Add Row 
Add 
Job Hunting in Hollywood
BY LOUISE GALLAGHER
IF you have a movie struck daughter and object to her taking up picture work as a profession-it really is not a profession but comes under the head of labor-just get her a job at Century for a week. If she survives that then it is no use trying to change her viewpoint.
Thank goodness my contract for one picture there is finished but it will be months before I can drive my Buick by their studio gate without feeling worn out. There is supposed to be a law prohibiting working over eight hours but no one ever investigates to see if it’s being lived up to. Once or twice I have seen character actors walk off a set where they were being worked overtime but you must be well known to adopt such an independent attitude or such an unusual type that you are sure of getting a recall when needed. No beginner in movie circles dares to protest against overwork and yet they are the ones who suffer most from it. Imagine working from eight to six and reporting back again at seven that night and being on the set until 12, with a 7:30 call for the next morning? Do you think you have much time in between to participate in the gay night life of Hollywood?
Things are humming in all the studios now and there is plenty of work. I had three calls, all for small parts, in one day. I took the one that came first which is a French maid in a Ben Turpin picture, the working title of which is “Twenty-One Days.” It is a comedy burlesque on “Three Weeks,” and while Bennie may not be the type Elinor Glyn would select for a perfect lover, no one could deny but that he is up to date with no prewar ideas on how to put over a love scene.
“Do you think you have had enough camera exerience to do this part?” the casting director asked me. “You know Ben Turpin is particular that the members of his cast be perfect in their role.” I was sure I could do the part and so far have gotten along beautifully. It is heavenly too to know that at 4:30 you quit work. It matters not how great the rush is to get a picture out, Ben Turpin rufuses to work after that time. This has a lot to do with Ben’s popularity with the cameramen and electricians.
Saving The Chiffons.
I have a cut little black dress, apron and cap and even my shoes and stockings are furnished for this picture by the studio, which means the saving of at least one pair of chiffons. I had a call from Lasky’s when I got home tonight and went up to see about it, hoping that it was for something a week or more off but it was for Monday and I had to pass it up. “Open All Night” was the rather unattractive working title with Viola Dana and Adolphe Menjou playing the leads. I went over and looked at the set which covered the entire studio stage and on which they have erected a hugh oval track as a setting for a six-day bicycle race which is one of the features of the play. Maurice Flynn, a former famous Yale athlete, is to play the role of the bicycle rider who races for the camera’s benefit.
They told me Lois Wilson would probably be back at the studio in a week. I have been wanting to see Miss Wilson ever since I have been in Hollywood but she has been away practically the whole Winter and Spring. First in New York, where two pictures were made then to Miami and now she is playing opposite William Farnum in the “Man Who Fights Alone,” and is at Boulder Creek, Cal., on location. I am hoping to see her sometime soon.
Back home and a call from Fox Studios with the offer of a small part in a Tom Mix picture also beginning Monday. It never rains but in this lovely spot but it does get mighty dark when studios slacken up on production and then when the sunshine comes it is too much all at once.
I have always felt sorry for the children working in pictures-little miniature men and women who sit around on the edge of the sets and tell you in their little bored voices the pictures they have been in, how much they paid for their dog, that working in pictures is applesauce compared with going to school; what should be done to make pictures bigger and better. There is nothing of the child about them nor would they feel at home among those of their own age. There IS a dear ntue boy working on the set, whose mother accompanies him daily to the studio. She told me that he had been her only support for three years and that sometimes they had things pretty hard when work was slack for a considerable length of time. The child is clever and obeys orders instantly so his work is well known at all the studios. About six months ago Jackie started along his teeth-first one on the side and mother cautioned him to be careful not to open his mouth too wide when he laughed for fear it would be seen. Jackie remembered to stifle his yawns and laughs but alas another tooth came out and this time right in front. Casting directors shook their heads when Jackie asked for work. Nothing doing until the teeth grew back.
False Teeth For Children.
The mother was desperate and sought work everywhere for herself but business was dull and she could find nothing. Then one day as she was walking on the boulevard she saw a sign: “False Teeth Made For Children.” Her problem was solved. Jackie had the cunningest set of false teeth you ever saw. All fixed up on a plate that he sticks in with talcum powder when the camera begins to grind.
Occasionally some intelligent person realizes that a bathing girl does enjoy a few other sports besides flirting with the waves. We were actually invited on a party last Sunday. A lovely big yacht took us for a long sail all the way to Balboa and back. We started about 11 o’clock in the morning, all dolled up, for of course, we expected other guests would be present. It seemed that our host had other ideas of how working girls should spend a holiday. Anyway we were the only ones present but the crew.
It must have been funny to our publicity woman, who knew we had the yacht to ourselves, the look on our faces when we discovered that we would have only the same old crowd to chat with all day. We did have good eats though and a nice lazy day, with no megaphone calling camera range as we strolled around the deck. We didn’t get entirely by with it for when we docked there was the International News cameraman cranking away at us.
This Sunday we are all going out for two hours to boost the selling of a new subdivision but we are getting paid to show our good looking faces.
