When the movies were young (1925)

84 When the Movies were Young "Would you tell me" — hushed and awed the tone — "did Mary Pickf ord ever come in here ?" "Oh, yes, Ham, she came sometimes." "I told the boss so, I told him Mary Pickford had come here with them picture people." Whether Mary had or hadn't, I didn't remember, but I couldn't deny Ham that little bit of romance to cheer along his colorless to-days. Ham's breakfast disposed of, we would rush to the ferry, seek our nook in the boat, and enjoy a short laze before reaching the Jersey side. At one of the little inns along the Hudson we rented a couple of rooms where we made up and dressed. Soon would appear old man Brown and his son, each driving a two-seated buggy. And according to what scenes we were slated for, we would be told to pile in, and off we would be driven to "location." "Old Man Brown" was a garrulous, good-natured Irishman who regaled us with tales of prominent persons who, in his younger days, had been his patrons. How proud he was to tell of Lillian Russell's weekly visit to her daughter Dorothy who was attending a convent school up the Hudson ! Speaking of "Old Man Brown" brings to mind "Hughie." Hughie's job was to drive the express wagon which transported costumes, properties, cameras, and tripods. In the studio, on the night preceding a day in the country, each actor packed his costume and make-up box and got it ready for Hughie. For sometimes in the early morning darkness of 4 a.m. Hughie would have to whip up his horses in front of 11 East Fourteenth Street so as to be on the spot in Jersey when the actors arrived via their speedier locomotion.