Biographies of Paramount Players and Directors (1936)

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u Km ALiaQN L .IPWORTH (Paramount Player) Alison Skipworth, a nar e to conjure with for more than a quarter oJ a century on Broadway and the London stage, was born in London, Eng'Jand, on July 25. She was educated by private tutors. Possessed of a fine contralto voice, she studied for a professional career from earliest girlhood, and obtained her first engagement as i-larie Temple's understudy in "The Artist's Model" . Daniel i^rohman, American producer, saw the operetta and heard Miss Skipworth during one of his trips to Loudon, and arranged to presont it on Broadway. Miss Skipworth was signed as prima donna. The ship that brought hor to New York docked at noon on a Christmas day. The opening matinee of "The Artist's Model" was scheduled for two o'clock. The English actress was rushud to the old Broadway theatre without even having cn opportunity to unpack hor luggage, literally hurled into a makeshift costume, and told to convince an American audience that she was good. The next morning sho found herself tho now toast of 3rc dway, acclaimed aliko by the public and tho critics. When tho show closed its long run. Miss Skipworth became a member of the old Frohmcn Stock company. Sho r.-iainod with this organization for many y^ars, appearing in more than 100 plays with the leading stars of the jcriod. Looking back at hor footlight career, Miss Si:ipworth considers "The Swan" in which she shared honors -.7ith Eva Lc Galliano as her favorite play, John Robertson Colo, who produced the play, sold it to Paramount and ftipor* vised tho filming, marking what is said to have been the first production transferred diroctly to the screen from tho stage without altering tho script. Miss Skipworth mado her screen debut in this silent picture. Returning to tho stc.f ;o for six more years, she next faced the camera in "Tho Circle". Oth^r silent pictures includo "Raffles", "Du Barry". Paramount placed hor under contract with hor rolo in "Sinners in tho Sun". Somo of her more recent pictures are: DEVIL IS h. Y/OMAN, SHANGHAI, DANGEROUS, PRINCESS COMBS ACROSS. •