The Photo-Play Journal (Jul 1919-Feb 1921)

32 Photo-Play Journal Decorations by Giro By HARRY CLENDENEN WHEN Bonnie Wee Jean Paige went a-serialing her movie admirers gasped with horror. The daintily exquisite little lady was not cut out for the hazardous career of a chapter-play heroine they figured with affectionate solicitude — but they were wrong. Wee Jean abandoned the feature pictures with a toss of her pretty head and went in for the manifold dangers of the modern serial with the vim and dash of a female viking. And she held her friends and found many new ones as co-star with Joe Ryan in the Vitagraph serial "Hidden Dangers." Just before she went west I dropped in to see her at the Flatbush studios. "Jean," I ventured in brotherly fashion, "there is a far cry between dramatic work in O. Henry productions, playing leads with Harry Morey and Earle Williams and doing serial work. You will have to drop off precipices, swim fierce torrents, ride wild horses, climb heights — and — " I ended lamely, "take awful chances." The star laughed. "It's all in a day's work," she said. "And I was brought up on a farm. Until I came to the Vitagraph studios I used to do a hard day's work. I got up early, tended cows, horses and chickens and I have shinnied up many a tree." She pulled up the sleeve from a beautifully rounded white arm and then commanded me to feel it as she flexed the muscles. "I developed that muscle for emergencies and now, sir, watch how it will help me in serial work." I agreed with her on the spot and breathed more easily. Wee Jean has a background that will stand her in good stead. And a more daring actress never went into the serial field. She has hesitated not at all when the script requested her to do thrilling stunts. On her father's farm in Paris, 111., though Jean was on speaking terms with all her dad's cattle and horses, bears were total strangers to her. In one of the thrilling scenes of "Hidden Dangers," Jean as the heroine is chased into a cave by scoundrels. Halfway in she meets a bear. You have the situation. At one end her mortal enemies and at the other a hungry grizzly. "Where's the bear?" Jean asked the director when the news was broken to her. "Have you got him yet?" "Yes, Miss Jean," he answered. "Bruin is a nice old thing. He never had a wicked thought in his head except when he is hungry. Naturally we keep him well-fed." So Jean visited Bruin in his cage on the Vitagraph lot. He peered at her through the bars with small, red-rimmed, yellow eyes. "Nice doggie," cooed Jean, her two eyes like twin stars. Bruin got up on his haunches. Then he snorted at her bearishly. He also sniffed in a disgusted manner. Jean looked the least bit concerned. "If I have got to work with him I might as well get to know him now," the pretty star asserted with her lips compressed tightly. "Let's go in the cage." The keeper and director demurred. "I wouldn't, Miss Jean," the director spoke warningly. "See, he is not in a good humor." The object of their remarks was grunting hoarsely. Jean pursed her lips thoughtfully then she called one of the staff. "Will you please ask Miss (her maid) to bring me my fur coat." He returned in a few moments with the desired article and Jean donned it. "Now we will see if this doesn't make a difference," she said and in company with the keeper she entered the cage. . Bruin regarded her balefully. By this time everyone on the Vitagraph lot had gathered about the place and two or three men prepared for an emergency. But Bruin's bark was worse than his bite. This strange furry being who stood up on its hind legs attracted his curiosity. Not to be outdone he likewise