Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 August 1936 — Page 16

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Became Actor by Accident]

Now Is Anxious to Devorel

Efforts Toward Ambition

Hopes fo Do Biography, Dealing Largely With Stage;

Plays, Magazine

Articles Also on ;

Former Actor’s Prospectus.

(Editor's Note—When Leslie

Howard announced recently that

he would devote most of his time in the future to writing, that he was practically through with acting, we wrote him asking for an trticle explaining his decision. Here it is.) :

BY LESLIE E HOWARD

It invariably amuses me to hear the average opinion about writing To hear some observers, it is a matter of God-given talent and the inspiration of genius. into consideration that a writer has just 26 letters with which to work.

and people who achieve it.

‘They are his only tools in a complicated trade.

Writing, I have always thought, is so very much like life itself. One begins at the logical beginning and is swept along in a tide, a current of events and circumstances and niingled emotions.

a flow of thoughts translated into Both life and writing, one pregumes, should be orderly and influenced by beauty. In life, one struggles for existence and sometimes starves for food. In writing, one struggles for the power of expression and frequently starves for success. There is a parallel there, somehow. Writing Was Ambition

If the subject occupies my mind «to the exclusion of other thoughts, there is a reason. I am just about to devote more of my time to the Business of writing and less ‘to actg. It has always been my ambition to write. That may be said for almost every one. First, I should like to do an autobiography, principally because it would deal so largely with the theater. Then, I hope, to write for the theater. I hayen't any ides whether I'll be good at the job or not, but I do have definite ambition. I have none of the instinct which makes the profession and the art of acting so pleasant for some men. I am not temperamentally gaited for it. To me, acting is hard work. To begin with, I got into the pro- . fession by accident. ‘It was just after the World War. I wanted to write plays and was determined to not go back into the banking business. The only job open was a small part in a play. It surprised me that I got it. Then, to my own amazement, the public liked me in “The Cardboard Lover.”

Studied for Profession

"Nothing else appeared to open for me, so I stayed on. “Those, to me, were the days of mediocrity. But I studied more thoroughly, perhaps, than I should have done in some work that I enjoyed and in which I felt sure of myself. Luck was with me in New York and London. It was even more pronounced when 1 was cast in. “Berkeley Square.” Now, I have finished my role with Norma Shearer in “Romeo and Juliet” and am leaving Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer. If the fates. that be are acquiescent, I am almost through with acting, even though my greatest . satisfaction in the 6 business came with this role! as Romeo. Nevertheless, I choose to write if that be possible. It is not that I am unappreciative. On the contrary, I am humble, deeply grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. My hope now is that I may use them, along with what experience has been allotted to me, as the tools of a new trade in: which I rate myself & novice.

Wrote Play Success

I have written a few things. There was the play. “Murray Hill,” that had some success, I do a little for the magazines, Now, I want to write for the stage and the screen, too, if I: can do it well enough. ~ * Of course, I: shall- return . to Hollywood. : They tell me there that

words.

WHERE, WHAT, WHEN APOLLO

“Poor Little Rich Girl”, with Shire ley Temple. Alice Fave. Jack Haley. t 11:41, 1:41, 3:41, 8:41, 7.41 and 9.41.

C1%CLE

“Rhythm on the Range, * with Bing Prances Parm Bob b, Purls

with Louise Latimer. at 13:45, 3:35,

6:17 LOEW'S

“Meet Nero Wolfe.” with Edward a Ferry and Lionel 12; 2:50, 30. 8:05 Also. mrss Wise Gu a with Robert Young and Betty ness, at 11, 1:35. 4:12, 6:50 and 9:35. KEITH'S “Midsummer Festival Revue,” Federal Players’ production with vaudeville and a short dramatic sketch, “The Valiant. * Curtain at 8:15

LYRIO ?

Blackstone, magician, and Jude, ville on stage at 1:04, 3:53, 6:42 a 9:31. “Two Against the World,” with Humphrey Bogart and verly erts. on screen at 11:42, 230, 5:20. 8:09 and 10:31.

ALAMO | “The Mine With the Iron Door” with Cecelia Parker and Richard Arlen. Also “Petticoat Fever” with Robert Montgomery and Myrna Loy.

