Screenland (Nov 1929-Apr 1930)

j or April 19 30 5? OY By Jean Cunningham p-» TENTH down the list which records the number of fan letters received by the Paramount stars and featured players is a new name — Stanley Smith. To those who follow the record, this jump from nothing to tenth place is remarkable because Stanley has been seen in but one Paramount production, "Sweetie.1'' To the girls at the studio, it is very difficult for them to realise why he isn't first on the fan mail list. He's that way — pleasantly contagious. Stanley doesn't like to talk about himself. He doesn't admit anything about his relatives. But they were bankers in Kansas City, and bankers usually have money. Nevertheless, he is keeping it a secret. He began thinking about motion pictures when he went to grammar school in Kansas City. His first distinction was a very agreeable singing voice. It made him a boy soprano in a choir in his home town. Between singing at choir practice, Sunday services, weddings and funerals, Stanley found a little time on the side to think motion pictures. He thought about it all by himself and secretly wrote letters to Cecil De Mille and D. W. Griffith. He outlined his great possibilities and told them of his absolutely certain prospects of becoming a movie star. Very soon, Stanley received replies from the directors. He opened the letters expecting to find contracts and transportation to Hollywood. The letters very courteously acknowledged his genius but advised him to stay in Kansas City. One summer after Stanley had finished grammar school, his mother and he came to Hollywood for a vacation. In September, they decided to remain in the film city and Stanley enrolled at Hollywood High School. From the very beginning, he was a huge success in Hollywood. He was quite the rage at high school. He was that sort of a boy for whom girls change classes and go to football games. For two years he was the president of the glee club. He sang the leads in three operas. One of the best things about living in Hollywood for young Smith was the fact that he passed the house of Bryant Washburn every day on his way to school. He greeted the star as he would any neighbor and finally developed a Another Small Town Boy Makes Good in Hollywood. Stanley Smith of Kansas is on the Road to Film Fame Stanley Smith, the screen's newest juvenile. His hair is dark blond and wavy and his eyes are blue-gray. speaking acquaintance. Stanley's one aim those days was to get into a studio and act. The best he could do was to be Elliott Dexter's assistant secretary. Through somebody's friend knowing somebody else who knew Dexter, the boy became official letter opener for the star when he worked at the old Lasky studio on Vine street. Stanley used to go to the studio every day after school, on Saturdays and during vacations. He asked everybody in the studio for parts. His youth was their excuse for not starring him in pictures. He used to park on the set where William deMille was' making "Clarence" with Wallace Reid. Between every scene, Stanley would bring up the subject of a part from some different angle. But the only film work he ever did was as an extra dancing all day. That choked his ambition for a little while. A year after Stanley graduated from Hollywood High School, the musical advisor of the institution asked him to return to sing the leading role in "Robin Hood" when the leading man was taken ill. (Continued on page 121) Stanley Smith and Nancy Carroll in a sweet scene from "Honey." It was in Nancy's picture, "Sweetie," that Stanley made his talkie debut.