beauty contest.
She won it, naturally, and her
flaming hair and personality cat
apulted her to Hollywood queen
hood. Many of her former teach
ers still talk about the vivacious
little beauty who once sat impa-
tiently at their courses.
Barbara Stanwyck, when she
was Ruby Stevens, graduated
from Erasmus with high honors
Her father, an amiable Irishman
who gained his bread winnings
by bricklaying, was all for Bar
bara,s taking her college entrance
quiz. But Barbara left the shell
tered campus Of Erasmus with
theatrical ideas. She Joined Tex
as Guinan's chorus and from
there gravitated to her first i'm
portant role with Hal Sicily in
"Burlesque."
Another distinguished Erasmus
alumnus was Anita Stewart, star
Of the silent days, who was wont
to skip classes frequently. Her
scholastic guardians knew that
Anita had acting In her blood and
so the truant officer generally
was instructed to pick her up at
the vitagraph Studios in Flat
bush. But he made the trip In
vain one day. For on that after
noon Ralph Ince spotted her
eavesdropping and asked her to
run across the room and kiss
Maurice Costello. She osculated
so well that she was rewarded
with a contract.
Verree Teasdale also prowled
the halls Of Erasmus while an
academic youngster. The cur
rent Mrs. Adolphe Menjou wasn't
inclined toward acting while
"cramming" on modern history
and trigonometry. Her bent, then,
was for writing, spurred on by
her cousin, the famous poetess
Sarah Teasdale.
One Of Hollywood's prime
blondes, Helen TWelyetrees, mat
REGULATED early at Erasmus. But
the. attendance records then list
ed her as Helen Jurgens. daugh-
ter Of Mr.. and Mrs. William Jur-
gems. proud parents Of West Flat
bush.
Aline Mcmahon was one OF
Erasmus prize students. SO was
Jane Cowl. Norma and Con-
stance Tallnadge ran up consist
emily good report cards during
their Erasmus days also.
Learned Stars
If these acadamic pursuits OF
the glamorus people fire your
interest, then you may be inter-
ested to learn that Higrer Educa-
ton Is no novelty among theater
and screen folk. Broadway'S So
cialite-producer Of big musical
shows, Vinton Freddy, should
be called DR.. by virtue Of two
degrees from Harvard and the
University Of Pennsylvania. Mad
elaine Carroll originally intended
to be q school teacher, s. o Bach
elor Of Arts; James Cagney, ar
alumnus Of Columbia University.
Franchot Tone Is a product Of
Cornell, Alfred Lunt a son Of
Harvard. and John Boles won his
collegiate laurels III Texas. Ed
mund Lowe won college degree
at the University Of Southern
California, and George Abbott
still reports at the football field
Of the University Of Rochester
Gas a spectator), for he got his
ABB. there. Kenneth MacKenna
late the h usband Of Kay Francis
Ia n son of Columbia. and Robert