AMBASSADOR

“Private Number” with Robert Taylor and Loretta Young. Also ram Springs” with Frances Lang-

OHIO

“Devil's Island” with Victor Jory.

Also “Farmer in the ‘Dell” with Jean

Parker and Fred Stone.

Harpo Told Weight; ‘Fortune’ Proves Dud

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 6—Harpo Viarx invested a penny in his weight and his “fortune.” The dial on the scales indicated his weight and a card dropped. out revealing his “fortune.” It said, “You have a great career ahead of you, but, among other things, you talk too much.” Harpo hasn't spoken a word on stage or screen in 15 years.

Gift From Admirer Costs Actress a Tooth

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 6—A .fan mail package proved full of grief for Maureen O’Sullivan: recently. Arriving home from work the star found the postman had left her a loaf of bread by a Bedouin fah.in French North Africa; Miss O’Sullivan bit into the tough crust and one ‘of her teeth broke instead ‘of the crust.

Astaire Goes Blackface Fred Astaire goes blackface for his festasiar “Bojangles of Harlem” number in "Swine Time. ig

They fail to take

In writing, it is

is ‘booked for REY Adverse piping . | BY PAUL HARRISON ; HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 6—(NEA)— Since Sid Grauman began

(“A

stars.

For years these spectators have

risked their necks perching on apple boxes, being crusned by the mob barriers of steel cables, and

being rudely herded here and there |

by mounted policemen. Getting caught in a premiere crowd is one

of the most harrowing experiences

an inexperienced tourist can have.

But the “Anthony Adverse” pre- | There was & |

miere was different. d for the spectators. And there was a 20-plece orchestra and two crooners for their entertaniment. Also an orchid show, a splash. of prodigality which wouldn't have been considered a féw years ago.

Like Presidential Visit

The grandstand wasn’t big enough to accommodate the crowd, but it was a nice gesture on the part of Warner Brothers. The bleachers held about 1500, while some 15,000 others swarmed outside the theater on foot. Trafic was jammed for blocks in every direction, except for one narrow lane through which rode the stars. Every one was half blinded by the brilliance of the lights. To all but the police this confusion was very gratifying. By dint of professional privilege; I got a place in the grandstand. This afforded a good view of the gauntlet along which people passed into the theater; also of the microphone to which celebrities were led—most of them protesting modestly—to say a ‘few carefully rehearsed words to their public. There were loud speakers everywhere, I glanced at some of the people in the stand, most of whom ha waited there for hours. They appeared sane, and many looked quite prosperous, Two spinsterish ladies behind me were knitting and gossip ing of Hollywood tove affairs.

Each fo His’ Own Star

I sat between a fat man and a little girl. She had a large bag of potato chips and offered me some. I asked if that was her dinner. She said, “Yes, only I had a ham sandwich, but I ate that because I have been here since 4 o’clock. I came to see Shirley Temple.” “She isn’t here,” sald the fat man. “He keeps saying that,” whispered the little girl. “She’s coming, isn’t) she?” “I don’t know. March is coming. ble.” “I don’t care, » said the little girl. What, No Autograph? A boy of about 15: tapped me on the shoulder and: asked, “Say, how many ‘Gable autographs "you got?” I admitted I had none. Every one within hearing looked at me in surprise. Somewhere in the rear ‘a woman with a_.nasal voice was telling her husband she just knew ‘he'd left the sprinkler turned on in the back yard. He said he hadn't; she said he had; he said dammit, he hadn’s, he hadn’t wanted to come here, anyway. Cail | In front of me were ‘two very young men who had a ask.

SWIM ‘AND PLAY THE

| LONGACRE

WAY"

4700 Madison Av. South on State Rd. 31

But Fredric So’s Clark: Ga=

pr STL r.¥T

once you have been injected with the virus of the place, there is noi:

ence in New York and elsewhere, to :

think. of California ‘and “feel a strange nos

melting snow and y looked its most bedraggled, x would find myself remembering .', . today they are playing tennis in Hollywood . pola. 3 100, and swimming at Malibu. | have gidzed down on Manhattan fon 8 lofty hotel window to watch its trafic crawling in the manner of a crippled and deformed. serpent; ts people scurrying like intelligent ts and caught myself remembering the verdure of the hills and the Manan) blue of the Pacific.

