Picture Play Magazine (Jul - Dec 1929)

Tke Stars' Secret Code A young man told me oi a time, some years ago, when he was working in a small joh on the M.-G.-M. lot and, owing to some trouhle at home, was in desperate need of ready cash. "I started across the lot," he said, "am made up my mind that I would stop the first man I met — whoever he was — and ask him to lend me some money. The first man 1 saw was Jack Gilbert. I doubted whether he even knew my name — I was just a kid and had the smallest sort of job there. But I stopped him. 'Jack,' I began, 'I'm in trouble and ' " 'How much do you need ?' he asked instantly. "I stammered that if he could let me have a hundred dollars, it would solve everything. He, gave it to me, then and there. Never asked me what was wrong, or why I needed it— r nor mentioned my repaying him. I did, of course, but it took me a long time. And I know Jack never would have mentioned it if I hadn't." " For the most part, such loans arc not repaid, nor is there any expectation of it. Picture people are a lighthearted lot and give their money away without using much judgment about it. I have never heard any one inquire whether an individual was deserving before helping him ! Richard Dix is known to be one of the most generous of actors and of course he is imposed upon. I happen to know that he was asked for money twenty-three times in one day — and came through every time. Xo income can stand a drain like that, and Richard's friends arc in a constant state of alarm over his open-handedness. When a certain actress had a period of bad breaks, she sold her household furnishings. Her friends paid two and three times what they would have had to pay in shops for the articles, and one of them paid her four hundred dollars more than the original price for her car! One young writer tells me he lived for four months without any money. His friends invited him out for all his meals and lent him enough for rent and cigarettes the first of every month. "I really think," he remarked, "that if I hadn't got a job, I could have continued on like that for a year or so." In case of any spectacular need, as when some one is ill and cannot work for a time, the purses of the entire industry open with the greatest promptness — even the purses of those who do not know the unlucky individual by sight. If he is Hollywood's own, Hollywood will take good care of him. I have seen people squabbling in the most undignified manner over who is to be allowed to assume responsibilities of this sort. Jack Dempsey and Estelle Taylor became very indignant once when other people offered aid to some one of whom they had taken charge. You are likely to find strange individuals living in homes of your friends. The presence of these odds Stars always have a startling number of relatives to support. In time of need it's all right to earn money by sweeping out a studio. and ends "i humanity ma) haps never be explained to you, I) u t y O U can pretty well pend upon it that they arc the ob i of tin I ual good will oi their hosts. They are treated for all the world like favored gu< and the chances are that there is real affection between them. Sometimes the guesl will be an actor or a director of a bygone day, and the friendship will be one of long standing in the profession. Again it will be a youngster, who needs a little boost while he is trying to :',et started. But there he is —as much at home as a brother or sister. a situation peculiar to Hollyw '• I sat in the office of a woman well known in the picture business the other day. Another woman entered, one of those most irritating and pathetic spectacles in the whole industry — tin mother of a movie child. "I am going to be turned into the street to-morrow," .she said. "What an you going to do about it?" And she sat back, with folded arms, having Cast her burden upon another, a more efficient pair of should' My friend gazed at her with some dismay. "Dear! Dear! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she fluttered. Then, after a few moments' thought, "Well, I think 1 know where I can get you something to do. If not. you'll just have to bring your little girl' and stay with me until we can get you settled !" And she dropped her own important work to scurry around, looking after a woman who was trying to live by exploiting her child. I heard another motherly woman talking to a young actor at a tea party a day or two ago. The boy. a stranger in Hollywood, was engaged in that most difficult business of making acquaintances and breaking in. "I want you to promise me something." she was urging him worriedly. "I want you to promise that you will not miss any meals. Oh. you needn't blush ! Young people do miss meals sometimes when they are getting started, if they let their silly pride stand in their way. Now, if you need anything you call me and say, 'I'm feeling a little low to-day. I'd like to come over for tea. or for dinner.' I'll understand." And that is really the ;L;ist of the entire matter. I f 1 [ollywood did not look after its own it might lose some very important talent. Every one has had to struggle. Every one has had to be helped by .some one in some way or other. Therefore it is unimportant to repay the •n who has 1 you. It is your responsibility to help the next straggler. I like to know tl things. And I thought that you would, too.