Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1912)

124 CHATS WITH THE ^PLAYERS "Aha!" I muttered, grimly. "I have the 'Proud Princess' in me pow'r!" A slender figure (about five feet six), in a blue gown, en train, with a chic turban on her shadowy dark hair, mounted the suffragette platform, her brilliant dark eyes and illumined face challenging the assemblage. Patiently I waited, until the vivacious "Molly O," as she is nicknamed, decided to eat ; for actresses do eat. sometimes, you know ! When she had donned a soft blue negligee, and had finished a delicious compote (Miss Buckley adores sweets, by the way), I ventured to comment on the dainty draperies in her cozy dressing-room. "I arranged them myself," she said, showing an even row of small, white teeth, and sitting by the white-curtained window, one tiny, satin-slippered foot pointed toward me. I noticed, too, that her delicate profile was turned toward the afternoon sun, which cast burnished shadows on her soft, dark hair. Above, two clear, girlish voices sang. "There are eyes of blue !" Confused sounds from the studio came faintly under the door. Still the two young voices sang on. Miss Buckley sighed faintly. "One must not 'stand still' with any talent." she said, turning earnest eyes upon me. "I once wandered into a quaint old church in a secluded village. The minister, a man of striking personality, preached the sermon of the 'Five Talents.' It made a lasting impression upon me. The choir sang softly, and " Here her beautiful contralto voice faded away with the voices of the "extra" girls in the dressing-room above. After a little pause, I asked Miss Buckley where she was born. "I am of German and English parentage, and was born in San Francisco," she said ; "and educated — let me see — all over the United States." I gasped. "Convents in summer, and played in winter," she resumed. "I used to amuse the good sisters — one, Sister Clara Maria — with my plots of plays, 'Love' being the sweet theme. I studied, and was very fond of geography and spelling." Just then, Bennie, the Lubin mascot, knocked authoritatively, and was received with acclaim. After leaving a hurried message, and bidding me a courteous adieu, he disappeared noiselessly. Bennie is a gifted diplomat. "Do you know," resumed "Mollie O," "that I came East when I was two years old, and drifted back. Went on when I was six years of age. "I made my first dramatic hit as the Chinese girl, in 'The First Born.' I then went ^ith Charles Frohman. Played in 'Hearts and Trumps,' an enormous melodrama ; I was the heroine; Amelia Bingham played the mother. In the company were E. M. Holland, Edwin Arden, Sidney Herbert, Miller Kent and Jessie Busley — a wonderful cast. "Been abroad? Oh, yes — twelve times! Distances humanize and broaden one." "Mollie O's" deep brown eyes became reminiscent again. "American women are treated like princesses abroad. Suffrage is not hurting the Cause. You see, over in England, the women are not treated like us. American women are pampered, beautiful dolls. The English women are compelled to take drastic measures in order to receive attention." "A woman, a horse, and a chestnut tree, The more you beat 'em, the better they be!" ran thru my mind, irreverently. "Abroad is very lovely," she went on, "but I am now content to look over my own country. "Are you ever undecided?" she queried. "One can acquire definiteness of purpose. I used to wonder what I should have for breakfast every morning, so I finally pasted this paper on my mirror : 'I KNOW WHAT I WANT !' "Where do I live? At the Majestic Hotel — charming environment and luxurious apartments. "I like the Motion Picture playing better and better every day. The applause is nothing to me. I love the work, and then, you see, Mr. O'Neill inspires one so. He is a genius!" Her great, dark eyes glowed as she spoke of her work, altho she has only been at the "Photoplay Palace" nine weeks. "The most attractive people do not look well upon the screen," Miss Buckley asserted. "And, speaking of Motion Pictures, your magazine is perfection. I must subscribe regularly. The pictures are clean-cut, and the stories cleverly written. "I like character work best; that is to say. foreign or 'straight' parts, and my favorite role is the lead in the 'Japanese Nightingale,' altho I loved my engagement with Walker Whiteside — a great actor, particularly from a technical standpoint. "I created Chloris, in the 'Magic Melody.' " Here Miss Buckley showed me her French Grammar. "I adore French!" she exclaimed, her sweet face alight. "Study it at night, too !