The filmgoers' annual (1932)

1 •!> The Filmgoers' Annual Once the Queen of Custard Pie Comedy, Louise Fazenda has seen them come and go. Happily Louise stays on. CLIVE BROOK Clive Brook went to America to make one picture and has remained six years. This young Englishman, who, if his family had not lost its fortune, would now be an attorney in London, has had a colourful and exciting career. Forced to abandon his education at Dulwich College at the age of fifteen, Brook became an assistant secretary at the Colonial Club in London, continued this for a year, then, while still in his teens, became a newspaper reporter, wrote a number of successful short stories and became a proficient violinist. His ambitions leaned toward theatrical work from his earliest years, being inherited from his mother. However, he never had the courage to make a definite attempt to reach the stage until after the war. After he left Dulwich he studied elocution at the Polytechnic and appeared frequently at recitals. Later he taught elocution. When he was fourteen he made his debut as an amateur actor and played in many amateur productions without attempting the professional stage. In September, 1914, he joined the Artists' Rifles as a private. Six months later the unit was dissolved and all its members made commissioned officers. Brook's first duty as a subaltern was to take charge of the machine gun section of a London regiment which waited for Zeppelins on the east coast. He then was assigned to the machine gun corps and saw service in that organisation for the greater part of the war. Among the larger engagements in which he took part were the second battle of Vimy Ridge and the battle of Messines. Brook rose to the rank of major while on active service, winning his commission through gallantry in the front lines. When the war was over he made his first effort at stage work. He broached the subject to Sir Alfred Butt and was immediately cast to play the lead in Fair and Warmer." This led to a contract with Basil Dean, who selected him to play the lead in " Over Sunday," in which he scored a great success. It was at this time that he met and married Miss Mildred Evelyn, his leading woman in that play and in " Sacred and Profane Love." He then played opposite Betty Compson in a picture entitled " Woman to Woman " and continued on the English screen for two years, before accepting a contract with the late Thomas H. Ince to go to the United States for one film ! JOE E. BROWN After twenty-eight years of making the public laugh, Brown is still only thirty-seven years old. He was born in Holgate, Ohio, July 23, 1S92, one of a family of eight children. He left home at the age of nine to join a circus and was an aerialist with the Five Marvellous Ashtons until he was fourteen. He was in San Francisco during the great disaster of 1906 and stood on the top of Russian Hill watching the city quake into ruins and burn. He slept in a park for two days, then crossed to Oakland and lived in a tent on one of the main streets with other refugees. No ambition other than entertainment ever entered his mind, except for a brief deviation into professional baseball. After his circus days he appeared in a vaudeville acrobatic act for twelve years, the team of Prevost and Brown. His first appearance on the musical stage was in the title role of " Listen Lester," which was followed by starring comedy leads in the " Greenwich Village Follies," " Captain Jinks." "Betty Lee." "Jim Jam Jems," and " Twinkle Twinkle." The only time he was ever " broke " was at the height of his career. He had been given the lead in the New York presentation of " Listen Lester " and was ready to go on when an actors' equity strike stopped the show. So he didn't start until five weeks later, opening in Washington instead. Going to Los Angeles less than four years ago in the musical comedy Twinkle Twinkle." he was seen by Ralph Ince who signed him for pictures. His first screen role was as the fresh reporter in " Crooks Can't Win." He wrote his own part in the production. This was followed by highly successful performances in " Hit of the Show," " On With the Show," " Sally," " Hold Everything," and " Song of the West." JOHN MACK BROWN John Mack Brown was born in Dothan, Alabama, September 1 . He is 6 feet tall, has black hair and brown eyes. He has five brothers, Harry, Henry, William, Charles, and David ; and three sisters, Mary Louise, Elsa, and Doris. All of the brothers have attended University of Alabama save Harry, who was sent to Georgia. Ben Lyon was with the World Film Company as a child actor, which means he has been through the mill. John was educated in Dotham public schools and University of Alabama — worked his way through the University as a clerk in a men's furnishing store — played football in high school, and when he went to University of Alabama, became an all-American half-back. His last-minute touchdown in a game against Washington University at Pasadena, New Year's Day, 1925, made him a famous athletic figure. He visited the Metro studios with his team, but caused no stir. He returned in 1926 as assistant coach of the Alabama varsity and through George Fawcett was given a film test. He found at that studio Dorothy Sebastian, whom he had known in the University. His first role was a small part as a cavalry officer in a Jackie Coogan picture, " The Bugle Sounds." His first big role was as leading man to Marion Davies in " The Varsity Girl." He gained quick recognition through " A Lady of Chance," with Norma Shearer and " Coquette " with Mary Pickford. Other photoplays include "A Woman of Affairs," " The Single Standard," with Greta Garbo, " Montana Moon," with Joan Crawford, and King Vidor's " Billy, the Kid." He has a passion for seeing pictures and goes five and six times a week — keeps in perfect condition by swimming, handball, boxing and golf — is married and met his wife at the University of Alabama — he has one child— doesn't drink or smoke — has never lost his rich southern accent — is canny about business affairs and still drives the same dilapidated car he bought when he first came to Hollywood. Is always to be seen with mongrel dogs which he picks off the streets and keeps until they desert him. His idea of an exciting Hollywood night is to go over to the home of his friend and sponsor the old character actor, George Fawcett, for a rousing game of draughts.