Show howl Broke into the movies 0 R athe copyright by hal C herman r BY CORI CORINNE NE GRIFFITH V CHOICE of a screen career was M MY really more or less accidental I 1 grow up with any idea of going into motion pictures os as so many other actresses have done I 1 always loved the theater and always had a strong interest in the silent drama but it was an impersonal sort of feeling I 1 never associated either of them with the thought of a career for myself music was to have been by meads means of self belt expression while I 1 was still attending school in new orleans I 1 had my heart set on a thorough musical education I 1 wail was to have studied in new york under the best teachers arid and then take several years abroad whether I 1 could have done anything with this art professionally I 1 really dont know I 1 was not considering it from the point of view of earning a living at the time merely as a sort of sublimated sideline but before any of these roseate dreams of travel and music in the capitals of the world could come true my father suffered severe business reverses and the family resources collapsed suddenly and without much warning it was not only necessary to abandon my ideas but to go out and earn a living like many girls I 1 was without any particular training tor for battling the world 1 had not dot progressed far enough with my music to make it provide for me and I 1 knew nothing else that seemed to offer a means of earning a livelihood I 1 had relatives in california and went there the west was certainly kind to me for I 1 had been on the coast only a short time when an incident trivial in itself blazed a way IV corinne griffith for me just when I 1 most needed it I 1 was dancing one evening at a santa monies monica ballroom with some friends I 1 did not even know at the time that a brunette beauty contest was being held but presently I 1 heard my name called out during the proem process of elimination I 1 won the contest much to my surprise and somewhat to my amusement 1 I 1 had no do idea that it would lead to anything put but among the judges was rollin hollin sturgeon then a director for Vita graph and he offered me a small part parl needless to say I 1 accepted I 1 played one or two bits with vita graph and then appeared in two pictures with earle williams and one with harry morey they cast me in wild vamp roles at first which was excellent training as aa I 1 have since appreciated precia ted tor for without previous stage experience it would have taken much longer to get over my stiffness and akard awkwardness ness before the camera especially now that talking pictures are in ID vogue rogue but those vamp parts proved just the right thing to loosen me up and make me forget myself I 1 remember in one of them I 1 wore won my first long train with a mingled feeling of pride and worry it looked very decorative but also very dangerous and I 1 was in continual fear at first lest I 1 trip on it and embellish some highly dramatic scene with an inglorious tall fall that most certainly would have changed the pictures tempo from drama to buri burlesque esquel I 1 after very few of these roles I 1 was fortunate enough to be sent east cast and starred in my own right fate was good to me and the winning of that beauty contest undoubtedly saved me many heartbreaking heart breaking months of discouragement coura gement to in the alie extra lists M I 1 by hal cherman |