Picture-Play Magazine (Jul - Dec 1929)

OK, Davie, BekaVe! 23 three with Nick, and we nearly always have a good time when we're out together, hut they have each other — that's about all they're interested in. I'm an outsider, no matter how friendly they are." It is hard to get him talking. When he does talk, it is usually in desperation lest he be thought stupid if he doesn't. Occasionally) in a sympathetic atmosphere, he talks — talks incessantly. Words come tumbling out of his mouth, fairly tripping over each other. It is in rare moments like these that you get a glimpse of his real self. To come back to his goats — or his father's. "I finished high school and thought that life should hold something more for me than goats, so father and I went to the mat on the subject. We had a terrible scene. He called me all sorts of names and I left home. At that time my sister was married to an army officer and I went to live with them. I got a job in a bank as messenger. Then, after a while, I was taken out of the messenger department and put on the adding machines. Then summer came and my brother-in-law. Major Headache, thought I ought to go to the civilian training camp. "If I went, it meant resigning from the bank, as they wouldn't let me off that long. I wanted to go and he thought it would 'be the making of me' — whatever that means — so I went. "When that was over, I came back to Hollywood. I hadn't a job, so my sister suggested that I try the movies. I laughed at her, but nothing else came up, so finally I went out to Universal to try my luck. They registered me and, a few days later, called me for work on. the 'Collegian' series. Calls began coming in pretty regularly — three or four times a week, always through Central Casting Bureau, of course. Finally Central called up and wanted me to come down there. They said they realized I had been getting pretty steady work from Universal and thought there must be some reason for it. When they saw me, they thought I'd be a good type for college pictures and promised me work at the other studios. "A dreamy look in his eyes and his thoughts as far away as the clouds." Despite his outward gayety, the interviewer thinks that Mr. Rollins has never had a close friend. "Finally I was called to Fox to take a test for 'Cradle Snatchers.' I didn't hear anything about it for a long time, then I heard that Arthur Lake had been given the part. I was sick about it. but my sister said, 'If you are going to stay in this business, you might just as well make up your mind that you're going to have disappointments — lots of them. Let's go down to the beach and have a good time and forget all about it.' So we went down there and had a swell time and came home and there was a call from Fox to report for another test. "When I got out there. I found it was for the sympathetic part in 'The High-school Hero.' David Butler, the director, looked me over and called I've got to test a lot of people for this I like your looks and I'm going to do I've got anything to do with it. you're And I did. And when it was done, I got some nice notices and a five-year contract from F< He paused a moment and rushed on. "Gee, it's funny ! I make more, now. in a week than I made at the bank in a month, and that's less than two years ago and yet, somehow, even with all this inert income, I have trouble making ends meet and I'm not extravagant either, do you think?" I had to confess T didn't. "You see, my sister and her husband separated and I help her and her two children. And I help my mother. And I have myself to look after. We all live modestly, but we get by." Half jokingly I asked when he was going to get a new car. David surprised me by his answer. "Not until I've got the money in the bank to pay for it. I've just finished paving for Clara " "Who ?" "Clara — my old coupe. I admire [Continued on page 104] "Girls are pretty much alike after you've known them a week," says David. me to one side and said, 'Now, part, but don't be discouraged, everything I can for you. If going to play in this picture.'