Show how I 1 broke into the movies movie 41 Q j copyright by hal C C merman by LOIS WILSON INNING a personality award awas WINNING was responsible for my first break into motion pictures I 1 was born in pittsburgh and ray my parents moved to birmingham while I 1 was still itell a youngster it was there that I 1 was wa graduated from high school and entered alabama normal college with the idea of becoming a school teacher I 1 entered the beauty contest that was wa being put on by the birmingham news not so 0 o much because I 1 had any belief that I 1 would win but more for the th novelty and excitement of the competition the contest took place at a ball to which every girl la III the state was wag in III tiled the winner was waa to be chosen as a contestants danced before the judges very much to my surprise I 1 was selected as aa the winner of the contest and nd given a trip to san francisco as a guest of the universal film corporation this was in 1915 along with 47 other contest winners I 1 left on the american beauty special the train that carried us to the coast it was a glorious trip we were welcomed and entertained at all the principal cities en route when the exposition was waa over I 1 1 41 t a lor lois wilton wilson went to los angeles tor for a short visit after which I 1 went to chicago where my aunt was living at the tle time I 1 heard that philip small and lots lols weber were making pictures in chicago so I 1 called on them with the hope of getting work miss bliss weber was very friendly to me and because of my long hair gave me a part in a picture she was directing with miss weber told me she was sure I 1 had screen possibilities and took me back to hollywood with tier her and guaranteed that were I 1 unsuccessful she would pay my expenses home after doing a part of one picture with miss bliss weber I 1 worked tor for two months as an extra at universal studio by this time the desire to gain success in pictures was imbued in every fiber of my body in one picture and I 1 laugh when I 1 think of it I 1 played the part of a dope fiend lon chaney put my first makeup on and it was tie he who gave me instructions on the subject about this time J warren kerrigan was looking for a leading lady and picked me from a group of extra estra girls to appear opposite him this was better and the salary was 40 a week which was most encouraging I 1 played opposite mr kerrigan in nine pictures and then accepted an offer of 11 0 with a company in san francisco upon completion of this work I 1 returned to hollywood and signed a long term contract with the old paralta company for whom mr kerrigan was starring my first work under this banner was A mans man it was my first real big opportunity and from there on things were easier when the paralta company went out of business I 1 had contracts offered me and accepted the one with famous players lasky for whom I 1 have worked in many very fine pictures in my search tor for success on the screen the goddess of luck has never deserted me and it Is to her that I 1 attribute a great share of whatever success I 1 have achieved luck made me enter the contest luck introduced me to lots lols weber and luck made me sign the contract with famous players and again recently luck made me sign a contract with warner brothers where I 1 in made ade my first all talking pie picture the gambler |