Star-dust in Hollywood (1930)

Star-dust in Hollywood "Well, there aren't many that know the film game like I do," said Mr Hitzler, climbing down from his elevation. " And you'll believe me if I tell you that I gave D.W. here his first job. And I tell you that I was the first man that turned a camera on to Mary Pickford. That's film history, that is. And look at me now. Third camera-man for D.W. ; glad and grateful that he's given me the job, too. Yes, I am. And I'm coming back, too. That's what they said I'd never be able to do." " But why . . ."I exclaimed. Mr Hitzler made a significant gesture of lifting a glass to his lips. 11 Just hitting it up," said Mr Hitzler, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Why, I was plain soused for more than a coupl'a years. Yes, they said : * You can't give a job to Harry. He's pickled for good.' I tell yah I was that down I was peddling kids' toys round the studios to get sump'n to drink. Do you know those buzzers, you squeeze a handle and a wheel spins and sparks come off like these automatic lighters? You know? Well, I'd get round some of the studios, and I'd squeeze one of them off behind a resistance-box. Then I'd call to the gaffer. * Say, gaffer,' I'd tell him, ' you got a short here.' And that feller would go round hunting for that short-circuit like he was crazy. Then I'd show him the trick, and he'd buy the thing to play it off on some other juicer. I sold hundreds of them things that way. That's how I was. I got tired of being told that I'd never come back. Made me kind of mad. So I just went on the water-wagon for a whole year ; yes, I did ; and D.W. gave me this job, and I'm staying. I tell you, mister, that I've got another thing here right now in my pocket that will bring me another fortune when it's sprung. But I tell you straight, I'm glad I went under and was poor again for a spell. I'd kind of lost myself, [226]