Motion Picture Magazine (Aug 1928-Jan 1929)

our Hollywood may have its enticements, but they can never prevail against the charms of his own home in Kanawha Street, Charleston. He continues to regard Carry Me Back to West Virginny as his favorite national anthem Your Neighbor Next? This is the first of a series of articles based upon talks with visitors to Hollywood. There will be more — gathered from folks from every part of the country. What did they expect Hollywood to be like? And what was it like actually? Were they disappointed? Were they pleasantly surprised? Are the screen stars as beautiful face-to-face as they seem in pictures? Is life in Hollywood one long orgy — or pitifully tame? These are some of the questions that will be asked of outsiders inside Hollywood. And their answers will be printed as given. Besides other comment the folks from home may wish to make. Someone from your part of the country is there now. He — or she — may be the next to be interviewed. Or maybe you're going to be, yourself — and you will be. Watch for this feature every month. It's the sure way to get the inside story of Hollywood from people you know are telling it straight. Next month's Neighbor may be yours. Get ready to see what he says. — Editor's Note. A RE all these things you hear and read about Holly / \ wood really true? Do the picture people behave f~ "\ as scandalously as you've been led to believe? Would you recognize the movie stars if you saw them? Is Gloria Swanson beautiful and Bull Montana as homely as he looks on the screen ? There is someone in Hollywood who can answer all your questions. He is from your home town. Would you like to hear all about the stars from one who has seen them? I thought so! Gather 'round, folks. I found a man from Charleston, West Virginia, who is known to everyone in the state — Mr. N. R. Dawley. He's the young fellow who lives at 1301 Kanawha Street ; who plays golf and dances at the Kanawha Country Club, and sings in the choir at St. John's Episcopal Church down at the corner of Broad and Quarrier Streets. He's the man who drives and sells Rolls-Royce automobiles in all the territory around Charleston, the capital of West Virginia. He is a regular chap — a prince of a fellow, and I know he'll tell you a lot of things about Hollywood that will surprise you ! Just for the moment, let's say we are all in the Roosevelt Hotel, on Hollywood Boulevard— shall we go over in the far corner of the rotunda and listen to the boy from down South ? Pull up that easy chair. Here goes ! 40 N. R. Dawley West Virginia His Reactions to — His Actions in — By Walter Ramsey "It's really funny! You know, I didn't actually start out to come to Hollywood — I was headed for Wilmington to catch a boat for Havana. Hollywood just happens to be one of the places I was going through to get to it. Well, I only got half through ! We were in an automobile, going pretty fast down Hollywood Boulevard, when I happened to glance up, and I immediately said : 'Whoa, brotha', stop — this is the place — travel is no longa' necessary at all! You have come to the end of the search.' I got out, and I'm still out, and I may stay out for a little while. You know, something new comin' up every day — and I just can't help feelin' that if Ah left, Ah'd be missin' somethin'. "Funny thing ! The folks back home have some awfully peculiar ideas about this town. They used to say nobody drinks water out there, they just drink gin — that's about all — everybody's messin' 'round generally, and it's open season on husbands at all times ! (They had some other stories, too, but I don't guess I'd better repeat those!) Scandal Is Scant "YY7ell, I don't know! I came out here; I've been vv circulatin' 'round and making out like I wasn't dumb ; I've seen a lot of people and been plenty of places — and I don't know, seems like maybe we were all wrong. I couldn't find any more real scandal in Hollywood than I've found in lots of places in this country and on the other side. "You know, I still get the Charleston Gazette by mail every day, and there's always something about a shootin' or a general riot in Hollywood — some movie star raisin' hell, etc. Honestly, you would laugh if you could read the Hollywood newspaper report of the same story. It never is a star, or even a near-star, but always some punk kid, workin' as an 'extra' for $5.00 a day — who has gone haywire. Every bit of scandal about Hollywood, that I've traced down, I've always found to be about nine-tenths bunk— and the rest space-fillah. "Sometimes, you know, I just sit and wonder where all these ideas about Hollywood and picture stars origi