Evening star., 1945-08-29
Title Shoddy-
mot Picture
BY HAROLD HEFFERNAN.
HOLLYWOOD,

| FeTSOIld1lUy paTaQ6. fTOnI line
hero ranks received another grad
uate the other night, when Univer-
sal previewed Shady Lady," a fine
piece of entertainment in spite of
its shoddy title. Latest bidder for
top money is handsome Robert
Paige. known heretofore as the man
who has won the girl in more "B"
| movies than any actor in the busi-
ness. He accomplished this feat 48
times.
Paige's is no overnight success
won his spurs the hard way, by
the sweat of his brow in extra, bit
and finally 12-day schedule films
over a period of eight years. Pre-
view fans jotted down so many fine
things about Paige after the Shady
Lady" showing that his bosses now
have pretentious plans for him.
A great many moviegoers discov-
cred Paige for the first time in
Cant Help Singing" in which he
played opposite Deanna Durbin. For
eight years prior to that he self
styled himself the king of the b
pictures" He had made four dozen
before hitting the big time.
When he broke into films his
name was changed from John Ar
thur Paige to David Carlyle. That
was in 1887.
"They said I looked too young,
he explained, so they gave me a
false mustache and a false widows
peak. l didn't dare smile or even
move my face. I was afraid some
thing would pop off"
During his early troubled days in
Los Angeles, Paige got a job taking
the first rowing radio through the
downtown streets. He had diff
Guilty persuading passers-by to stop
and say word to the invisible audi
ence. In fact, most of them started
to run when they saw him coming
That was in 1882, when the con-
denser- mikes were aWesome objects,
looking more like blockbusterS than
microphones.
Later he made his debut on the
air. He obtained a position" as
public relations director for a foot
powder concern. The title was all
right with Paige, but the salary of
$25 week hardly lived up to it..
For weeks he appeared on seven
l5-mlnute radio programs, at as
many different broadcasting studios
every day-plugging the powder.
Il quit that job" said Paige,
when in addition to making the
broadcasts, they asked me to help
fill the cartons with the powder!"
He sang for a dollar a day on a
Long Beach station. Finally he
achieved the distinction of being a
bit player in pictures.
1T was nice at some of the major
studios" he grinned. They made
better class of B picture. They
made them in 18 days instead of r."
When Paige clicked for Miss Dur
bin, Universal started making elab-
crate plans for his future. He was
united with Charles Coburn and
Ginny Simms in Shady Lady" 1t
has resulted in more interest in the
new star and is causing consider
able scurrying in the story depart
ment where suitable vehicles are
being sought for him.
Among the amusing episodes in
Shady Lady" is Paiges introduc-
ton. 1t takes place on a train and
scene-stealer Charles Coburn. he
admits, grabs all the honors from
him in the situation.
A card shark who has been driven
out OF Kentucky, Coburn blandly
tried to coax Paige into a poker
game. Paige insists he knows moth
ing about cards and Coburn finally
asks him what he does like to do.
L like my work." replies Paige
I'm a representative of the district
attorneys office, in charge of gam
bling and racketeenng.
The monacle falls from. Coburn's
eye and he manages a nervous re-
treat.
He is one of the really great
character actors in this business, ,
Paige compliments Coburn. He
steals that scene and every other hl
which he appears There's no stop
ping him
Paige was in the Army till ulcers
mustered him out. Happily married
for five years, he and his wife plan
to adopt two children. Ambitious and
willing, Paige looks like one answer
to Hollywood's perennial search for
suitable leading men.
(Released by North American Newspaper
Alliance)