When the movies were young (1925)

242 When the Movies were Young contract; he kept himself informed of Mr. Chaplin's activities even to the social side of his life so that he would know when and where best to set the bait. Out at Sunset Inn, a place by the ocean where movie people then made merry, Charlie Chaplin was to be one of a party. Mr. Laemmle being wised up to it, gave a party of his own the same night, a most expensive and grand party. Well, he would have Charlie's ear for a moment anyhow, and one never could tell. The party in full swing, Mr. Laemmle invited Mr. Chaplin over to his table, and after a few social preliminaries said, "Let's talk business; I want you to come and work for me." But Mr. Chaplin, always a clever business man, answered, "I'm enjoying myself — I don't want to talk business to-night, I'm on a party." Mr. Laemmle was all set to secure the services of the rising young comedian, so he would not be daunted. Charles could talk "party," but he would talk "business"; Mr. Laemmle offered a little better salary; promised to advertise Chaplin big, and make him a tremendous star. But Mr. Chaplin was too clever for Mr. Laemmle. With a most sweet smile he turned to one of Mr. Laemmle's guests, Louise Orth of the corn yellow hair, and said, "Gee, that's great music ; I like blonds, and I am going to dance with a blond, may I ?" It was great music, about the first syncopated music with a saxophone heard in that neck of the woods. There was a great horn into which the dancers, if they desired an encore, threw a silver dollar. There needed to be five particularly anxious dancers to get the expensive orchestra to repeat an orchestration. The dollars clicked down the horn into a sort of tin bucket on the floor below, and the