Young women who desire to break into the movies should be prepared
to take a little “breaking-in” themselves unless they indeed are
fortunate and bump into a man instead of some of the rat horde that
infests movieland. No line of business in the world combines more petty
jealousies than creep through the Picture World. Men play the women
against one another; women play men and the whole bunch forever conjure
to hold the upper hand.
The following recital, by a clever French woman who sought a place
in Filmdom, is typical. This woman was on the point of leaving for
New York, where she admitted that it would be necessary for her to
wear scant clothing in front of assembled multitudes at the Winter
Garden, but better she thought than performing same for the benefit of
sundry individuals who pass the girls along according as new faces and
opportunity offer. The woman in question was French, of superb figure and
doubtful picture talent. She was a fine dancer, also a singer. She told
of being invited to the home of a well known Hollywood character, Prince
Troubetskoy and wife, who recently departed presumably for Europe.
Troubetskoy ranks as one of the greatest sculptors in the world and
his Hollywood home saw many a high jinx, intrigue of love and gambling
revel. The Prince, a good natured old fellow, cared not what anyone else
did, so long as he could gamble and not be obliged to eat meat. His wife
enjoyed the society of young men, though not many of them seemed to break
their necks courting her favor. The Princess didn’t get by very well,
not any too sweet with a little tea aboard. So our lady of Film ambition
meets a number of men who lounge in and out partaking of the Troubetskoy
hospitality.
Says the first:
“How comes it, Madam, with those eyes you are not in Pictures. Surely
there must be some mistake. Now I am the leading man of the ⸺ ⸺ Company.
I am sure I could get you a chance if you would like to try. But of
course we must go out to talk it over; a little dinner perhaps tomorrow
night in my apartment we—”
“But, my dear sir, what is there to be talked of?” The Leading man seems
to think the lady dull and drifts away.
Then the second.
“Who—— that fellow told you he could get you a part? Why he’s only the
leading man. I am a director. Leave it to me. Just you and I will go out
for a little dinner tomorrow night and talk things over—”
“But, my dear sir, the leading man also asked me to go out with him to
dinner, or come to his apartment so the business could be settled—”
Still a third man.
“Did he say he was the director? I am the director. He is only the
assistant director. He has no say. I will fix you up, you black eyed
beauty. Tomorrow night if you meet me, I’ll have a fine big car, so warm
inside. We will take a little trip, you and I, oh, just to talk over some
details, I—”
Madam speaks again.
“But, my dear sir, three times now tonight have I been asked out to
dinner to see what shall be done for me to get a part. Does one always
have to eat dinner before getting into pictures?”
A fourth man.
“Piffle, I am manager of the entire company. Those fellows haven’t a word
to say about it; just bunking you. Come with me to my little cabin up in
laurel canyon tomorrow night. It is quiet and we will not be disturbed
while talking over the business. I—”
But still a fifth.
“Don’t let those men kid you. I have put up all the capital. My father is
a rich man in South America. When it comes down to it, these fellows work
for me and, though I don’t interfere much, naturally I would hate to see
a girl that looks like you get left—”
The madam talks once more.
“I cannot go to dinner with you. I have been asked by the four other
men. I might take a chance with the leading man because he’s half way
young. Though everyone says he doesn’t count, if I had to eat dinner with
someone I guess I’d pick out the youngest and let you ‘burned outs’ try
your luck somewhere else. But I’m eating by myself tomorrow night.”
Two or three camera men and some publicity agents possibly invited the
lady out to dine, but the ones she seemed to remember began with the
leading man and ended with the fellow who said he owned the bankroll that
kept the company on the map.
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