When the movies were young (1925)

102 When the Movies were Young Though Mary Pickford affiliated with the movies for twenty-five dollars weekly with the understanding that she would work three days a week and play "parts" only, she was a good sport and would come in as an "extra" in a scene if we needed her. So occasionally in a courtroom scene, or a church wedding where the camera was set up to get the congregation or spectators from the rear, Mary could attend with perfect safety as the Pickford curls, from the back of her head, would never have been recognized by the most enthusiastic fan of that day. Mr. Griffith would not have his "Mary" a "super." Considering the stellar position she has held for years, and her present-day affluence, many movie fans may think that Mary Pickford was kissed by the fairies when she was born. Not so. Life's hard realities — the understanding of her little family's struggles to make both ends meet when she was even as young as Jackie Coogan at the time of his first appearance with Charlie Chaplin in "The Kid" — that was her fairy's kiss — that and her mother's great love for her. Of course, such idolatry as Mrs. Smith gave her firstborn might have made of her a simpering silly, or worse. But Gladys Smith (as Mary Pickford was born) was pretty — and she had talent and brains. So what wonder if Mother Smith often sat all through the night at her child's bedside, not wanting to sleep, but only to worship her beautiful daughter ? Mary told me her story in our early intimate days together in the movies. With her little gang she was playing in the streets of Toronto where she was born, perhaps playing "bean bag" — she was indeed young enough for that. In frock coat and silk hat an advance agent was looking