Talking Screen (Sep-Oct 1930)

Mind Over Matter [Continued from page 33] Baxter graced with his romantic presence. And the very morning that the mailman brought his final decree, Warner and Winifred dashed up to the Bronx singing the Battle Cry of Freedom, and inveigled the cab-driver to witness their mutual love-honorand-obeyings. And this time it took. They're still in love. Apparently Winifred brought him luck. He got a tumble from Paramount, and appeared in his first picture. It was Her Own Money. .Ethel Clayton starred. Remember? After that the path became less tortuous. Warner made a lot of picures. Including The Great Gatsby. Bitt he never really wowed 'em. The contract was renewed each time the option expired. He was satisfactory. But he wasn't getting far. No and then there'd be a flash i)f real encouragements — like Ramona. But then nothing would happen. It was pretty discouraging. THEN Al Jolson and the Warner boys took chances with one another — and (ivernight everyone but Garbo talked. The final accident occurred. Fox planned to make In Old Arizona, and director Raoul Walsh, who fancied himself as an actor as well, declared that he, himself, would play the Cisco Kid. Perhaps you know the rest. Of all things, a jack-rabbit dashed itself through the Windshield of Walsh's car. He still wears i patch over one eye. Raoul's tough luck ij.ive Warner his chance. He stepped into the role. And the mornine after the. premiere he took his place among the top-notch stars. Since then he's held it. He has the personality, the appearance, the ability to continue to do so. Of course, he'll need the breaks on stories and directors. But somehow it seems he's sure to get em. His number is up — and it's a winning one. Warner's a romantic looking chap, and naturally enough, he prefers to play romantic parts. Like most Hollywood players he fears "typing," and welcomes a variety of roles. Who, for instance, would recognize the Ci'^co Kid' in Such Men Are Dangerous. or Behind That Curtain? The boy is versatile. HE ascribes most of his success to the linle woman." And while it may be ,1 sap line, he means it. And surely the former Miss Bryson would be a help to any feller. Just as an example of what she does for Warner, consider that his hair is what the girls call "naturally straight," and that in order to avoid the annoyance and precariousness of having him wear a wig, she herself put each of those ringlets in the hair of the Ciu-o Kid. Women, he says, have been a predominant influence in his life. He maintains there have been but the three mentioned. His mother, the Philadelphia girl (who didn't make much of a dent) and Winifred. But whether or not he has a roving eye, his is certainly a dLscernipg one, for he selects such charmers as Alice Jovce, Norma Talmadge and Ruth Elder as' his ideals. He enjoys actmg. although he never loses himself in a role. His theory s that to really feel emotions would militate against theii portrayal. You don't have to be nuts to play a lunatic, he says, nor drunk to enact the part of an inebriate. He's a rather fine technician, and on or off, he knows how to gain desired effects. After the Cisco Kid role, he had his friends cuckoo by breaking out in Spanish dialect every now and then. But those were the days of voice doubles, and Warner wanted to show the bunch that he really did it. THE turn of the wheel that has put him on top hasn't greatly affected him. He's •ibout the same. He and Winifred live comfortably. They have done so for years. He is able to furnish a few more luxuries for his mother, and take a little better care of his niece. He still helps his wife select her hats, and encourages her to play in an occasional picture just to keep in touch with things. His somewhat exclusive circle of friends has not been materially expanded. He entertains with a few parlor tricks and is most thoroughly happy when he and Mrs. Baxter are loafing about their modest place at Malibu. He likes a little tennis, and some hunting occasionally, and has a shack in the San Jacinto mountains where there are deer anc" foxes and quail available in season. He's a bit of a crank about his clothes, and all his personal belongings, and is more than usually methodical about their care. He goes for the stuff about "a place for everything and everything in its place." He prefers doing things for himself, and with the exception