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Just chance! As you know, Dame Opportunity often takes a delight in ignoring those people who spend all their time on her trail, while suddenly appearing before others who are not even expecting her.
I was one of the latter. It happened when I was fifteen years old. Kalem Company had just built their Cliffside (N. J.) studio. The place
was within a few minutes' walk of my home, and I frequently had occasion to pass it.
Now, there was never a thought in my mind that I would some day appear in Motion Pictures. I was visiting some friends in New York City one afternoon when my mother phoned me, advising me to return home as soon as I could. She gave no
reason, and, considerably frightened, I hastened home.
The moment I entered the house I saw that my fears were groundless. Mother was chatting with a man whom I could recall having frequently seen in and about the Kalem studio. He proved to be Mr. Buel, the producing director. Mr. Buel had noticed me passing the studio, and it seems that I was just the type he wanted at that time.
Now, up to that time, I had posed for Harrison Fisher, and other artists, and I was the original of many of the illustrations on the magazine covers of that period. I had never had any stage experience and told Mr. Buel so frankly. He reassured me by declaring that in this event I would not have any of the mannerisms peculiar to the stage and that his work in directing me would therefore be considerably lightened.
All this occurred just two years ago. Thanks to the kindness of the directors under whom I have worked, I have obtained experience which many years on the stage might not have given me. There's "Bob" Vignola, for instance. He produced Kalem 's three-act masterpiece feature, "The Barefoot Boy," in which I played the title role. He gave me the benefit of his great experience and helped me to do what I consider my very best work.
Would I give up Motion Pictures for the legitimate stage? I would not ! Such an opportunity presented itself very recently, but I just adore my work and turned the offer down. Besides, Kalem tells me that in the future I am to portray nothing but leading roles, playing under the direction of and opposite Tom Moore.
Marguerite Courtot.
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