The Screen Guilds’ Magazine (January 1935)

January, 1935 Vrawrn by John Carr Warner Baxter Meet the “Cisco Kid” and the best screen performer of 1928-1929. Holly¬ wood resisted his charm for many years, although he was the first to use the gag of the sprained ankle gives the boy a chance. He was a traveling salesman with a yen for the theatre at that time. Dorothy Shoemaker’s partner broke an ankle on Saturday night with the act scheduled to open in Louisville on Mon¬ day. True to more recent scenario form, Warner had his songs and dance routine down pat, and remained with the com¬ pany for four months. Then he sold in¬ surance, and then invested his savings in his brother-in-law’s garage in Tulsa, arriving there just after the creditors and the sheriff. Stock company in Tul¬ sa and then Hollywood. Grew thin qn promises, then signed by Oliver Morosco to a long term in stock w T here he alter¬ nated with Edmund Lowe and Richard Dix under the stage direction of Dave Butler. Morosco took him to New York for “Lombardi, Ltd.” Married Wini¬ fred Bryson, and returned with her to Hollywood, where Paramount engaged him to play opposite Ethel Clayton. His first important hit was “In Old Ari¬ zona.” Then followed such successes as “Romance of the Rio Grande,” “The Arizona Kid,” “Such Men Are Danger¬ ous,” “Renegades,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Daddy Long Legs,” “Paddy, the Next Best Thing,” “Such Women Are Dan¬ gerous,” “Grand Canary,” and “Hell m the Heavens.” On loan-outs he made such successes as ‘ ‘ 42nd Street, ” “ Pent¬ house,” and “Broadw r av Bill.” J Loretta Young Always bright and twinkling, she reached a new stellar magnitude in “The House of Rothschild,” and less opportune roles have not dimmed her lustre. Was christened Gretchen, and is the most sparkling of a family con¬ stellation. Is one of the big Salt Lake City contingent, but went Hollywood at four when her father became business manager for George Melford, the di¬ rector. Her brother Jack led the family assault on the screen, appearing in sev- veral of W T ally Reid’s pictures. Polly Ann came next, and inadvertantly gave Gretchen her chance. She wasn’t at home one day when Mervyn LeRoy phoned her to come to the studio fpr a screen test. Gretchen answered the phone, took the call, and became Loretta Young in Coleen Moore’s “Naughty but Nice.” In 1929 Loretta became a Wam¬ pus Baby Star, as did also her sister Sally, Miss Blane to us. Strangely, she never liked school. But that, did not keep her from being sent to Romona Convent. She dislikes swimming, but her favorite sport is speed-boating.... is a skilled equistrienne .... likes danc¬ ing and is fond of good music. Attends movies at every opportunity and keeps a scrap-book. Her latest pictures have been “Midnight Mary,” “Man’s Castle” “Zoo in Budapest,” “Born to be Bad,” “House of Rothschild,” “Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,” and “The White Parade.” 3 • • • • Stars Franchot Tone Franchot Tone was born at Niagara Falls, but has resisted all efforts on the part of the fairer sex to lure him back there. Is Broadway’s gift to motion pictures, but has resisted the efforts of producers to lure him back there. He is one of the heirs to the Carbo¬ rundum Company, of which his father is president. But he thought carborun¬ dum was humdrum, and after finishing Cornell in three years and attending a summer session at the University of Rennes, in France, he entered a stock company in Buffalo. It might be men¬ tioned that he had been president of the Cornell Dramatic Club while in college. Played in “The Belt” at the New Play¬ wright’s Theatres in Greenwich Village, and later with Katherine Cornell in “Age of Innocence.” After “Cross Roads,” he went into Theatre Guild Productions in 1929, and then was Lenore Ulric’s leading man in “Pagan Lady.” Original member of the Group Theatre, appearing in “The House of Connolly” “1931” and “Night Over Taos.” His work in “Success Story” brought him a long term contract in mo¬ tion pictures. Golf, swimming, detect¬ ive stories and movies are his hobbies with dancing and bridge second. Made his picture debut in “Today We Live,” followed by “Gabriel Over the White House,” “Midnight Mary,” Stranger’s Return, ” “ The Dancing Lady, ’ ’ ‘ Moulin Rouge,” “Sadie McKee,” and “100% Pure.”