Pictures and the Picturegoer (Jan-Dec 1924)

APRIL 1924 Picture s and Picture poer 2.\ cowboys Kerrigan had played in the times when every other movie had a prairie trail story, with pioneers and Indians, and perhaps a forest tire. But always J. Warren Kerrigan as the hero. He the brand Essanay, or Universal, or Flying A (American), the stories were Westerners and tlie hero a certain Jack Kerrigan whose mailbag was one of the three biggest in California. Wherefore James i'ruze sent for Kerrigan, post haste. Warren, however, refused to come; so Cruze went and fetched him. Once there he found a staunch ally in Mrs. Kerrigan. Jack's mother declared it was high time he went back, and so, between director and directress, for Kerrigan's mother had always exercised great influence over him, he went, protesting vigorously that he would be a wash-out, and that no one would be able to sec him for wrinkles, etc., etc. But he liked his role, and he loved the out-of-doors atmosphere, and the story got hold of him the same way as it captured the director and the rest of the cast and the audiences who saw it and thrilled to it. And so the first romantic screen-cowboy " came back " triumphantly in a film that is nothing but the earliest movie story of all, only more elaborately told, and better photographed, directed, and characterised. His one regret is that his mother, who had shared his early triumphs was not spared to share his latest one, for she passed away whilst he was on location for the final stages of the Wagon's trail. That made him accept several of the contracts held so temptingly before him, so thai he will in seen in The Man from Brodntys, The Girl of the Golden West, and many another seven reeler tins yeai , lust iii i-;isi some memories need refreshing about this man from Ken tucky's pasl achievements, note that he was horn m Louisville, on July 25th, 1899, Kerrigan senior was a business man, and he wanted his twin hoys (Warren has a twin brother Walter, who used to he his studio manager when he had a film company of his own) to follow in his footsteps. His mother, an invalid for years, wanted lack to be a minister, and his eldest brother thought he'd make a pretty good prize-fighter. The boy took matters into his own hands and went on the stage, where he imper sonated ministers, pugilists, business men and many other characters, including cowboys. Thence to the movies in early Essanay and Universal days. Kerrigan was Universal's first big bet in the way of .todem garb a leading actor, and he returned to that fold only last year to play with Anna Xilsson in Thundering Datvn. Kerrigan pleads guilty to one serial, The Adventures of Terence O'Ronrke, also to one serious accident met with whilst filming. That was when he broke a leg doing a stunt in A Man's Man. And also to one pet aversion — being interviewed. But somebody caught him soon after his " come back " and asked him what he thought of the movies these days. " I think," he replied, " that things Jack wakes a picturesque cowboy. have changed, mainly for the better, in these last three years, though it takes about six people to do what one man used to get through in the old days. It's not any the worse, but I'm not sure the job's done better. And the good old plots and the good old thrills are still working overtime. As for me I'm getting older, and my photos show it." They show a stalwart, six-footer, black of hair and hazel of eye, a little more sober-looking, perhaps than his photos of A.D. 1913 and thereabouts. An air of quizzical thought fulness explaining the former boyish eagerness which, however, seems to have a devastating effect upon susceptible movie fans, judging by their letters. For though he has been an absentee, he was by no means forgotten, and has been the recipient of regular inquiries as to how long he meant to stay away, and why. One of his most potent reasons for staying at home was his mother's health — he had always been a devoted son and he would not at first consent to leave her to accompany The Covered Wagon's trail. Yet Kerrigan remains a bachelor, though he reads and replies to so many letters from girls that he should be able to pose as an authority upon the opposite sex. Anyway he conquered many hearts anew in The Covered Wagon. And, though history doesn't state what happened to the original conquering hero, it's a pretty safe bet to predict the fate of Jack Kerrigan. He is unanimously condemned to at least five years hard labour — in the movies. Marjorie Mayne.