Picture Play Magazine (Mar-Jul 1929)

Youtk is Triumphant 31 in America are rallying to her cause. Letters come to her from patriotic admirers, suggesting their sons and daughters as likely stars for kind Mr. Laemmle's consideration. At present concentrate on Elene's future. In 1925 Jeanne Morgan won a contest conducted by a Boston newspaper. The prize was a scholarship in the Paramount School. After the course was completed, Jeanne was graciously placed under contract by F. B. O. as a featured' player, at one hundred dollars a week. Her mother, brother, and younger sisters, all came to Hollywood. They enjoyed the change. They did not, however, imagine the change soon to take place at the studio. All contract players were released after the first six months, and Jeanne was one of those at a loose end. She lost five roles, because stars refused to have her with them. She is very pretty — almost too much so for her own good — and stars must be careful. All the same, Jeanne has youth, beauty, and strength of character. With these she should be able to soar above her fatal beauty. Readers of my eulogies will recall having met Leo Kelly. When Leo was first written about in Picture Play, he was breaking through the "hit" ranks. Soon after, he gained the juvenile lead in Buck Jones' last picture for Fox, "The Branded Sombrero." After this break he was picked by I. E. Chadwick — when that canny producer was making First Division pictures — for the lead in "The Lure of the South . Seas." In this Leo played opposite his sister, Gael Kelly. He has recently played in several minor, independent films. From now on he is likely to play opposite the stars. Nearly six feet tall, Leo has a persuasive, throbbing voice and a constant glitter in his eyes. Place down the magazine gently, those girls who cannot stand the strain, and quietly leave the room. Now to give the boys a treat. Mary Mabery got a contract before she expected one. She was born in Dorothy Janis, though decidedly a newcomer, was cast opposite Ramon Novarro, in "The Pagan." New York, but has lived nearly all her life in California. One day, looking for extra work at Mr. Sennett's atelier, the producer himself saw her and immediately signed her up. For one year Mary graced the Sennett films, her a Girl." Then DeMille gave Photo by Autrey Warren Burke appeared in "Road House." three-month contract for "The Godless After that, Mary felt that there was something to it all. For F. B. O. she played in such thrilling epics as "Dog Law," in which she was cast opposite Robert Sweeney, mentioned elsewhere in this story, and "Captain Careless" and "Lightning Speed," with Bob Steele, placed Mary on the map. She is now doing four Westerns with Bob Custer. "The Law's Lash" was what she gave to Pathe as a proof of her ability. Mary, as I know you boys are anxious to learn, is a disturbing mixture of Vilma Banky, Phyllis Haver, and Claire Windsor. As such, , you can guess she is a knock-out. No wonder James Montgomery Flagg sketched her. Mention was just made of Robert Sweeney. He was also bora in New York and studied at the Art Students' League. Art became such a dominant factor in Mr. Sweeney's young life that he joined the Neighborhood Players, and for a year played all kinds of roles, verifying Jacques' speech in "As You Like It." Pictures attracted our hero's attention. On the strength of his stage experience he soon got bits, then small James Ford was "dis parts, finally achieving his first worth while role covered" by Corinne hi "Sandra," with the late Barbara La Marr. Griffith, no less. Continued on page 110