Show how I 1 broke into 1 the movies copyright by hal C C herman L by NOAH BEERY I 1 TRAGIC LV R A G 1 C t things h i n g s dr drove 0 v e me to the m movies 0 v 1 es b but u t 1 luck u ck g got 0 t me in I 1 I 1 had never dever entertained the idea of becoming a motion picture actor although as a child I 1 had had bad visions and hopes that some day I 1 might be a great figure on the legitimate stage I 1 was born in the ozarks jesse james and the younger brothers were the idols idol of every boy in our hills not because they robbed but because they were daring and courageous those thosa hill folk gave me much material tor for use after I 1 became a picture player but there were no jobs at home so I 1 went to kansas city where I 1 ballyhooed ballyhoo ed candy at the fair later some kind person helped me to new york where I 1 thought I 1 would be marvelously ly fortunate it if I 1 got a job as a chorus man instead I 1 sang solos tor for oscar hammerstein nammer I 1 was about to embark for or london on an engagement when my two children were stricken ill we lost one of them and alter after many months of am lety and grief we came to los angeles in 1010 1910 seeking health tor for noah jr we arrived in hollywood almost penniless with hardly more than the clothes upon our backs I 1 established my family in a one room apartment rent tour four and a halt half per week tor for which I 1 was trusted and set about looking for a job I 1 beard heard that cecil de mille was making a picture called joan of are arc I 1 had known de malle in new york but thought he be had forgotten me I 1 went to the studio entirely uneducated in the ways of 0 movies and applied at the casting office for a job I 1 got it a small part X k A 1 V noah beery fc with a salary of 20 for the job I 1 wore armor and believe me it was very heavy we rehearsed the scene over and over and my heart grew as weighty as the armor finally sir mr de mille walked through the set peered at me through the eye silt and said youre noah beery my spirits leaped to the skies I 1 did not see him for a week or more however a few days later I 1 was engaged to do the heavy opposite fanny ward in betty of the orange country with frank directing I 1 needed two complete outfits and I 1 had only the shabby clothes I 1 was wearing I 1 could not borrow nor could I 1 lose that job I 1 thought of my childhood idols james or younger they would have gotten the clot clothes hest 1 but this was not the ozarks I 1 took almost my last nickel and went down town to a high class clothier there I 1 laid my cards on the table the manager gave me two outfits from head to heel entirely on trust ill get the money he assured me making me happy by his confidence we went to pasadena on location at seven in the morning at ten the star arrived As she was descending from her motor she caught sight of 0 me she summoned Rel belcher cher there was a hurried and excited conversation and she stepped back into the car and drove olt off we returned to the studio where it was explained that due to change in the story I 1 was not the type needed the ils appointment was terrible there waa wa my sick child my unpaid rent and the clothier who trusted mel 1 I sought out milton E hoffman HolT mao the producer and begged him not to let this incident kill my opportunities in his studio I 1 explained the situ situation aaion and he be paid me my weeks salary one hundred dollars within a few days hoffman offman II gave me a job with mae mac hurray in A mormon mald maid and this won me a contract with lasky for three and a halt half years th there ere are many ways way of getting into the movies there are also many paths to stardom cyclonic publicity a famous name and yes sometimes sometime 8 ability cut but there Is only one way to keep ones place on the ladder of success after it to Is won that Is by sincere performance at all times and by the guidance of that divine spark whatever it may be it has been said that I 1 have contributed tri buted ray my best portrayals since tho the movies went talkie including among my productions sailor behave honeymoon lane riders ot of the purple sage in line of duty and Col columbian Colum bias To lable david shang hated love and she done mim wrong service |