Screenland (May–Oct 1925)

SCR EE N LAND How I Was Shamed into Popularity/ For some reason I could never get out of the wall-flower class. But one night I had a bitter experience that changed everything. Here's what happened. By James Preston YOU know, I' once thought nerve alone was enough to get one by anywhere. That is, I thought so till I met Olive. You never in your life saw two people take to each other the way we did. It was sheer joy to both of us just to be together. She liked me a lot and made no secret of it. and — well, I'll admit I tumbled pretty hard myself. If only that dance party hadn 't come along. But dances are what parties are made for. I sat out two or three fox-trots watching' Olive spin around in the arms of other men. How easily and gracefully they glided along! And there I was, sitting back and letting these other fellows monopolize the prettiest girl on the floor. I felt like — well, you can imagine how I felt! I decided right there to take a turn with her myself. Just a Poor Boob The fact that I didn't know how to dance well didn't mean anything to me — then. It looked easy enough, and I thought I could get by. So at the very first notes of the orchestra for the next dance, I swallowed whatever fear I felt, and taking a hold that must have been screamingly funny if it hadn't been so pathetic — I started what I thought was dancing. Wherever did I get my nerve? And where did that girl ever get her wonderful patience' I must have stumbled twenty times — and then in the middle of the dance she winced with pain and stopped to rub her toes. ' ' Jack, ' ' she said — her voice tried hard to be friendly — ' ' Jack, let 's not finish this dance. I'm too tired anyway," she added, struggling with herself to be nice to me. I guess I turned a million colors. Just then I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. It was quite a while before I saw Olive again. But that night I sat up and turned that terrible experience over and over in my mind. And suddenly it dawned upon me why I was so rarely able to make a date with the girls of my social set. With equal suddenness it occurred to me that there was a remedy — a quick, simple remedy that I had read about time and again, yet never heeded. A Free Booklet That Started Something The very next morning I mailed a magazine coupon to Arthur Murray, America 's foremost dancing instructor, asking him for his booklet, "A Short Cut to Popularity," and the test lesson all entirely free. Here was an easy, inexpensive way to find out whether I could learn to dance, and learn in a few evenings. A 32-page booklet and the free test lesson came at once. The booklet explained to me how easy it is to become a good dancer — that dancing is as easy as walking, once you know how — and how quickly anyone can master the art. It showed me how, right in my own room, without music or partner, and with no one to watch me, I could learn to do all the latest steps in a remarkably short time. It explained how the ability to dance well gives poise and self-confidence in the presence of strangers — how it helps to overcome timidity and awkwardness — how it enlarges one's circle of friends— makes one welcome at every affair — and brings many hours of joyous fun and good times. What I Learned in Just a Few Moments There was a lot more, of course. That booklet was a revelation to me. But the free test lesson — well, what it did for me amazes me yet when I stop to think of it. I tried the steps as explained and diagrammed in the lesson and found that the hardest dance step took me only a few minutes to learn. Was I tickled? I was ready to cheer! All I wanted then was another chance to get on a dance floor. I could just imagine how surprised my fnends would be — for I knew that now 1 co;dd show them a thing or two. They were — and the girls are only too glad to accept when I ask for a dance now. I haven 't known a lonesome evening since I mailed the coupon. Whether^ you 've had an experience like mine or not, take a tip from one who knows, and avoid the possibility of embarrassment. You can do it — anyone can do it — this easy, pleasure-giving way. Do as I did. Get the free book and test lesson and read them carefully. They can mean the difference between a life of happiness, of friends, of good times — or a life of misery, loneliness and monotonv. Mail the coupon at once and enclose only -5 cents to cover postage and mailing. Don't delay it. Do it now. Address: Arthur Murray, Studio 511, 801 Madison Avenue, New York Citv. Arthur Murray, Studio 511, 801 Madison Avenue, New York City. \\ ithout obligating me in any way, please send me your Test Lesson and a copy of your beautifully illustrated 32-page book, both free, which tells all about Arthur Murray's remarkable course in dancing and explains how it can make me a graceful, versatile dancer, right in mv own home, without music, partner or private teacher. I enclose 21 cents to cover postage and mailing. Name. I I Addres [ I City ..Stat J