They Won't Forget (Warner Bros.) (1937)

GL Mat No. 308—30ce Gloria Dickson, new glamour girl of the screen, is here pictured by our artist in a combination drawing and photograph. She makes her screen bow in “They Won't Forget.”’ anon 11—10 Mat No. 1 ‘ Gloria Dickson is the screen's newest candidate for stardom, on the basis of her brilliant performance in “They Won't Forget.” This is Gloria, smart but not yet glamorous. Step by Step to Glamour NDER the sponsorship of that grand old man, Uncle Sam, Gloria Dickson has come to the Hollywood movie screen as the first movie recruit from the United States government theatres—F. T, P.—translated, meaning, Federal Theatre Project. And, possessed of extraordinary talent and a natural glamor that few screen newcomers may boast, Warner Bros., Producer-director Mervyn LeRoy and others who have seen the girl in her first screen tests all say that hereafter studio talent scouts will give the governmental theatres close scrutiny. Gloria Dickson is a real find and, with proper parts in pictures, should be a full fledged dramatic star before another calendar year makes its bow. Gloria herself is most enthusiastic about her movie opportunities and equally enthusiastic and grateful for the patient, systematic and fruitful training Uncle Sam gave her in her months in ‘the Project plays.’ “It is obvious,” says Miss Dickson, “‘that the movie producers are giving the Project theatres their first important recognition. I hope that I may, in a small way, make sufficient progress in my screen work to attract attention to the fact that these governmental theatres do offer opportunities, and in that way ':eip and encourave others ~<ttagon, sas > — biggest asset. a OS whom I know to be extremely competent actors and actresses.” A Warner talent scout attended a performance of ‘The Devil Passes’’ at a Project theatre in Los Angeles, saw Miss Dickson play the role created several seasons back by Diana Wynyard, British star. It didn’t take him long to get back stage with a screen offer for Miss Dickson. Later the Idaho girl who dreamed of being an actress ever since her early childhood when neighbors were entertained and frequently amazed at the talent she displayed in cellar shows to which ten pins, pennies, ribbons and doll clothes served as admission tickets, made her first screen test. ‘Please don't try to make me a glamor girl,’ Miss Dickson told the studio make-up man as he readied her for this first test. “I’m not pretty and I don’t want to look actressy.”’ **‘Have no fear,” replied the obliging grease-paint expert, who had seen quite a few hundred actresses in his studio mirrors, “I haven't a thought of changing you in the slightest. The thing that attracted the studio to you originally will be the very element that | will try to preserve in your makeup for this first test. The naturalness which attracted our attention should be an attraction to your prospective audiences and your You will never look like a hundred other actresses in Hollywood and the studio will respect your wishes.” Relieved by this assurance and what the mirror later revealed Miss Dickson made her first test. When Jack L. Warner, Producer-director Mervyn LeRoy, and other studio executives saw the test Miss Dickson had played to her most enthusiastic audience, whether she knew it or not. Next day she was under contract to Warner Bros. and a second later she was given one of the season's most coveted dramatic roles, that of Mrs. Hale in Mervyn LeRoy’s ‘They Won't Forget.’ This Ward Greene novel, in film form, is expected to become a fitting successor to the memorable “I’m a Fugitive from a Chain Gang” which Mr. LeRoy also made—and, as the young producer-director says, “an actor's paradise.” Miss Dickson's role will be dominant, dramatic and sympathetic —an unusual opportunity for any movie newcomer. ‘| believe in giving qualified young players a real opportunity, when it is possible,” says Producer-director LeRoy. “I’ve never gone wrong in being considerate and patient and helping these new players get a good start and Gloria Dickson has assured me in tests that not only is she ideal for this part but that she can play THAIS DICKERSON BECOMES MISS GLORIA DICKSON, NEWEST GLAMOUR GIRL OF THE SCREEN ‘*Good-night, good-night! parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good-night till it be morrow.’’ Such words, calculated to stir the hearts of all persons, resounded dully throughout the basement of a mid-western home and fell upon the deat ears of the assembled audience. Thais Dickerson, was emoting and her hearers aged eight, were painfully unappreciative. For, after all, dolls really can’t applaud. Today, at the age of twenty, Gloria Dickson, nee Thais Dickerson, is winning the acclaim of producers, directors, critics and audiences as she makes her screen debut as a leading lady in “They Won't Forget,’ Warner Bros.’ forthcoming motion picture version of Ward Greene's powerful looking Perc Westmore, makeup wizard, goes to work. novel, “Death in the Deep South.” Born in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1917, of a long line of nontheatrical ancestors, Miss Dickson at an early age turned her eyes towards an acting career. Her dolls, lined along the basement walls of her house, made up her first attentive albeit unresponsive audience. From entertaining her dolls, she turned to amusing friends and neighbors by what she called shows. At the Long Beach Polytechnic High School in California, where she moved with her mother following her father’s death, Miss Dickson, participating in student plays, came under the wing of Arthur Gleditzch, a dramatic coach whose assistance was to prove invaluable later on. Her first pro fessional acting was done in a tent show, touring through Southern California, and net First test, it’s nice, but not quite the personality. ted her the grand sum of seventy-three cents for the first week's wages. Salaries were distributed on a profit-sharing basis and after the manager's family of six and the company’s four other thespians had received their portions, mighty little was left for the troupe's leading lady. Box office receipts picked up, however, and the second week Miss Dickson earned $1.45 while the third week brought 92.91. She then joined the Long Beach stock company and acted Diane in ‘Seventh Heaven, Linda in ‘“‘Holiday,”” and Kathleen in ‘Smilin’ Through.” Told about the Federal Theatre Project, Miss Dickson left for Los Angeles and joined the WPA unit there. Here, as the final curtain fell on the last performance of “The Devil Passes,” a card was passed into her dressing room. Second test, lovely, but maybe we can improve it. It bore the name of Irving Kumin, a talent scout from Warner Bros. Pictures. She laughed and tossed it into the waste basket. A gag, she thought. She thought again and rescued the card. The talent scout was ushered in. Next day, she was given a screen test. It was seen by Mervyn LeRoy, producer and director, who was then looking for a ‘‘new face’ for the leading feminine role in his new production, ‘They Won't Forget.’ Impressed by her ability and beauty, he signed Gloria Dickson to a seven year contract. Today, in “They Won't Forget,’ she acts the role of Sybil Hale, wife of the Northern teacher who comes to a Southern business college and there becomes involved in a murder case. She wins audience sympathy in unsurpassed fashion, with This art available in mat or picture form. Order Mat No. 408—40¢ her delicately restrained performance as the accused man’s wife. There was a unamimous verdict among the executives of the Warner Bros. studios that in Miss Dickson they had the dramatic find of the year. Moreover, she is eager and anxious to improve herself, and this is one of the very best traits that a young actress can have. Gloria Dickson believes acting is a life-time job. Which is why she began her training at the age of eight in the basement of her house with dolls for an audience. “But something told me all this would happen some day if I just dreamed enough,” says Miss Dickson. “I knew it when I was a child. My job is to prove worthy of my dreams. I hope I can do it.” And that’s how a star was born. Third test good. Let's try another angle. RIA DICKSON: A PRODUCT OF THE U.S.A. Glamorous lew Star Comes So Screen From She Sederal Sheatre (Project it like no one else | could name. I think she is very definitely one of the brightest star prospects for this year.’’ Which is quite a vote of confidence for any young actress to have to encourage her screen debut. Miss Dickson playe~ in tent shows in and around Los Angeles for several months before she applied to Uncle Sam for an audition for the Project theatre season of 1936. ‘Professional actress>’’ asked the examiner of applicants as Miss Dickson first visited the F. T. P. registration bureau. “Yes,” answered the young actress, biting her lip and wondering if her salary with the tent show which fluctuated from $1.10 to $3.75 during her ‘profit sharing’ engagement, really sounded sincerely professional. When her audition came, her scene was difficult and _ her nervousness didn’t help but the theatre committee pronounced her performance the best they had witnessed in months. Within a few weeks she was playing the feminine lead in “Seventh Heaven” before audiences constantly comparing her with Janet Gaynor and Helen Mencken, creators of the role. Four weeks in this exceptional play won the lead in ‘Smilin’ Through’ a role made famous by Jane Cowl, Norma Talmadge and Norma Shearer. Then came the movie opportunity — and now stardom! Mat No. 110—10c¢ To the top climbs Gloria Dickson, who makes her sensational screen debut in the Mervyn LeRoy production. ““They Won't Forget.” Final — Meet Gloria Dickson, newest glamour girl of screen. Page 9