The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1944-06-08

Cecil b. DeMiIIe trlenuS.
Three years ago
his career seemed at a dead end.
Then he joined Warmers and made
Sergeant York, " "The Adventures
of Mark Twain" and Rhapsody in
Blue" Now his career is again at
peak, which proves it's possible for
man to be successful 81 years in a
cut-throat business and still retain
the respect and affection of co-work-
ers and the community.
Lasky in Alaska
But before he and his associates
started putting Hollywood on the
map Lasky had cut himself a slice
of show business. II all started with
cornet he bought because he want
ed to play in the San Jose boys
band. Lasky was IL.
Lasky's father died shortly be-
fore the turn of the century, leaving
him the sole support of his mother
and sister. When gold was discov-
cred in Alaska in 1900 young Jesse
joined the stampede.
The only gold he got his hands on
was what more fortunate miners
showered into the orchestra pit of
the cheap theater where he got a
job as cornet player.
When he got back to San Fran
cisco he discovered his little sister
had grown up and could play the
cornet, too. The two started doing
duets, and in short order Lasly had
his first vaudeville act worked out.
From performing he turned to
staging acts. Soon he was in the
big time and making his first for
tune. 1t didn't take him long to
lose it.
A Super-Dud
The Folies Bergere of New York
turned that trick. Lasky planned it
as super-show to give New York
ers chance to watch lavish must
cal show while being wined and
dined. The public stayed away. It
cost him $4,000, his total fortune.
A California mission signboard
gave him the idea for an operetta
called California" Lasky got Cecil
De Mile to write it. That was the
beginning of an historic association.
California" was a hit. So were
Lasky-De Mile musicals. The ex-
.cornetist was riding high again
and becoming restless.
The Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play
company was the result of that rest
lessness. De Mile and Samuel Gold
wyn, another young fellow begin
ming to edge into the show business,
were Lasky's partners. The new
enterprise was to make motion pic
lures.
The Squaw Man." their first, was
a great hit. AdoIph Zukor, head of
Famous Players, wired Lasly his
congratulations.
The two rivals joined forces. In
July of 1916 their companies be-
came Famous Players-Lasky. Great
names made great pictures.
Lives of Great Men
The great depression claimed
Jesse LaSky as one of its victims.
His fortune gone, Lasky resigned
from Paramount in 1882.
1t was twilight of the Titan, but
since that he'd found more pictures
he wanted to produce. Pictures that
would tell in personal histories the
true story of this country, where
poor boys become famed immortals.
Warmers shared his belief in that
type of yarn, so Lasky joined them,
and his first was Sergeant York."
a tale of a Tennessee farmer who
became great war hero; then "The
Adventures of Mark Twain" river
pilots rise to literary fame, and
Rhapsody in Blue" the life of the
late George Gershwin, the east side
lad whose music will live forever.
And how about the story of the
tootin' cornet player called Jesse
Lasky-or has he, in footing the 9TH
er fellows horn, forgotten how to
loot his own?