Movie Classic (Sep 1936-Feb 1937)

Robert He wrote and asked our advice — and I had the biggest surprise of my life when I heard the news. I did not know whether to be glad or not. I told him : "Be careful — take your time — finish your education before you decide." Robert took my advice. He stayed in college and drove over to M-G-M every week-end for instruction in dramatics from Oliver Hinsdale, head of the studio's school for young players. But it was quite a drive from Pomona to Culver City and back, and he finally had to give it up — at least until after graduation. I came out to visit him a month before graduation and had been here only a few days when I fell seriously ill. They sent for Doctor Brugh and he stayed then until Robert graduated. That was on the nineteenth of June, 1933, and we left for Beatrice on the twenty-first. I have always been so glad that I had that sick spell, that Doctor saw Bob in California — even if he could not live to see him famous here. Robert told us that he would try acting for a year — and then, if it did not pan out, he would make use of his business degree. He came to Hollywood, took a room, and started a course in dramatics under a Miss Dixon, who operated a dramatic school. Every week or two, he would go over to the studio for a test or a tryout. The studio had an option on his services and was watching whatever progress he was making — without building up his hopes very much. Then, on August fifteenth, his father had an emergency operation and we thought that he could live only a few days. We sent for Bob. He started to drive home. On the way, he stopped in Pomona to tell Professor Ross the tragic news — and Professor Ross would not let the stunned, distraught boy make such a trip alone. He came with him, alternating with him at the wheel. When Bob had been home a month, his father showed so much improvement that we thought he was going to get well — and we aent Bob back to continue his work in dramatics. A month later, on October fifteenth, I had to send for him again. His father had died. . . . 'T'HIS time he flew back to Beatrice, -1 reached home in time for the funeral, and stayed to help me all that he could. He helped me to settle the estate and try to adjust myself to a life without Doctor, who had done everything but breathe for me. And this time Bob said that he would not go back to Hollywood unless I went with him. Some did not want me to go back to Hollywood with Robert; they thought I would be a hindrance to him, with my grief. "All right then," Bob said, "I'll stay here. I'll go to work in an oil station until something better turns up. I'll just forget about the movies." That put me in a hard place. I almost had to come. I wanted to stay in Beatrice. But I could not let a boy of his education, and abilities, go to waste there — when he had an opportunity to develop himself somewhere else. I had a darling little home — a little white house on a gentle rise of ground. "Let me stay just a year, until you see* how you make out," I begged him. "No, not even a year," he said. "Either you go with me, or I stay here." I rather believe that he had talked it all over with his father years before — and had promised that he never would leave me alone, that he would always try to make me happy. He had been brought up with that idea. His father had inspired him with it when he was just a young boy. It was the secret reason, I think, behind Robert's trustworthiness through the years. Somewhere, somehow, an impression has arisen that Robert's father left practically no estate — and that Bob had no choice but to continue with his acting. That was not true. His father did not die wealthy ; no country doctor ever does. But he did provide adequately for us. Bob did not have to accept the movie offer that he received. In fact, he did not sign a fullfledged movie contract until months later. On the twenty-fifth of November, 1933, we left Beatrice. We took rooms on Franklin Circle in Hollywood, and he resumed his dramatic studies, going over to the studio every so often for tests. He had not been back very long before he was appearing in plays at the Hollywood Playhouse, then the Pasadena Playhouse. The studio kept urging him to sign a contract, and the theatre people tried just as hard to keep him from signing. I had been a terrible expense, with sickness after Doctor's death ; and he was impatient to find out whether or not he did have any future on the screen. So, between those two considerations, he finally signed a long [Continued on page 98] 49