Schoolmates Gave Ginger Nickname’

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 8. Youtntal,

nicknames seldom stick like the one

Fort Worth (Tex.) playmates gave

When New. York. tters ith’ gu rs ran w

LON THE

0 | HERBERT

MARSHALL:

SCREEN 3

A DRAMATIC REVELATION OF ECSTATIC LOVE!

RUTH

HEMEL

N GIRLS | DORMITORY )

SIMONE SIMON

The “big push”--to see movie stars.

The above scene was photo-

graphed outside Grauman’s Egyptian theater in Hollywood the night of the world premier of “Anthony Adverse.” One of the oorps of police-

men required to hold back the crowds as they surged in to

favorites is shown doing his duty.

tipped the .flash rather ostentatiously and one opined that this was kinda like ‘a football game. The other said yeah, only they got no cheer leaders or hot dog salesmen. “Next year,” said the first, “they'll have yell leaders and hot dogs.

-see fim

Just lookit those ‘cops | getting

pushed around.” The cops were getting pushed |

around. Stars were arriving rapidly now, and the crowd was surging

over and under the steel cables to

get at. them for autographs, or to

WARNER

: Star of “His Brother's

‘bors in Beatrice | of Robert pianist: Then he, took up

Tomorrow, Didn’t

Wife, Film’ Opening at Loew’s

Have Ambition to

‘Become Famed Screen Actor.

of want £

Hobert Taylor to become famous. . It seems

. Taylor, ‘latest’ picture, “His Brother's Wife,” opens at never desired to become a movie star. wanted to be & great many other things, and being a versatile

into varied activities. First he

, he decided to become a cowboy."

bout that time, however, » Sh TOUSLcal talent asserted itself, and neigh , Néb., had visions into ‘a concert Sax0phone, and a career §t tne heud of 8 dance band was prophesied. There also was ,an excursion into

2 the art of cello playing, which led

“For the stars to leave, Everybody waits for the stars to leave. Ion be only about three hours.”

Plunkett Designs Gowns for Hepburn

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug, 8—Katharine Hepburn will wear 22 gowns

film “Portrait of a Rebel,” in which she is to be co-starred with Herbert Marshall

The gowns will cover the styles from 1869 to 1890. Thirty-nine dresses -are being designed for the other principals and there will be 216 costumes for fhe extras. -

* Plays Scientist's Daughter Barbara Pepper plays a scientist’s daughter who is threatened by an Egyptian curse in the new Wheeler and + Woolsey comedy, “Mummy's Boys.” .

the village pastor to predict another brilliant concert career. But Robert went ‘back to jazz as a member of the Harmony Boys, radio entertainers. - As a high school student, young Taylor discovered that he had a talent for: oratory. His silver-ioneg voice’ won for him, among other things, a raccoon coat and a 10-day trip to Detroit.

Politics Got Chance

So it: was to be a- political career, that much was settled. He took up the study of medicine at. nearby

Doane College after graduation, and studied there for two years. Science wooed the collegian during this period, and he transferred to Pomona . College in California where he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree, competed in oratorical contests, played the lead in college plays ‘and hoped that something would happen-to send him to Europe for further scientific studies.

my pocketbook,” Mr. Taylor exe plained. “Any idea of continuing my studies in Europe was blasted, and for the first time in my:life I was faced with the problem of earning my own living.” -

He was offered a screen contract, *

which he accepted as. his only alternative, but not -until he. bad received his college degree, ‘And, in spite of himself, Robert Taylor has risen from the ranks of cone trict players in the remarkably brief time of two years,

House of Commons Set Being Designed

Times Special HOLLYWOOD, Aug.: 6A reproe duction of the House of Commons as it was in the 1880’s is among the 74 sets being designed ' by Cedris Gibbons for the filming of “Parnell,” starring Clark Gable -and Joan Crawford. A camera crew has been - dise patched to Ireland where the coun tryside will be filmed. It later will be sent to London to photograph historical buildings for use ‘in

“Then came a financial slump. in“Parnell.”

iii