of a chauffeur who has an easy job, all the household help is feminine. His smile offsceen is even more infectious than it is on. and his teeth are the envy of other stars. SINCE the enormous increase in his popu larity he receives mash notes and tele phone calls. But pays no attention to either — so he says. As a kid he wanted to be a St eet-car conductor — and he still likes tc ride. Kid him all you like about it, he still claims that thought is power, and that the right thought will bring success and happiness. He says he has thought success for years. Never has he adopted a defeatist philosophy. He's the Coue kid. He declares that each morning he opens his window and actually radiates success thoughts to the four corners of Hollywood. Maybe, who knows. Baxter believes that sound waves and thought waves both go on and on forever. Strangely enough, there is scientific theory to support his contention. Upon occasion he has tried his particular brand of telepathy upon individuals. And upon meeting them later would learn that they had been thinking of him at the time of his personal mental broadcast. He tried it on Winnie Sheehan — and the Cisco Kid resulted. That's what Warner says. If so — more power to him. So between this and that, I wouldn't say that the success of Warner Baxter in the talkies is due to a lucky break. Would you.-' And to show you that I mean it, I now refact in print all the mean things I said about The Great Gatsby. Okey, Warner.'* MAN Ksittonorppen BLHINOTHl AStudIO/ CAMERA 3 ' i-eam Motion H^Picture Photogra _ ^phy, "StiU" Photography. Motion Picture Projection Opportunities verywhere for 'still" and moition picture photographers, photo-finishers and projection■f ' ists I Mm f-HOTOtPAI'HT Unctiualled opportunities for men and women b> uncrowded field of photography. "Sound" Course FREE of Charge Previous experience unnecessary. .\ge J . '^'^'^ °' education no obstacle. Simlihed study method teaches all rhases of motion Jicture photography, projection, "still" photogra9hy or photo-fini'shing. Our complete course in Sound" and "Talking" Pictures included FREE >f extra charge with either the motion picture ihotography or projection course. FREE book tel's how to quickly step into a big-pay position, or start your own business. Nfail coupon XOW NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF PHOTOGRAPHY Dept. R-6740, 10 West 33rd St.. New York, N.Y. New York Institute of Photography, Dept. R-6740. 10 West 33rd St., New York, N. Y. Without cost or obligation send me a copy of your FREE book and details about how I can qualify as: □ .Motion Picture Cameraman or □ Projectionist □ ■ "Still" Photographer or D Photo-Finisher Name .-. -Address City NEW Discovei7 inAU/C EYELASHES 'imV W¥^B and ErEBROWS T ONG. luxuriant eyebrows and lashes — now yours in }0 days I Just apply Lashgro — my wonderful new discovery for making thin, scanty lashes and brows grow to thick, lustrous beauty. SEND TODAY ^^nd name, address and 50c for large compact of wonderful Lashgro. (For additional 50c 1 will include my lovely compact of Eyelash Beautifier together with directions for making up l)ro\vs and lashes. ) Write TOD.AY. Address: Nancy Lee. Dept. F-19, 853 Broadway, New York City. ■THE CONTROL OF BUSINESS i Accountants command big income. Thousands needed. About 8,000 Certified Public Accountants in U. S. Many earn J5.000 to $20,000. iWe train you thoroughly at home ■ in your spare time for C. P. A. examinations or executive accounting positions. Previous bookkeeping knowledge unnecessary— we ' prepare you from ground up. , y Our training is supervised by '-icsrj: Wm. B Castenholz. A. M., C. P. A., assisted by staff of C. P. A.'s. this Boor_ Low cost — easy terms. Write now FDETFr for valuable 64-page book free. ' ■» tt» LaSaUe Extension University, D«pt. 9370-H Chicago MtriTT YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE XflcCJ, STARS PICTORIALLY Collect oriKinal photos of all prominent film stars in their latest and best poses; size SxlO. glossy prints ready for framing; 25c each, or 5 for $1. You will l>e delighted with tbem. Scenes from photoplays 25c each, 12 for $2.50; a*l recent productions ; 10 to 50 different scenes from eacli photoplay, VALENTINO —25 individual poses and many scenes from all his phrtoplays. 25c each. Send U. S. 2c stamps or money order. Bran Studio, 630 9th Ave., Studio 283. 1 1 [it)