Hollywood Studio Magazine (July 1972)

DOWN MEMORY LANE Where yesteryears stars are today... a continuing feature by JESS L. HOAGLIN FRANCIS LEDERER Born in Karlin, a suburb of Czechoslovakia, November 19, 1906, Francis Lederer was the son of a leather merchant. He worked his way through school by toiling as a delivery boy for a Department store in the Czech capitol. He was a brilliant student and won many honors at the Prague Academy of Dramatic Arts. His first professional appearance was as an extra at Prague’s Old German Theatre. He appeared in many small parts during the early phase of his career before going into the Moravian provinces as a leading actor. At the age of 17 he was offered a contract as first leading man of the Burg Theatre in Vienna and a short time later Max Reinhardt sought him to play Romeo opposite Elizabeth Bergner’s Juliet. Lederer became an overnight success and was hailed as the most exciting personality on the European stage. He became one of the top stars of German films, later attaining a position of equal prominence in French motion pictures. He made his London debut in the musical play, “Meet My Sister” and created a sensation as the romantic lead in “Autumn Crocus.” When the play opened in New York the critics and public were unanimous in their praise of Lederer and he became one of the new matinee idols of America. It was soon after his spectacular debut on the New York stage that he was signed for his first motion picture film, “A Man of Two Worlds,” produced in 1933. Among the many films he appeared in were “Pursuit of Happiness,” “Romance in Manhattan,” “The Gay Deception,” “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” and “The Bridge of San Luis Rey.” Among his subsequent stage hits in New York and on the road were “Seventh Heaven,” “No Time for Comedy,” “Golden Boy” and “Watch on the Rhine.” Following World War II Lederer returned to the European stage and appeared in numerous films on the Continent. One of his most compelling roles was that of Anne Frank’s father in the stage version of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” After touring in the national company, he directed and starred in a production at the Sombrero Playhouse in Phoenix, which won the annual award for the best show of the year. Lederer has made the acting profession his life work and hobby and is a gifted director and prolific writer, as well as an actor of great ability. One of his major interests is the ANTA Academy of Performing Arts of which he is General Director. He teaches an acting class and has enlisted the aid of many of Hollywood’s biggest stars to give of their time and talent to the school. He is also in constant demand as a lecturer and is a frequent speaker at colleges and universities. A naturalized citizen, Lederer and his wife, Marian, a former Canadian actress whom he married in 1941, live in a rambling Spanish-type home atop a hill in the San Fernando Valley. They remodeled the former stables on their property a few years ago and turned it into an art gallery, the Canoga Mission Gallery, where every six to eight weeks they open a new exhibit, featuring artists from the United States, Europe and Mexico. ESTHER RALSTON Born in Bar Harbor, Maine, 1902, Esther Ralston has been in show business since the age of two. Her parents, who toured the Vaudeville and Chautauqua circuits for many years put their young daughter in the act and she actually grew up in the theatre. When the family came to Hollywood in 1916, Esther made the rounds of the studios and landed a few bit parts in western films. She improved her lot in “The Kid” with Jackie Coogan but her big chance came when she was selected by Walter Wanger to portray the role of Mrs. Darling in “Peter Pan.” She followed this with roles in “Old Ironside,” “Beggar on Horseback” and “Children of Divorce.” At the height of her career she went to England for vaudeville appearances and made two films while there: “Rome Express” opposite Conrad Veidt and “After the Fall” with Basil Rathbone. Returning to Hollywood in 1933 she signed with M-G-M but most of her films were made on loan-outs to various studios. One of her last pictures was with Alice Faye in “Tin Pan Alley.” In 1961 Esther signed for a running part in the NBC-TV production, “Our Five Daughters” and thereafter appeared in many of the top television series. Today Esther lives in Glens Falls, New York and works as Lighting Consultant for the Glens Falls Electric Supply Company. Having decorated many homes for her friends in Hollywood she is well versed in this business. In a recent letter from her she admitted that she was completely amazed that friends and fans still remember the actress Esther Ralston. To her those years and the glamorous life of being a movie star seem so long ago and although she does not forget that life her work and associations today keep her happy and busy. When she does have a brief moment of relaxation Esther works on her autobiography, “Some Day We’ll Laugh.” 19