The blue book of the screen (1923)

ALICE BRADY IHIS member of a famous theatrical family ran true to form. First, she was daughter of William A. Brady, theatrical and, later, motion picture, producer. Second, she was born in New York. After an education at a New Jersey convent, she was sent to Boston for the study of music, as her father cherished the hope of a grand opera career for the young daughter. But Alice felt that, although she enjoyed her music, her advancement would not be rapid enough to satisfy her ambitions. So, when her father would not give his consent for a theatrical career, she ran away from school and joined a musical comedy company in Boston. When Mr. Brady discovered his daughter's escapade, he did nothing to assist or discourage her, thinking that the hard knocks of such a life would soon cause her return to school. But Miss Brady soon left this company for a better part in another. It was not long before she was in New York playing in Gilbert & Sullivan revivals, but it was not until she appeared in the prima donna role in "The Balkan Princess," at the Herald Square Theatre, that her father finally became reconciled to his daughter's ambition. He decided to give her a chance as leading woman in one of his own productions, and she forthwith proved her versatility by jumping from comic opera to drama. Miss Brady was assigned the principal part in the dramatization of Louisa M. Alcott's story of girlhood, "Little Women," and made a decided success of her role, playing it for a year in New York. Then followed the stellar roles in "The Things That Count," "Sinners," 'The Family Cupboard," "Forever After" and "Anna Ascends." In the meantime, Mr. Brady had added the allied art of photoplay production to his other activities, and Alice became inter ested. She applied to her father for a cel~ luloid role. He opposed, desiring her to continue her stage success. But the daughter, who had won her early battle, persisted and won. There was a disappointment in store for the ambitious young lady right at the beginning. Father, though foiled, had his own way this time, and Alice was forced to begin her film career in small parts. She accepted the verdict and labored conscientiously to climb the cinema ladder, which she did, bit by bit. World Film was her father's organization, and under its banner Alice Brady achieved success as a star in "Paid in Full," "Maternity," "The Hungry Heart," "In Darkest Russia," "The Dancer's Peril," "The Self-Made Widow" and other productions. Her next field was with the Select organization in September, 1917, when she worked at Fort Lee under direction of Edward Jose in such pictures as "The Silent Sacrifice," "Women and Wife," "The Knife," "At the Mercy of Men" and' "The Ordeal of Rosetta." . A contract with Realart brought her into a long line of productions, which included "Sinners," "The Fear Market," "Out of the Chorus," "The Dawn of the East," "Hush Money," "The New York Idea" and "The Dark Lantern." In 1922 Miss Brady became a Paramount star and has appeared in "Missing Millions," "Anna Ascends," "The Leopardess" and "The Snow Bride." Now she divides her time between the stage and the silver screen, and a great part of the time works both on the stage and for the screen. In the past year she has played in Broadway successes as well as many films. Miss Brady is five feet seven inches tall, weighs 110 pounds and has dark hair and eyes. 29