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Gregory La Cava
IN early youth a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of ART" — thus might we well start an extra verse to be added to that famous song. Thus also, begins the story of Gregory La Cava, the director "found" by that smiling brute, Richard Dix. Once the young artist leaves the "ivory tower" and enters the turbulent waters of the sea of life, the lightness of his fancy may perhaps be seen — and then comes that groping for firmer and more concrete foundations upon which to build the structure of a life. So, again, it was with Gregory La Cava — the man who, when first he embarked upon this sea, took the name of George Gregory, that he might not hurt that other Gregory who dwelt within the tower — but more of this anon.
The place was the basement restaurant of the Famous Players' Astoria studio ; and the time, lunch hour. Richard Dix gave his director a warning outline of the questions I would probably ask (birthplace and date, ideals, scarlet past, ambition, struggle to win, age, weight, pets, etc) ; and then, with one fell sweeping blow, smote me mightily upon the back — undoubtedly on the theory that this counter-irritant would take my mind from any possible sting his words might have carried.
Now that the background is indicated, let us focus our attention upon that central figure who is our subject.
Starting in Rochester, La Cava soon moved to Chicago, and there entered the schools and pursued his quest with great intentness. And, being an artist, naturally with great poverty.
"Three of us lived in a room we rented for eight dollars a month ; with housekeeping privileges — when the landlady was absent."
Meet
La CAVA
With Two Richard Dix Comedies This Young Director Has Established Himself
By Dunham Thorp
At this time his one means of earning a livelihood
for, of course, his art could not support him — was
job as usher in the Garrick, a theater owned by th
Shuberts. His salary was the truly munificent sum o
ten dollars a week. His job was, under all circum
stances, to bar every person not possessed of a ticket o
the proper date, size, and color. One day a man entere<
who insisted that the trivial matter of a missing slip o
cardboard should not bar him — nevertheless, he ciu
barred. And this man was Jake Shubert ! He waxet
wroth ; and then gained peace in contemplation of thi:
magnificent example of the steadfast devotion of a lowh
menial to his duty. The usher La Cava's salary wa;
raised to twelve dollars a week ! He was now the wealthi
est member of his circle !
Still he painted on ("I believe I destroyed mon {Continued on page 66)
La Cava, Richard Dix and Esther Ralston between scenes of "Womanhandled"
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