The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

— THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY— -33 Gertrude Makes Her Bow |T has HAPPENED! After several months of arduous practice and the most severe training, Gertruds 01mstead makes her bow to the movie-going public in "Tipped Off," a breezy, actionful two-reel western drama, with "Hoot" Gibson as its star. Nobody was disappointed. In fact, everybody was DEElighted, for Gertrude justified every promise that was prophesied of her when the good folk out in Universal City took her in hand, some few months ago. Gertrude Olmstead is the seventeen-year-old miss from La Salle, Illinois, who won the Fame and Fortune beauty contest conducted by the Chicago Herald-Examiner in connection with the Elks association. Carl Laemmle awarded her with a contract to appear in Universal City and Gertrude journeyed out there accompanied by her dearest friend and constant adviser — her mother. It is characteristic of Gertrude, however, that she refused to make any preparations for her new life last spring until she had graduated from high school. And she kept to her word, faithfully attending to all her school affairs to the very last minute. For Gertrude is an unusual combination of beauty and good common-sense, and she realized the value of an education in connection with her future picture career. Out in Universal City the best that was to be had in the way of teachers was assigned to Gertrude. And many of the stars with whom she so quickly made friends, due to her vdnsome popularity, added a friendly bit of suggestion here and there. "Hoot" took her riding and gave her some good pointers she didn't know before about horses; others taught her such western accomplishments as lariat throwing, and so on. And Gertrude absorbed it all with a rapidity that was astounding. But then Gertrude wasn't really only beginning. She was just proceeding, for she had begun long ago to learn bits here and there about acting and all the things that went with a dramatic career. She had always been interested in dramatics, and if the fates had not sent her good fortune in the way of the beauty contest, she was all prepared to enter a dramatic school in Chicago upon her graduation from high school. Gertrude is tall, dark and slender, vnth eyes that are large and round. Her beauty is of a quiet, refined type and lends itself admirably to photography, judging from the beautiful photographs of her which are appearing in considerable quantity. As to her screen appearance — it is pretty indeed. She registers remarkably well, and movie fans are going to like her, that is sure. What her future will be depends on Gertrude herself. She has lots of beauty, lots of brains, lots of personality, and the best that the movies have to offer in the way of training and opportunities, and as Gertrude has lots of ambition and was brought up to consider hard work man's greatest blessing, it looks as if the future spells B-I-G for the youthful Miss Olmstead. This beauty contest of the Chicago Herald Examiner and the B. P. O. E., which resulted in the shaping of a new career headed for stardom is in line with the general broad and progressive policy of Universal. Universal, always on the lookout for new screen talent even though it is UNKNOWN, developed Virginia Faire, charming co-star of the Red Rider Series with Leonard Clapham, and one time winner of a Fame and Fortune Contest. It is developing the lovely Miss Olmstead now and giving her decided talents every opportunity, and it is also conducting a contest with the stage and screen weekly, the Dramatic Mirror, from which not one but T-H-R-E-E girls will be given Universal contracts. Gertrude Olmstead will bear watching. Beauty plus brains always bears watching, and in this case the promises held forth are rich.