Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

Photoplay Magazine for April, 1930 "Never. I never had what American girls tall 'crushes.' Individual actors never interested me. It was the roles they played that interested and fascinated me. I hardly even thought of the human instruments that gave them life." I ask Garbo why she did not join the store dramatic club of earnest amateurs. In spite of her passionate love of the theater, she never did. "That wasnot the real theater — it was play. I dreamed only of the true, the finest." She continues — "C~\NE day the hat department buzzed with ^-'excitement. The advertising manager came in with a large, jovial man who smiled on us all. We found he was Captain Ring, head of a Swedish firm that made advertising films. "Soon great news broke. The store was to make a picture advertising its ability to outfit a customer from top to toe. Real actors and actresses were to have the leads, but the shopgirls were to help whenever possible. "Captain Ring made a few notes, and was about to leave our department when the advertising manager stopped him. 1 remember a girl here who modeled a few hats for us. Perhaps we could use her!' " Greta Gustafsson stepped forward, her heart almost breaking through her chest. Captain Ring glanced at her. "I'm sorry," he said. "But Olga Andersson, our leading lady, will make a very suitable hat mannikin." They left. A few days later tests were made. Greta was dressed in a checkered riding habit — two sizes too large, for they wanted to make her a bit comic. She rehearsed before a large mirror. "Great!" said the manager. "She must do this!" So Greta Garbo's first appearance before a motion picture camera was in a comic bit for a department store propaganda film! What a beginning for the acknowledged mistress of screen tragedy! But this little history records that she played it well, and she was very funny, and Captain Ring promised her more work in advertising films — a promise which he kept. Does credit go to the amiable captain for her discovery? He shares the honor with two other men — Erik Petschler and the late Mauritz Stiller. All three, in some measure, were her discoverers. Ring, of course, was the first to photograph her with a motion picture camera. Later she acted for Petschler in her first dramatic film, "Peter the Tramp." And Stiller it was, of course, who started her on her great career in his picture, "Gosta Berling." Her first film was made late in 1920. The following year Captain Ring remembered Greta Gustafsson, and gave her a role in another. Then came a film to be shown in Japan, illustrating Swedish culture, industry and business. Again Greta was called on. In 1922 came a chance to appear in an industrial film to be made for a firm in the city of Orebro. It was to be a northern romance, made on a grand scale, and the filming was to take place far from Stockholm. Again Captain Ring asked the store to lend him Greta Gustafsson — for the role of a valkyr. But now the seventeen-year-old girl was very valuable, both as saleswoman and mannikin, and her employer refused his consent. Greta was heartbroken. """THIS, then, in 1922, was the crossroads in •* the life of the girl. The store valued her services. Her commercial prospects seemed bright. Perhaps, in 1930, had she remained, she would be head of the ladies' hats department! But she had at last tasted the bitter-sweet drug of the art of acting. Henceforward she could not be satisfied with the hum-drum life of a great store. The virus had entered into her blood. She must act. "I felt that I MUST go on the stage. I had to!" she says. GWEN tEE, beautiful Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer player, wears Deauville Sandals in a popular black-and-white style. An Indefinable Smartness Distinguishes Genuine, Imported ^ REG.U.S.PAT.OFF. Featherweight, hand-braided Deauvilles have just that touch of chic that makes you want a pair for every summer costume. You'll especially like the new-season Deauvilles in white, eggshell and other lovely colors. Wonderfully cool, ever so comfortable— hand-woven on American lasts, in widths AAA to C. No Deauville Sandal is genuine without the trademark signed on the sole, look for it. At the better shops or write us for name of your nearest dealer. GOLO SLIPPER COMPANY, 129 Duane Street, New York. DEAUVILLE When you mite to advertisers please mention PHOTOPLAY MAGAZINE.