Show how I 1 broke into the movies fl athe copyright by mat hat C C herman by LOIS WILSON awas WINNING INNING a personality award was responsible for my first break into motion pictures I 1 was born in pittsburgh and ami my parents moved to birding birmingham liam while I 1 was still a youngster it was there that I 1 was 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 being put on by the birmingham news not so much because I 1 had any belief that I 1 would win but more for or the novelty and excitement of 0 the competition the contest took place at a ball to which every girl in the state was invited the winner was to be chosen as contestants danced before the judges very much to ray my surprise I 1 was w as selected as the winner of the contest and given a trip to san francisco as a guest 0 of the universal film corporation this was mas in 1915 along with 47 other contest win winners ners 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 when the exposition was over I 1 3 sa loit lois wilson went to los angeles for a short I 1 t visit alter after which I 1 went to chicago chien where my aunt was living at the time I 1 heard that philip small and lots weber were making pictures in chicago so I 1 called on them with the hope of getting work miss weber was very friendly to me and because of my long hair gaie 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 her and guaranteed that were I 1 unsuccessful she would pay f my expenses home after doing a part of one picture with miss weber I 1 worked 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 chancy put my first makeup on and it was lie 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 girls to appear opposite him this was better and the salary was 40 a week which was most encouraging I 1 played pa a opposite mr kerrigan in nine pictures and then accepted an offer of 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 bir kerrigan was starring my first work under this banner was A mans man ilan 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 prayers lasky for whom I 1 have worked in many very fine pictures in my search for success on the screen the goddess of luck I uck has bus never deserted me and it Is to tier 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 lols lois weber and luck made me sign the cont contract rilet with famous players aud and again recently luck made me sign a contract with warner brothers where here I 1 made my first all talking g p picture c the gambler service |