Picture Show (May-Oct 1919)

The Picture Shoiv, October 4rA, 1919. IS THE EXPRESSIONS OF THOMAS MEIGHAN. Deep in thought. That worried look. The Love light in his eyes. Grimly in earnest. Something to por»der over. THOMAS MEIGHAN. A Hero of Many Parts now to Play in Peg o' My Heart, THOINIAS JIEIGHAN has hcen foituiiate enough to play licro to quite a number of charming screen artistes. These include Blanche Sweet, Pauline Frederick, Marie'Doro, Wanda Hawley, and Norma Talmadge. Thomas was intended by his pai'ents to be a doctor, and although lie soon demonstrated the fact that physic and professionar consultations were not in his line, little did he dream that he would rise to such eminence as a picture player. When he should have been studying " dry-as-dust " works on medicine, he was gaining prominencs as a football player and an athlete. He became a brilliant half-back, and played in league matches for a champion American team. Wide Experience of Speaking Stage. BEFORE ho took up screen work, Thomas Jleighan had a wide experience of the speaking stage, where he also gained much popularity. He was a member of an all-star cast which played in the American production of " The Two Orphans."' And for a brief while he appeared in London in " The College Widow." A season with Miss Grace George rapidly estabhshed his position as one of the leading juvenile actors of the country. After his return from his visit to London, he toured for three year^ in a production appropriately called " The Return of Peter Oriffen." Then he journeyed across the water again and was seen in London in '■ Broadway Jones," and other stage plaj-s. Mistaken for An Englishman. HIS last appearance on the legitimate stage before going over to the screen was as the laAvver for the defence in •' On Trial." Mr. Meighan has often been mistaken for an Englishman, owing to his likneess to the type, but he is in rcalit}', an Americarn having been born in Pittsburg. It wa.s in that town' that he spent his Bchool days, and his spare pocket-money at the .school " tuck-shop." As related above, he rapidly made his 'mark as a footballer, and hi^ presence was much sought after by Captains of local teams. Tin; newspapers were full of accounts of his prowess at the game. An actor does more than his fair share of -wandering about the '^lol.'c during his career, and Thomas Meigham is no excejition. " Travelled Thousands of Miles. THE number of thuusands of miles which ho estimates that he has covered makes one's head dizzj' to tliink of. His fame as a screen artiste ha,«, however, altered thines, and he has now settled down in Los Angeles in a comfortable bungalow. '" Thac is one of the beauties of film acting," he says. " Vou do know where you are likely to be the following week or so, whicli is not alwavs the case vyith the speaking stage. Although I am very fond of traveling,, one likes to .settle in the same spot for a while." Thomas looks every inch a hero in private life, as he al.so does when he is on the screen. He is over six feet in -height, has wavy, dark haii', and blue e\ es. Hi.s weight is 13st. 8lbs. First Rate Athlete. HE is still a lirst-rate atlilele. and takes part ill all .sports when (he opportunity arises. While he naturally had still a great liking for football, working at the studio "does not allow him U, indulge in his out-door hobbies to any great extent, but ho makes a habit of going for a spin of a couple of miles or so each day, as regularly as cioek-work. This is his means of keeping fit, and preparing for any ■' stunt" which he may be called upon to perform at a moment's notice. The latest production in which Thomas Meigham is featured is -' Peg o' My Heart,'' the comedy bj' Hartlej' Manners. Wanda Hawley also appears in this jji'odiKlion. A series of films, with Xoima Talmadc'c aic also numbered amongst his most recent succssc--. THOMAS MEIGHAN.