The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-08

award.
Miss Mcdaniel followed a small
part Of the advice her well mean
ing friends CAV. her back in the
DAYS when she was tiding herself
over = lean period by working in
service She stuck to her cook
ing and ironing She stin does
lot Of both-but in tn. movies
Her most recent role is ss Bette
Davis cook and trusted house
manager in the Warner Bros. pie
ture. The Great Lac. soon to be
released.
As far back as the time she won
a medal for recitation a. the age
OF 1e. Miss Mcdaniel knew she
WAS going to become a successful
rctress. She knew II with the posi-
tive assurance of a Baptist min
sters daughter who had been rear
cd on tn. doctrine Of implicit
faith.
Miss Mcdaniel was horn In
Wichita, han. When she WAS
two. the family moved IN
Denver. Colo. She was grad
uated from grade school there
and attended Fast Denver high
school two year,.
The recitation medal she re-
oeived was bestowed by the white
w omens Christian Temperance
Union. Before that award, she
hadn't thought much about the
future. She sang in the choir Of
her fathers church, with her
mother. And she had a natural
gift for making folks laugh.
After she received the medal. she
felt she had clear call" to the
stage.
Her first step was a singing Job
with Professor George Morrisons
oolored orchestra. She toured
some of the leading vaudeville cir
cults with the band, and did con-
siderable radio singing.
Singing and acting engagements
weren't easy to obtain. Miss Nc
Daniel took Job as cook and
house servant for a Chicago fam
fv to tide herself over between
bookings. She has never re-
GREETED the experience. and still
corresponds with her former en-
rloyers. They are very proud OF
her today.
More vaudeville engage
ments followed this interlude
.in service" The jobs were
still sporty, and the remunera-
ton insufficient to enable her
to accumulate any savings.
When a booking ended in Mil
waukee, she accepted a job as
maid at Sam Picks Suburban inn.
Her pay was one dollar a night
and tips.
She suggested that she be al
lowed to sing for the patrons after
the orchestra had left. On the
first night she sang she got $50
in tips
She STAYED at the inn more than
two years When there was no
rlace for her as featured per
former IN the floor shows, she re-
turned to her position as maid and
after hours singer. While she
didn't make $50 every night, she
managed to do very well.
In 1880 she made up her mind
to try motion pictures. Some
colored friends were driving to
Los Angeles. % shs went with
them. shs made the trip m .
second hand car.
Picture jobs wers scsrcs.
Miss Mcdaniel accounted her
self lucky when she got extra
work hut her faith In her
future never wavsred. She
stuck II out through two
years Of playing extra.
She got her first bit In Ruin
Chstterton starring picture al
Warner Bros. The role was tiny
but IL marked the turning point
in her fortunes A part IN Judge
Priest" with the late Will Rogers
ssys her a real chance. Followed
TN. Little Colonel with Shirley
Temple. and she was on her way
10 the fame and unique position
she now enjoys as the Leading
screen actress of her race
since her academy award
performance In "Gone With
The Wind" Mis- Mcdaniel has
app<ared In Maryland" and
has made an extensive per
.onal tour Of the east, south
and midwest. Her role sup
porting Mis-. Davis and George
Brent in THE Great Lie h
her first since that tour.
Now that she ia the successful
actrass she always knew shed BE-
Miss Mcdaniel il saving her money
and planning for the future. sne
means 10 have a little farm where
IN. raises her own 'ohicksns-and
a roadside restaurant where sne