Picture Play Magazine (Sep 1920 - Feb 1921)

Crooks That Follow the Movies Part Three. How the fake instructors of motion-picture acting are swindling thousands of persons, young and old, throughout the country. By Roy W. Hinds A First, we find the debutante in her luxurious home. This girl, comely and bright, but lacking what might be described as bewitching beauty, had visions of an artistic career. She knew that she could not paint, and she knew that her vocal and musical talents were not extraordinary. This charming young woman had an idea that she could write, that perhaps she would be successful in literature, but she wasn't positive. However, there was one thing of which she was positive— that she would be a success as a motion-picture actress. She studied the advertisement thoughtfully, and made a decision. Second, we find the shopgirl, squeezed into a subway seat and having a hard time to read the morning paper on her way to work. This girl was of a rare type of beauty, and steady and thrifty. Her education had been limited, but she was bright and observing. Her ambitions were clean and wholesome, and she, too, had visions of an artistic career. She knew little about music and less about art. However, there was one thing of which she was positive — that she would be a success as a motion-picture actress. She managed to turn the pages of the paper, and her glance fell casually upon the advertisement. She studied it thoughtfully, and made a decision. in dismay : "What '[mill they do Third, we have the young-man clerk. Business was NEW YORK evening newspaper carried on its first page a few weeks ago the following story : An investigation looking to action by the Kings County grand jury has been started by District Attorney Lewis into a number of "motion-picture instruction . schools" which are advertising for pupils, making sweeping representations as to the need for new actors and the high salaries paid. Mr. Lewis has found that scrubwomen and mothers of large families have been accepted as pupils and permitted to pay the two dollars "classification test" fee and to subscribe for twenty-five lessons at three dollars each. One woman who is utterly without attractiveness of feature or manner was told that while "she couldn't expect to become a Mary Pickford, there was nothing in the way of her becoming a famous film actress." No effort is being made to get employment for graduates, beyond giving them a list of moving-picture producing agencies and a certificate which means nothing to the firms which hire actors. About the same time from Detroit came the following item: Word has been received in New York that a man posing as the father of Wesley Barry is traveling through Michigan endeavoring to sign exhibitors for personal appearance of "Wesley Barry." The Marshall Neilan offices have taken measures to warn exhibitors of the fraud. Wesley Barry's father is dead. And now we as next?" It is hard to tell. If we knew, it might lie within our power to keep many a two-dollar bill where it belongs. We might compel certain smooth and unscrupulous gentlemen to turn to other ventures. But we have no hope of exposing the contemplated crookedness of the future. The ingenuity of fraud is beyond us. All we can do is to illustrate the swindling devices which are now being employed in the name of motion pictures, and the particular phase that interests us for the moment is the campaign conducted among the vast array of men and women, especially young men and women, who gaze so wistfully at the movies as the means to fame and fortune. One morning several months ago there appeared simultaneously in various newspapers throughout the country the following advertisement : Look Out for the man who promises to make you a great movie star by means of a course of lessons, or who offers you a part in a "great feature picture" if you'll pay a deposit to show your own good faith. These tempting promises are only baits to draw money from your pocket into his, as you will see by this article. BECOME A MOVING-PICTURE STAR— Moving-picture producers are clamoring for men and women, young and old, to take part in the millions of feet of films being planned for the future. Every human being is a type suited in some way to depict a screen character. Development of expression, fundamental technical knowledge of acting before the camera, knowledge of proper makeup — in short, the key to success as a moving-picture actor, lies within your reach. Capitalize your beauty, or your grace, or vour gifts for tragedv or comedy, or your physical adaptability to character delineation. We make you a moving-picture actor, place you in touch with the biggest producers, and open the way and instruct vou fully in the attainment of fame and lucrative income: Write Among the hundreds who read that advertisement with more or less interest there were three who concert! us particularly. dull in the haberdashery store, and he scanned the morning paper. This young man's features were cleancut and regular ; he was good looking. He dressed neatly and kept himself well groomed. He was bright and ambitious. He had studied the world in his youthful way, but hadn't decided to just what field of commerce he was best suited. But there was one thing of which he was positive — that he would be a success as a motion-picture actor. His eyes fell upon the advertisement. He studied it thoughtfully, and made a decision. Thus our three friends, Miss Debutante, Miss Shopgirl, and Mr. Clerk embark, from three separate joints of the compass, upon a thrilling enterprise. The experiences of the three were similar. Each, upon submitting a photograph, was told that the picture revealed an unusually good "screen face." This perhaps was true, but that isn't the point. Miss Debutante, surreptitiously, engaged to take the course of study. She had a bank account, replenished from time to time by a rich father, and the money in her case didn't make so much difference. She received at intervals printed "lessons" in motionpicture acting. These remarkable "lessons" acquainted her with such astounding facts as, to look pleasant one should smile agreeably and permit the eyes to fill with mirth ; to look sad, one should permit the corners of the mouth to droop and strive for a woebegone expression, and to be dreadfully sad, induce a casual tear to roll down a harassed cheek; or, to register anger, one should flash the eyes, clench the hands, and tremble a little bit. Miss Debutante, who in her short life had