When the movies were young (1925)

226 When the Movies were Young There was nothing to interest David in supervising other directors' movies or in giving them the "once over" in the projection room. After watching the other fellow's picture for a while, even though he'd be considering it very good work, he'd yawn and declare, "Well, it's a hell of a way to earn a living." But that slant never occurred to him when watching his own pictures. But a growing restlessness was noticeable; threats to leave were in the air ; rumors floated all about. However, he lingered through the summer, a busy one, as in those introductory months the new studio had to be got thoroughly into a moving and functioning affair. Among the many to whom it gave opportunities was Marshall Neilan. For his years young Mr. Neilan hadn't missed much. At the age of fourteen he had run away from Los Angeles, his home, to Buffalo. There he washed cars for a living — which he probably didn't mind much, for it enabled him to satisfy somewhat his fascination for mechanics. Then, back in Los Angeles once more, he got a job as chauffeur for a kindly person, a Colonel Peyton, who also sent him to the Harvard school in Los Angeles. From chauffing to the movies was then but a natural step. For Marshall, a nice-looking Irish boy with Irish affability, soon had a "stand" at the Van Nuys hotel, which was a wonderful way to meet the movie people. Alice Joyce it was who enveigled him. She kept asking him, "Why don't you come on in?" It was just like an invitation to go swimming. So he took the plunge via Kalem, but not until after he had become manager of the Simplex Automobile Company in Los Angeles. When the Biograph Company returned East after that winter in which young Neilan had met his heart's desire,