The filmgoers' annual (1932)

170 The Filmgoers' Annual WILL ROGERS Born at Oolagah, Indian Territory, on November 4, 1879. Educated at theWilliw Hassell School at Neosho, Missouri, and at the Kemper Military Academy at Booneville. Married Betty Blake at Rogers, Arkansas, on November 25, 1908. Learned to rope and ride while he was a ranch hand in Oklahoma. Decided to go into vaudeville and made his first appearance at Hammerstein's Roof in New York in 1905. Was an immediate hit and was soon in demand by all booking agencies. Made several tours of the " Big Time " circuit. Finally was induced to join " Ziegfeld's Follies," and later was featured in " Night Frolics." This was in 1917 and, with the exception of three years he spent in motion pictures, has been featured in Ziegfeld shows. More recently took Fred Stone's place in " Three Cheers " when Stone was hurt. Again he was a tremendous hit. Left the show when it went on the road. Charles Dillingham, producer of '' Three Cheers," always sent Rogers his salary in the form of a signed cheque. Permitted Rogers to fill in the amount. What the amount was has always been a secret. Safe to assume that it was not so large as it would have been had Dillingham inserted the figures. Hobby is flying, and he has written some of his best quips while up in the air. Has a polo field at his ranch between Hollywood and Santa Monica. Taught his son, Will, Jr., the game. Both are now experts. When asked if he reads any fiction, Rogers replied : " Yes, the newspapers." Height, 5 feet 11 inches; has dark brown, grey streaked hair and blue eyes. Speaks with a drawl and sees the humorous side of everything. NORMA SHEARER She went to New York in 1920, with her mother and sister, to try and break into the movies, and starved for six months, without getting a single chance. She reported with sixty girls for twelve to be picked for a college picture made in New York. This first job lasted just three days. Her next good fortune was the leading part in a western at £20 a week. It lasted just one week. Another period of enforced leisure followed, with long time between chances. Then she began to get feminine leads, including "The Stealers" and " Channing of the Northwest." These brought a contract from Louis B. Mayer and the chance to go to Hollywood. In Hollywood she met her husband, Irving G. Thalberg, now head of production for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Sht met him in the office of Louis B. Mayer, and so young is he that she thought him the office boy. She found he was the production boss. Her pictures include "Broadway After Dark," " Pleasure Mad," " Bro 1 w s? W S^L \ Barbara Stanwyck came along in The Locked Door " to show us the stuff of which stars are made. ken Barriers," " He Who Gets Slapped," " Lady of the Night," " Slave of Fashion," " Tower of Lies," ' His Secretary," " The Waning Sex," "Upstage," "Demi Bride," "The Student Prince," " After Midnight," and " A Lady of Chance." Her starring talking pictures include "The Trial of Mary Dugan," "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," " The Divorcee," " Their Own Desire," " Let Us Be Gay," and " Strangers May Kiss." Born in Montreal, August 10, 1904; height, 5 feet 3 inches; dark hair; blue eyes. LOWELL SHERMAN Lowell Sherman, unlike many actors, did not have to run away from home to go on the stage. For generations his ancestors have achieved fame in the theatre. Kate Grey, his grandmother, played with the senior Junius Brutus Booth in Boston about 1850. She later played in the West with Edwin Booth. For many years his father, the late John Sherman, was a stage star in San Francisco. His mother was also on the stage at that time. Sherman made his stage debut at the old Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York in a sketch written by John Jack. Later he appeared with Frank Keenan and Nance O'Neil. He scored his first hit in " The Commuters," which was soon followed by " The Heart of Wetona," " The Sign on the Door," " The Guilty Woman," " Casanova," and many others. He made his first screen appearance under D. W. Griffith in "Way Down East." Since that period he has divided his time between stage and screen. Among his most recent pictures are " Mad Hour," " The Whip," " Angel Face," " The Scarlet Dove," " Satan in Sables" and " General Crack " with John Barryin. ii e. Born in San Francisco, October 11, 1885. LEWIS STONE See Page 38. GLORIA SWANSON One day while she was still at school in Chicago, she visited the old Essanay Studios and while watching the fi'ming of a scene decided, impulsively, that she would like to work in pictures. Her ambition was realised a few days later when she was called to the studio and given a " bit " in a picture. Miss Swanson remained at Essanay several months, her final work for that organisation being a part in " Elvira Farina and the Meal Ticket." Then her ambition to become a singer on the concert stage almost triumphed. An impresario had tested her voice and enthusiastically advised its development. He recommended a teacher on the Pacific Coast, and Miss Swanson decided to go to him. In Los Angeles, however, the plans for vocal study were set aside when Mack Sennett made a place for her in his company. She appeared in " The Pullman Bride " for Sennett and costarred with Bobby Vernon in a series of comedies. Other pictures in which she appeared included " The Nick of Time Baby," " Teddy at the Throttle," and " Haystacks and Steeples." Miss Swanson, in the meantime, had developed an intense desire to do serious roles and such an opportunity came to her in an offer from the Triangle Company, for whom she made " Station Content," " Her Decision," " You Can't Believe Everything," and " Every Woman's Husband," " Shifting Sands," "Wife or Country," and " Secret Code." Impressed by her success with Triangle, Cecil B. de Mille made her a contract offer, and as soon as she was released from Triangle, Miss Swanson made, under de Mille's direction, " Don't Change Your Husband," "For Better or Worse," " Male and Female," "Why Change Your Wife," " Something to Think About," and " The Affairs of Anatol." Next she appeared under the Paramount banner and starred in " The Great Moment," " Under the Lash," " Her Husband's Trademark," " Beyond the Rocks," " The Gilded Cage," " The Impossible Mrs. Bellew," " My American Wife," " Prodigal Daughters," " Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," " Man-handled," "Wages of Virtue," " Madame Sans Gene," " Coast of Folly," " Stage Struck," " Untamed Lady," and " Fine Manners." Miss Swanson announced in May, 1926, that she would henceforth produce her own motion pictures through her own corporation with releasing arrangements through the United Artists Corporation, ot which she became an owner member. " The Loves of Sunya " was the first of these pictures, " Sadie Thompson " the second, and "The Trespasser," her first singing and talking picture, came next, to be followed by "What a W'idow I" and " Indiscreet." She is 5 feet £ inch tall and has dark brown hair and blue eyes.