Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

21 He Trains His Babies for Stardom Pat O'Malley and Mrs. Pat are preparing their three red-headed girls for careers on the screen, and have even given them names that will fit nicely into electric lights. By Margaret Reid Reading to the girls is as much a part of their training as having them read, and always to the accompaniment of the correct facial expression. Eileen, aged nine, is at Pat's knee, Mary, two, sits on his arm, and Sheila, four, nestles at his elbow. SOMEWHERE around 1935 and 1940 there will be three charming and capable red-headed movie actresses named O'Malley, unless Pat O'Malley is greatly mistaken. The phrase "actresses born and bred" will have literal Tmstration in Eileen, Sheila, and Mary O'Malley, now aged nine, four, and two, but already as familiar with the rules and requirements of the theatrical profession as many stars. If they don't in due time become full-fledged players it won't be the fault of Mr. and Mrs. O'Malley. For their three small daughters are being brought up and educated with one end in view — to become actresses, preferably on the screen. Pat and his wife have been in the show business, as they call it, since early childhood. They know just about every angle of it, and thev love it. It didn't take much pondering to decide that of all callings it would be the wisest and happiest choice for their children. xA.nd with thought for the future thev began careful preparation of their children's careers, beginning with the disputed but prevalent idea of prenatal influence. When Eileen was born, she was named with the electric lights of the future in mind. Pat and Lillian, his wife, searched for a name that would sound pleasing to the myriad ears of the public. Pat remembered a picture in which he had appeared with Marguerite Clark, called "Little Lady Eileen." And what could be more liquid than Eileen O'Malley, with the endearing term Asthore for a middle name? Sheila was called after the little daughter of Pat's school-teacher back in Ireland, with the addition of Patricia — in lieu of a son Patrick. Mary was named Mary Kathleen by the O'Malleys' priest. Think, if you can, of names more perfect than Eileen Asthore, Sheila Patricia, and Mary Kathleen for three red-headed O'Malleys. They are adorable children, with pink cheeks, startlingly blue eyes, freckles, and red, red hair. They have the bright, forward gaze of children who are not repressed or told to "run away now." They speak when they have something to say, and they are silent when some one else talks, because they want to hear. Their manners aren't any more polished than those of the average child. In fact, being Irish, they are sometimes little hoodlums. And also, being Irish, they can be as meltingly persuasive as infant Cleopatras. Pat adores them, and it is his joy to make painstaking plans for what he is sure will be a happy future for them. "It is natural that I should want them to be in the show business, since I myself have found it pleasant and profitable enough to spend my life in it. And especially in the case of a girl it is suitable — more money, more charm, more interest than in any other profession. And I'd rather see my daughters on the screen than on the stage because it means more home life for them. "All the nonsense that is gossiped about screen actresses I don't take into account at all. The lightminded, slightly off-color players aren't the ones who were raised in the profession. They are the outsiders, with no stage heritage or traditions, who regard pictures as a sort of exotic playground instead of a serious artistic medium. "I believe that no child should be allowed to enter any profession without proper training for it. That is why I am preparing my children from babyhood to be actresses, exactly as some parents train their children for law or medicine or just social life. "It is no more difficult to do. Any child of average