Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Aug 1927)

89 Just an Average American You could meet Lloyd Hughes anywhere, for there are a million like him in this U. S. A. of ours. Perhaps that is why the fans like him so well. By Romney Scott WHY not be a type, if you can be a good type!" ...... Sincerity has always been the outstanding virtue of Lloyd Hughes' screen performances. Hence, his frank retort to my pertinent query as I studied him from across a little table in the studio cafe was not altogether unexpected. He is, of course, fortunate in that he is of the sympathetic type. But, unlike most actors who early and late bewail the fact that they always play the same type of role — -and never get a chance to show their versa-tili-tee — Lloyd Hughes is a philosopher. As we discussed his screen future I gleaned that he earnestly yearns for an occasional opportunity to characterize as he did in the villainous role of the weakling brother in "The Sea Hawk." However, he does not chafe at the fate that has cast him in the role of the average American youth, although he does draw the line at playing priggish heroes. Then, too, Lloyd Hughes wisely figures that the years of his seniority will bring him wider variety of acting portrayals. When that time comes he hopes to be better equipped by experience to make the best of those opportunities. Hughes was not born to the purple of the arts, but amid the purple sage of Arizona. His pere did not raise his boy to be an actor. Nevertheless, the boy became one, probably because he could not conceive of doing anything else one half so enjoyable. He has gained fame and has the good grace to be grateful for it. Perhaps one of the reasons for this success is the fact that he refuses to take himself too seriously. Instead of fretting, fuming, and fussing because his roles don't always happen to come up to his expectations, Lloyd outwardly indulges in a good-natured boyish grin, inwardly grits his teeth, and gives his roles the best that's in him. This enviable trait makes him as popular with his producers and directors as it does with the great American fan. They know Lloyd is giving his best. For example: When First National was filming "Forever After," featuring Lloyd, the hero was called upon to wage a mighty football battle almost single-handed to win the game for the glory of his college. Out on the field it was discovered that Lloyd had never played football in his life. In a Los Angeles high school he had been a baseball star. Those hard young men who comprise a famous southern California football team took Lloyd in hand and worked out on him. When they were through with him, after three days of footballing, poor Lloyd had a sprained ankle, a twisted knee, a lame back and divers bruises. And, as he said afterward, a pair of crutches would have looked pretty good to him. He hardly needed make-up for the hospital scenes where he lay wounded after a World War battle, under the charming care of Mary Astor. The football boys were doubling for soldiers, and they confided to me unanimously their admiration for one particular movie hero who stood the gaff without a protest. Photo by Hartsook His happy home life is mirrored in everything Lloyd Hughes does; he just can't escape it, and to quote the immortal Merton, Gloria does not content herself with being a pal — oh, no — she's his "severest critic." "Why not be a type ?" indeed, I concurred in thought, as we chatted across the table. "If you can be this kind of a type !" Hughes lives much as he works, simply and unostentatiously. In fact, he is the nice young man who might live next door to you. He might be a rising young doctor or attorney, with a very charming young wife. What? He's in the movies? He's a star? Well, what do you know about that ! That's what a new neighbor said to an old neighbor upon moving next door to the unostentatious Hughes domicile in the quiet Wilshire district of Los Angeles. About the Lloyd Hughes' at home. Titian-haired as ever — Lloyd insists it's red — Gloria Hope Hughes plays the leading role of housewife every day. Remember that Titian — beg pardon, red — haired beauty who used to vie with her husband as the late Thomas Ince's most promising discovery? You never can tell what a redhead will do, and that's just what Gloria Hope has done — virtually retired from fame — for love ! Although Lloyd occasionally persuades her to accept a particularly intriguing role in a picture, she appears to be much happier playing the real role of wife. The young Hughes family is rated A-A-A in Hollywood banking and business circles, although no one would ever suspect Lloyd and Gloria of being such good business people — you don't expect it from such youngsters. They have invested their income wisely in real estate, instead of indulging in that favorite outdoor and indoor diversion of the nouveau riche, "putting on the dog." Some day they will probably build in Beverly Hills, as Lloyd has owned choice residential property in that exclusive suburb for four years, which, incidentally, has quadrupled in value. In the meantime, the Hugheses will go on contentedly living in their Wilshire neighborhood — because