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(![ Tom is the irascible, deb' on air laugh' ing type — the Irishman of fiction. Here he is in "The Song and Dance Man".
She lived to see her three boys become famous in the films and to have them near her in Hollywood.
Her heart took in all the film world. She literally ran an amateur casting agency for players out of work. Her sons were constantly besieged by her to help this or that player obtain work.
Mary Pickford was later to love her as a daughter unto the end. It is possible that Mary's love for Mrs. Moore kept her matrimonial ship afloat with Owen at the helm for a much longer period than otherwise.
It was Miss Pickford who asked Mrs. Moore, when the latter was very ill, if she would allow a Christian Science practitioner to call upon her.
"Yes," replied the daughter of Ireland, "I'll do anything if it will help me get up so I can go to Mass."
At last strange news came to the Moore family. Owen had "gone into pictures". In those early days it was not considered proper for an actor to enter films. It was a period when screen players talked of the "legitimate stage" with awe. No matter how accomplished a player might become before the screen, he was not of the elite unless he could boast of a legitimate career.
Owen wrote interesting letters about films. One letter told of his having come under the observation of a twentyeight year old man by the name of David Wark Griffith. The latter had been a small time actor for many years before accidentally vaulting into the film saddle of fame and fortune. This was eighteen years ago ■ — a long time, as the history of films is measured. Owen Moore was several years younger than Griffith.
It is interesting to record that but few of those who had entered the new work were over thirty years of age. The films were, at the time, a harbor of stage failures,
or rather, of youthful human craft that had not found a safe anchorage.
Owen Moore soon became leading man for the Biograph Company, of which Griffith was a director. He was the first film player to be given "screen credit" — that is, to be called by name on the screen.
Even Florence Lawrence, a popular actress of the time, was known as "the Biograph Girl". Mary Pickford sueceeded Miss Lawrence and fell heir to the title.
During the time Owen appeared with such people as Mary Pickford, Mack Sennett and Flora Finch. The latter was to become famous playing opposite John Bunny, the first really great film comedian. Miss
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([Matt is the youngest Pickford's career is a household of the three Moore WQrd Mack Sennett, a one
brothers. Because of . 111 -a 1 1 ,
his quiet nature he time blacksmith and later a is usually ta\en for theatrical vagabond and singer, the oldest. is now a millionaire producer of
film comedies, with a mighty
sense of the ridiculous and no sense of humor.
Miss Pickford, then Gladys Smith, was slightly more
than seventeen when she appeared at the Biograph Studios.
Her hair was in golden curls and her eyes were inno'
cently unaware of the far and golden road she was later
to travel.
Griffith was. casting for "The Violin Ma\er of Cre.mono.", an early sentimental story. He had his cameraman, Billy Bitter, make a test of Miss Smith as she walked before the camera holding a violin. (Cont. on page 86)
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