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20
Dunn Da^s Are Rosy Nov?
the school. But she was agreeable; she said "All right," And the test was taken.
But the training cost five hundred dollars. She didn't have five hundred dollars. "Oh, we'll fix that up," they assured her. "As soon as you start working, you'll get seventy-five dollars a week, and we'll take twenty-five a week out of your salary until the tuition is paid for."
Sixteen' players were graduated from the school, and burst upon a palpitant public in that gala hodgepodge, "Fascinating Youth." Some of the players have since disappeared into oblivion, or wherever they came from. As for the others, when Paramount closed their Long Island studio, they were re-signed and taken to California. Seven of them. Charles Rogers, of course Josephine Dunn, Jack Luden, Thelma Todd, Ivy Harris, Mona Palmar, and Walter Goss, who is now known as Roland Drew!
Josephine had already played one lead in New York, in "Love's Greatest Mistake." In California she was put to work in "Fireman, Save My Child," and then given smaller roles in support of Bebe Daniels. She worked most of the time, and things looked very bright and rosy. Especially when, in all that excitement as to who should be the blonde preferred by gentlemen, it seemed that it was to be Miss Dunn.
Yes, everything looked pretty promising. So, a month before her contract was to come up for renewal, Josephine went to one of the studio executives. Could she, she asked, count on a renewal? Her family was still in New York ; it was expensive keeping up two households. But it was also expensive moving them all out to California, unless she were sure of staying there herself. She needed a car to get around with
— Hollywood is very difficult without a car dare buy a small car?
"Go right ahead," they told her. "Rent an apartment, bring the family, buy the car, and don't worry. Your contract will be renewed, all right."
She went ahead. She did all these things. She paid for transportation for her mother, brother, and father, and the household effects they brought with them. She rented an apartment. She bought the car.
Then the blow fell. Anita Loos, who had the final decision, chose Ruth Taylor for the blond role, and saved her from desperate straits. But it was an ill
Jo is the same girl in prosperity or in need, and she despises
fair-weather friends.
Did
sue
wind for Josephine. When her option was up they said they were very sorry.
"You see," they explained, "when we said we'd renew the contract, we thought you were going to play in 'Blondes.' But now Ruth Taylor plays that, and it changes everything. You two girls are about the same type ; we won't have roles for both of you."
Still, though she was dismayed, she wasn't altogether discouraged. There are lots of other studios in Hollywood. There are— but there might as well not have been, for all the good they did her. Josephine was out of luck.
All through December, through January, February, and March, there was not a sign of a job for her.
Nothing except one little quickie, with about ten clays' work, called "A Million for Love."
Fortunately she had been practical. She had saved money. She had lived carefully in her salaried days. She had bought her few clothes only in gray and beige and similar neutral shades, that she could wear and wear without their seeming too obviously the same dresses. But the clothes began to get shabby; the savings dwindled and disappeared; her hopes, too, dwindled and disappeared.
All this is an old story, perhaps, to many a girl who supports herself. But when one is almost the entire support of the family besides, it is more than bad. It is desperate. If, at that time, she had had the money_ for fare, she would have given up, and hopped a train for New York and the chorus. Even that was out of the question.
It usually happens that, when things get so bad they couldn't be worse, there is a sudden change for the better. That came about in Josephine's case. Good luck came at last upon the horizon.
She had obtained the services of an agent. Going the rounds of the studios, he went to Metro-Goldwyn, and showed them screen tests of Josephine. They sent for her and a contract was signed. They put her to work immediately, in the coveted role opposite William Haines, in "Excess Baggage." Scarcely had she finished that film, when Warner Brothers called up. Al Jolson, it seems, had seen Josephine in a picture. He liked her looks ; he wanted her for his new film, "The Singing Continued on page 117