Movie Classic (Sep-Dec 1931)

A New Succeeds Redhead Clara B ow THIS is going to be a Peggy Shannon Year at Paramount. Peggy has been billed as Clara Bow's successor, because she has red hair and took Clara's part in "The Secret Call" when the original redhead broke down. But Peggy is more than that. She's the successor of everybody at Paramount who, for one reason or another, has not fitted into the scheme of things. In her first two months in Hollywood she has played the lead in two pictures, and is scheduled for two more. No languid moments for Peggy. All she has seen of California is one glimpse of the Brown Derby, and a very close view of the grindstone— where most of us have our noses. That pleases her, for she's a little afraid of Hollywood people, and feels they're just waiting around to see how you'll act, now that you're getting along in pictures. Her face defies all the laws of beauty and photography. She has a too-generous mouth, and none of the other conventional perfections, but she looks grand. With very long hair, hazel eyes, and friendly grin, Peggy doesn't fit into any definite type. That's her greatest asset. She can pinch-hit for Clara Bow or Mary Brian with equal ease. She hasn't Clara's "It" or Mary's sweetness, but she has acting ability, which can give a pretty good imitation of either. Her second role was Mary's coveted part in bilence. When it became apparent even to the most optimistic that Carman Barnes had been shrewd in signing up at a thousand a week before anyone had a chance to see her perform before the camera, Peggy was put into her modern-youth role in "The Road To Reno." Next she'll piobably be announced as the new Chatterton, when and if, Ruth goes to Warner Brothers. Miss Shannon comes from Pine BlufF, Arkansas, where 50 BY ELISABETH GOLDBECK Many were called, but Peggy chosen when a was needed to Bow Shannon was vivid red head replace Clara to the screen by way and the Follie doing very we the natives consider themselves Southerners and talk with a drawl. Peggy went to New York with her mother and sister as soon as she finished high school, and her first act was to. lose her accent, though it'was a bitter struggle. But you can still tell she's from the South because she . loves Southern cooking. Paramount found this little wonder on the New York stage. She started auspiciously in the Follies, and soon graduated into the serious drama that was her goal. But her career was more full of flops than the average. In two years she was in fifteen failures. In fact, she never did have a real success, but Paramount liked her performance in "Napi" so well that they signed her up. "They had approached me several times before that," she said, "but I was so sure I'd look horrible on the screen that I wouldn't take a test. Finally, last winter, they said, 'Well, at least come over and try. It can't hurt you.' So I did, and this is what happened. "The make-up girl here is a genius. I simply can't believe the wonders she has worked with my face. "It's entirely new to me, this studio method of discussing your good and bad points as if you were a horse, standing you up and turning you around and examining you and bringing everyone in for consultation. Do you know that on the stage I've never even had my hair dressed? Now I'm surrounded' by makeup men, hairdressers, and wardrobe mistresses, being waved and patted and powdered and sewn up." It's just like being on the Only everybody's just about as impersonal about it as if you were a horse. If you develop an unwanted pound of flesh somewhere, they do everything but send out bulletins. Everyone on the lot knows about it, and everyone comes around with helpful {Continued on page ?j) She came of Arkansas s — a n d II for is now herself auction block, says Peggy.