Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1926)

56 A Star Turns Reporter some theater or other, flanked on the left by the blond Blanche and the jovial Mickey, and on the right by that personality-plus person, Colleen. A generous dash of butterfly existence adds the necessary zest to her life, and yet has not changed her from the ambitions, thoughtful girl that her articles indicate her to be. Her home and headquarters are in New York, though she occasionally dashes out to Hollywood, or down to Miami. And whenever she comes to Hollywood, she is immediately sought out by all of ns who want to know, at firsthand, her reactions to the latest in plays, music, or books. How she keeps just ahead of the current in so many vital subjects — with apparently no effort — is to me an un fathomed mystery. And how she ever found time to gain a knowledge of so many other things — I have only just begun to touch on her accomplishments— is an even greater one. She is an ardent lover of sports, such as swimming, riding, and tennis, and one of her greatest hobbies is the garden of her summer home in Connecticut. keen critic, a and a great Heaven presense of who 1 thought the fans would She is a brave soul, gal ! May serve the of this girl humor is "al ways straining at the leash, but never jumping" — if I may quote Helen Klumph, quoting Michael Arlen. Margaret Reid was perhaps the hardest of the Picture-Play staff for me to get a story from. That, no doubt, was because I am not a sufficiently experienced interviewer, for, as I look over some of her stories again, I am convinced that much more could be told about her than I was able to gather. And then, I had not known her for any length of time, as I had known the others about whom I have already written. "There is really nothing to tell," she insisted, after I had dragged her away from the other girls that I saw on the same day at the studio. "Oh, there must be," I insisted. "How did you first start writing your 'Looking On with an Extra Girl' series?" Photo by Ruth Harriet Louise Carmel Myers found Margaret Reid very shy, but possessed of a keen sense of humor. "Wel-1-1" (she speaks with a drawl and there is a plaintive note in her voice) "we just sort of drifted out here, mother and I, and I got work with Miss Pickford in 'Dorothy Vernon,' and I found things so colorful that be interested in getting a novice's reactions — so I sent a story in to PjcturePlay, and they used it and —that's all." "But that is a tremendously interesting beginning," 1 assured her. "Think of all the writers who have had story after story rejected before getting into print. Have you any ambition for writing fiction, scenarios, plays?" "Oh, heavens, no ! I haven't the talent for that!" She was so emphatic that, even though t couldn't help having my doubts — whoever heard of a writer who doesn't secretly dream of writing a great novel or a great play? — that I felt that I couldn't press her. So I tried a new tack. The future — what did it hold for her? "Perhaps a home and babies ?" I ventured. goodness !" she a bit — a lmost gasped. "No, no." "What would you like to do?" "Wel-1-1" (there was that drawl again) "I should like to come into a million dollars, and then travel." One can't be blamed for harboring an ambition like that, though f doubt if it would permanently satisfy any one. Margaret appears to me to be of the clinging-vine type — the kind of girl a man wants to protect. She is attractively pretty, and might be twenty-two or thereabouts. Her blue eyes gaze at you in a hurt, inquiring way when you ask, "Have you been in love?" "Oh, no-o-o-o." "Cases ?" "Oh. yes!" A staccato answer for the first time. "Who?" "Wel-1-1, directors, mostly." Her hands fluttered, and her blue eyes looked a bit defiant. It would be interesting to know whom she had cases on — that rather shy-appearing girl. Very likely our D. W., he of the sad cynical smile, or perhaps one of the newer school, a St. Clair or a Continued on page 109 "Oh, gurgled