Picture-Play Magazine (Sep 1926 - Feb 1927)

51 gether Again! more bones broken than any one else ankles, ribs or shoulders in one lesson. Wooldridge but not on a cattle ranch. The} selected me to do Westerns because I was a type. I could ride a little but I was no cow-puncher. 'Oh, come on,' the cowboys said, 'we'll teach you how to stay in the saddle.' And I came on — and stayed in the saddle — every now and then ! You know, riding looks so easy when those cowboys do it. You see them swing onto a broncho's back and ride anywhere from its ear to the end of its left hind leg and get an awful lot of fun out of doing it. But one who hasn't practiced that a long, long time usually gets kicked in the face. I didn't try any trick work. I just wanted to stay in the saddle — that's all. "Just about the time I. had recovered from my injuries in 'One-shot Ross,' they told me to get ready to go to the Ince Ranch. They were starting 'Boss of the Lazy Wife,' with Pete Morrison in the lead. Another horse picture — not that Pete was the horse, of course. " 'Here,' said I to myself, 'is where I make good in a big way. Just watch me !' "Say, did you ever have anything fall on you hard? Listen, listen, listen! Little Josie swung into the saddle, went tearing away on the beautiful, broad, sunkissed prairie, wearing sombrero, boots, spurs, and everything — wild as the wind that blows. Then — all of a sudden, flip! flop! dud! wham! A little cloud of dust. A pony all flattened out with his nose in the sand. A saddle scratched beyond repair. And Josie, herself, in person, all crumpled up into a little ball and lying very still and quiet. I was numb from the shock. Both knees and both ankles were dislocated and my right shoulder was lying over on mv chest. And it didn't belong there. Honest it didn't ! "Five cowboys worked thirty-six minutes trying to return that shoulder to a place somewhere in the vicinity of the right side, and get my dislocated leg joints where they would function again some time, maybe ! After they had done all they could, one of them asked : " 'Is there anything you want, Miss Sedgwick?' "'Yes,' I replied. 'I want my mamma!' "You see, I was progressing rapidly. I had broken both my ankles, then dislocated them, sprained the joints of both knees, and had succeeded in getting my shoulder wrapped around my neck. Famous, wasn't it ! But I was determined I was going to make a success in those Western pictures and it's funny how one can call upon some strange, invisible supply of nerve and stamina when the heart is set to do it. I just would succeed. So I kept on. You understand. I was not hurt in all my pictures. I'm just telling you about the times when things went bad. That was only once in a while. "When we were making scenes for 'Daring Days,' at Universal, I had to race up alongside a runaway stage coach, swing onto it from the side, climb into the driver's seat, get the reins, and stop the horses. Nice, simple little thing to do ! Did you ever try it ? You'll get a wonderful 'kick' out of it. I did. Got hold of the swaying, careening old buggy and left my mount, while the stage horses were running like scared rabbits. Then — wham! The old hack lurched to one side and my body crashed against it like a battering ram. Net result — one knee cap wandering off somewhere around the side of my left leg. So, back into splints it went. F^uMch It isn't often that Josie sits still long enough to have a portrait made. But isn't it worth while when she does? Two months later Pico, mv pony, rammed that knee and tore the cap loose again. Did it hurt? You know what I said? "Back to the invalid chair. Back to sitting idly around while injuries healed. Back to become more determined than ever I would 'fight it out along these lines if it takes all summer.' Wasn't that what General Grant said ? One day my brother Ed, the director, came in. " 'How're you feeling. Josie?' he asked. "'Fine!' I replied. 'Not a bone broken now.' "'What?' he shouted. 'D'ye mean it?' " 'Sure I mean it,' I replied. "What do you suppose he did? Invited sixty people in to a party — celebrating because I was altogether once more. "You know, doing Westerns means providing thrills. There has to be a snap, a twang to them — hard riding, stunts, and the like. A Western picture without these becomes a glorious flop. I would not use a double for riding scenes. I made up my mind I would learn to handle a horse and I did learn, as I guess most people Continued on page 103