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Show How I Broke Into The Movies - Herman By IRENE RICH I FREQUENTLY wonder how my career would have been affected If Hollywood and San Francisco were farther removed from each other. And then I "bring up'' with a snap reminded that I've allowed a little "if" to creep Into my thoughts. The little two-letter word seems to have so much Influence In shaping our lives if we weakly allow al-low It to. We permit "ifs" to Inflict themselves them-selves upon us Instead of seizing upon our opportunities and making the best of them without thought of contingencies. I think I learned this lesson a trifle late, but when I did, the reaction bordered closely upon sheer recklessness it appears, as I look back. I Just went right ahead, throwing caution to the winds and came to Hollywood, friendless and without definite knowledge of a worth while course of action. All my life I had secretly cherished cher-ished an ambition to be an actress, but whenever I considered the possibilities pos-sibilities of failure if I attempted to gratify my desire in this direction, direc-tion, I was appalled. My two daughters and mother were with me In San Francisco, and when I J thought of going to New York and taking them with me well, there were Just a flock of "lfs" that persisted per-sisted in popping up. Hollywood i ' f , -A i i sf i sff -J Irene Rich. I hardly dared even to think of It at all. Fortunately, just when I thought I must do something to satisfy my long repressed desire to become an actress, my firm gave me a vacation. I resolved to go to Hollywood and try to "break Into pictures." Two weeks, I thought, would at least yield some definite answer, favorable favor-able or adverse. Blanche Ring, whom I had met and told of my ambitions, was playing play-ing In San Francisco at the time, and when I told her I had decided to go to Hollywood she gave me several letters of introduction to Influential In-fluential motion picture neoDle These I never used, for I felt that I should stand or fall solely upon my ability. The two weeks stretched on. I don't think anyone rattled studio gates more persistently and Ineffectually than I did. I walked miles between studios, hoping, but my only reward was "not a thing," and "come back next week." But the lure of pictures had taken hold of me during those weeks of seeking, and my discouragement found a counterbalance In increasing increas-ing determination. Five months I slipped by during which I eked out 1 a precarious existence, working now uuu men, and only encouraged by a few small "bits" along with "extra" work. Then, one day, I received a call from Vltagraph. just another "extra" "ex-tra" job, I thought, as I waited outside out-side the casting office with several others. But It wasn't, and when I left a few minutes later It was via the door Into the back lot to begin immediately In the second leading role with Earle Williams In "The Girl In His House." But even after playing this role I found that I had a long way to go. lhat was In June, IOIS, and during the succeeding months I received a little substantial encouragement Then came the real "break" following follow-ing the release of "The Girl In His House," when Dustln Farnun, chose e as his leading lady In "The Man In the Open." Thus reassured I sent for my children and mother, and we began modestly to enjoy the home nfe, of which we had so hopefully hope-fully dreamed. Seven loading roles opposite Will Rogers and two with Frank Keenan, which followed, lent mpetus to my confidence In the justification jus-tification of my ambitions to bo an actress. j'1 'T"' biU:k U sooms "t one iZT n,bovo ot,M?rs 13 t 'Vlmt th0 1,vss a"o's his thoughts to dwell on the "IW-tho tkm which S , wor,yu Kiatlfylng this munition. WNU Survlco |