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Show How I Broke Into The Movies? Copyright by Hdl C. Herman By BUSTER KEATON I CAN hardly say that I "broke" Into the movies; rather I oozed In. Practically Prac-tically from birth I hail been on the vaudeville Ktage with my parents, who did a rough-and-tumble, uct, using me as a sort of football. It didn't hurt me, for I was trained from babyhood to like It, and to know Just how to take falls. Two world-famous actresses ac-tresses took exception to this parental training, one the great Sarah Bernhardt Bern-hardt and the other beautiful Lily I.angtry. My father was Introduced to Bernhardt who was on the same bill with us, and when he bent to kiss her hand, she said haughtily, "Are you not ashamed to make ze. money from ze cruelty to ze little garcon?" But she was later convinced that my parents par-ents loved tne ami cared for me as Jealously as any parents could. The second, Lily Uingtry, did not object to any cruel treatment accorded accord-ed me rather she was probably tempted tempt-ed to give me some herself, for I sat on her long train when she majestically majestical-ly walked across the boards, causing laughter which annoyed the lovely lady. I was Just twenty-one years old when the Shuberts made me a very-attractive very-attractive offer to enter musical comedy com-edy at $250 a week. It meant sep- j if K i t i s . '' ' i ' i ' ... 'K r -1 N 'j m m ; a . Buster Keaton. aration of the Three Keatons for the first time and at Lrst I hesitated in spite of the fact that the salury was most attractive. I finally accepted and was awaiting the call to rehearsals rehears-als when I had a visit from Joseph M. Schenck, who suggested that I make a series of two-reel comedies under his management He offered me $40 a week, but, in spite of the great difference In this sum and what the Shuberts offered, I at last decided on the movies and right here may I state that I've never regretted my choice. I made my first pictures at the Comlque Film company's studios, but my production plans were cut short by the outbreak of the war. I had only made five two-reel comedies when called to Camp Kearney. After a period of training there I sailed for France where I served as a private. I was abroad about a year, seeing some interesting service. After the armistice I helped entertain until ordered or-dered home. When I got back to the good old U. S. A., I resumed work under Mr. Schenck's able management and remained re-mained with him until about a year ago when I signed with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer company. Before I was elevated to stardom, I was co-starred with William Crane In "The Saphead," a picture which made a great hit. After this I was given my own company by Mr. Schenck. My first picture under this arrangement was "One Week." Among my most successful pictures were "The Navigator," "The General," "College," "Steamboat Bill, Jr." and I'The Cameraman." Recent pictures in which I have appeared ap-peared are "The Passionate Plumber" and "Speak Easily." Jimmy, "Schnoz-zle," "Schnoz-zle," Durante played with me In both of these pictures. In motion pictures as In any other profession, you do best what you enjoy en-joy most Comedy is my forte because I like it |