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Junior Hollywood Gossip
Child stars of former years return to
the movies; news and comment
about the younger movie set
By HENRY WILLSON
IT seems to be "All Home" month in Hollywood — because the town's flooded with the return of former "child prodigies," who have all grown up, and are resuming their careers in pictures. Remember Wesley Barry, the frecklefaced, red-headed youngster who blazed into prominence in the old Kalem productions? Well — he's back in the movies, and you'll see him after four years absence, in the RKO film "The Life of Virgie Winters." Another famous boy star of the silent days, Ben Alexander, a few years Barry's junior, will appear in the same production. At the height of their fame as boy stars, Barry and Alexander appeared in some of the same characterizations. Wesley starred as "Penrod," and a little later, Ben played that role — also doing "Penrod and Sam."
Johnny Downs is back in town — and we find him greeting his sweetheart of childhood days, Mary Kornman, in his dressing room at the Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles, where Johnny is playing the young leading man in the stage musical "Take a Chance." We remember this good-looking boy as the child sheik of the "Our Gang" Comedies. Mary, who is now a married lady of eighteen, had come to witness the opening night of Johnny's show :
"Gee, how you've changed — Gosh! I can't believe it," cried Johnny and Mary simultaneously, when they got together in John's dressing room. In fact, Johnny didn't realize that his former leading lady was now Mrs. Lou Tover — and he greeted her with open arms and a big kiss, as she entered his dressing room followed by friend husband. A bit embarrassing for the moment — but Mr. Tover is a
Gawsh and golly! Johnny Downs and Mary Kornman are saying — could those mere infants be us7 skip-p-p it! (Below, left) tho picture they're looking at, when they were kids, in an "Our Gang" comedy not so many, many years ago.
good sport.
Mitzi Green is back in the fold, too — all grown up. It {Please turn to page 70)
(Above): Wesley Barry, once a child actor, who rose to stardom on his freckles, chatting with Betty Furness on the RKO lot.
The Neiv Movie Magazine, August, 1934