The Washington times., 1937-10-15

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the coyote, the sage hen, the
tarantula. the scorpion, the desert
rat, the native son and the native
daughter are the only ones native
Iowa farmers, retired, cult leaders
gamblers, ladies of the evening
and moving picture stars are al
imported.
The architecture in which the
fauna live is distinctly bastard. II
raises its variegated heights from
stems that have had their roots IN
the ancient and modern worlds
There are Ionic columns ano
Spanish adobes. Byzantine cano,
pies and Mecan domes, medieval
spires and chromium alr-cooled
rooms.
This treatment Of the surround
ing and enclosing terrain makes
for sheer artificality. Even the
emotions are at first simulated
and then artifically stimulated.
Take the case of George Estes
and Gladys Trent, now moving
picture stars, and eighteenth and
eleventh, respectively, in box Of
flee draw value.
FINE FUTURE
George Estes was brought to
Hollywood from Broadway follow
Ing his success in Time and
Again" the hit show that ran for
a year and half.
He came at a stars salary on
a six-month contract. Before him
stretched a future studded with
diamonds and dollars. Or so he
thought.
He played a supporting role in
"TwinkletS," a starring vehicle for
little Annie Dalrymple, the child
star. The part was bad and he
had no knowledge of picture
technique. He was pretty terrible.
The critics said so.
The powers that be in Holly
wood never back a loser. They
were sure they had picked one.
His contract had two months to
run when "Twinklets" was re-
leased, and Mammoth Films was
considering paying him the salary
due him and shipping him back to
New York, or anywhere he wanted
to go.
But Just at that time King
Daniels, their ace director, had a
minor part to fill in Babylon" a
super-picture he was shooting.
He couldn't find an actor who
suited him for the part. He looked
at about fifty tests, and he was
just about to give up in despair
when he saw Georges.
Daniels wasn't particularly i'm.
pressed, but Estes was the best
possibility he had seen. He sent
for him. Offering him the part,
he explained that it was not very
heavy for the actor; just pretty
good bit.
II won't play it." George told
him fatty. Il was signed for
leads, not for bit parts"
"All right" Daniels said.
You're probably right. of course.
But. looking at your test and your
work in 'Twinklets' I got the mis-.
taken impression that you we're an
actor. And it will take a real
actor to put this part across.
"On him depends the whole pic
ture. its success or failure. That
is why I offered it to you. But I
guess you're not as good as I
thought you were. Well, let 1t
pass. I apologize for even offer
ing It,"
TAKES PART
"Wait a Pinute," George said.
why didn't you say so? You
told me you had small bit part.
You didn't say it was important
or that it would take ability.
Now, I'm bust here in Hollywood.
'Twinklets' did that for me.
But I have two months to run
at $1,000 a week. If I don't ap.
pear in Babylon, have a bunch
I won't appear in anything. SO
I'll be glad to play the role. What
have I got to lose?"
20. X" Moe Rhineghold, man
ager 6 Mammoth, said as he ap-
proved Daniels cast. But shoot
the scenes with this fellow Estes
in them as quick as you can. We
are paying him a lot of money
and I don't want his salary hang
ing over the time of his contract.
He's flop"
But he wasn't a flop. He was a
hit. They recognized that as soon
as they saw the first ruShes of
the picture, while It was still in
production. He was so good that
Moe ordered the part built up.
When the picture was finished,
he stood out prominently. 1t was
recognized that his work would
send the picture into the two-mil-
lion-dollar take class.
When the first critics reactions
came in they corroborated that
opinion. Every one of them men.
toned his work and its impor-
lance.
A few even mentioned that he
had appeared in another picture,
a flop. but that ne mad Broadway
training behind him and might be
headed for Stardom.
Moe gave him a new contract.
not six-month one this time. but
a graduated five-year agreement,
under which his salary automat-
ically increased every year until
he would be receiving $4,000 a
week at its expiration.
Now, Mammoth knew he was
good, but few other people did.
True, Estes had come from Broad
way, but Broadway is just a name