Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1920)

Director Al Santell as he looked after an argument with Bob, the lion. "Joe Martin, 5ittin|j atop the «ofa. is trying to look pretty. He Likes 'Em Wild! By EMMA-LINDSAY SQUIER URE I like "em wild!" The voice on the other side of the "set" at the Universal studio spoke positively, even V. 3 enthusiastically. "But Al," came a worried murmur, "she bites. She'd chew your ear off in a minute if she could." "Not a chance I'' responded the jovial Al. "I know all of Julia's moods. She's a bit temperamental, but she's alright when she isn't hungry."' "The hus.sy!"' thought I of the wild "she"' under discussion, and — "the fool" I added mentally of the invisible Al. I repressed a desire to recite aloud something about a rag, a bone, and a hank of hair for the moral effect it might have, and it's just as well that I did refrain, for at that instant, around the corner of the set. came a young man with brown eyes and the suspicion of a mustache, leading in tow — a full-grown lioness! There was no convenient table to climb upon, or even a property ladder to lend itself to my sudden desire to get thence from hence — quickly! And had there been such articles handy it is doubtful whether I could have taken advantage of them, for my pedal extremcties had ceased to function, my face felt pallidly cold, and I think I made a funny noise or two. for the Daniel-like gentleman helped me to a chair, patted me on the back and told me that Julia wouldn't hurt a lady. He also gave me his card on which was engraved "Al Santell, Director." I couldn't help wondering if Julia knew I was a lady, for she seemed to regard me hungrily. But such seemed to be Mr Santell's confidence in her altruistic motives that I gave her the benefit of the doubt, and conversed with the brown-eyed director as nonchalantly as was possible under the circumstances. "You specialize in directing wild animals then?" I asked him. secretly hoping that Julia's luncheon had been ample. "Well, not exactly." he answered with a smile that showed a row of even white teeth. "I have been making animal comedies here al Universal for the last year — ever since I came back from the service, in fact. I didn't intend to take it up as a specialty, but they discovered that I could manage the lions and also Joe ALartin, the orang-outang, and ever since then they've kept me at it. " He reached down to scratch Julia between her tawny ears, and drew his arm back sharply, swallowing a cuss word. "My arm s still on the bum." he apologized. "It hurts even, time I make a sudden move." "Rheumatism?" I inquired sympathetically. "No, Bob," he replied laconically. Then in response to my bewildered expression, ' Bob is one of our biggest lions. He charged me the other day and clawed my arm and leg. And you'd never guess what started it. His mate, 'Ethel,' died some time ago, and we had the skin stuffed. It was beine used in a scene from 'L^pper Three and Lower Four," an animalcomedy melodrama, and Bob came into the barred inclosure where he was to work. Well, sir, he spotted that stuffed lion, and I give you my word he knew it was Ethel. He made a sort of a purring noise, and went over to it and rubbed his nose against the hide — then, just as if he thought I had something to do with his mate being in that lifeless condition, he turned on me and I was lucky to get out of the cage alive. Funny how temperamental lions are." "Yes. isn't it — funny." I observed, listening to my heart do a tail spin inside my thorax while Julia watched me with unblinking amber eyes. "And wolves aren't the easiest things to work with either." he went on quite calmly. "They are always watching for a chance to snap at you. and once in a while they'll attack you. but they are interesting beasts to direct, nevertheless." "Interesting^!" I echoed in a far-away tone, but Wild-Animal W plunccd ahead with contacious enthusiasm. ".And Joe Martini " he said with something of awe in his tone. "'That monk is positively uncanny. He works just like a man — you tell him what to do and jx-rhaps show him once (Coutiuued on page Q4)