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Back to Motion Picture Autobiographies
Case
9: My Life as Affected by the Screen
The
motion pictures have been a big influence in my life because I have
always been a special "devotee" of them. When I was very small, I
liked nothing better than to spend as much time as possible in a darkened
theater and see men and women enact the every day phases of life.
I
have a very vivid imagination and I think that it is probably due
to my extensive journeys to the motion picture houses. My views of
life are on a whole "rosy" or rather delightful because I have never
experienced hardships and in the motion pictures I have always seen
the "sun shine from behind darkened clouds." In other words most motion
pictures end happily and this constant repetition of happy sequences
has made every day life somehow seem very happy. It doesn't seem possible
for instance that a villain wouldn't get punished in the end for all
his wrong doings. Yet there are many villains who never feel punishment
for their wrongs. In the movies he is also made to pay. This creates
a feeling of safety if you know that your enemies will get their dues
- at least it did when I was younger.
Then
too I have always liked pretty women. When I'd see them in the movies
I positively would try to act like them. People used to say that I
was too old for my age - they used to "kid" me and call me "Grandma"
because I liked to read and to go to the movies instead of playing
"Hop Scotch" or "rope." They didn't know and don't know to this day
that it was because of the movies. In the movies the girls were always
beautiful and lady - like and so I tried to be, too. When I was ten
or twelve years old I had already decided to join a "bathing beauty"
contest when I was old enough. I'd pose for long whiles sometimes
before the big mirror trying to get "effects." The reason I was such
a conceited person is because I had been told I resembled a movie
actress and I tried to look like her as much as possible. She has
a beautiful face and figure and I determined to be like her. At night
in bed I would lay awake and daydream about the big hit I would make
if I were to go to California. (I know better now.)
Even
today I get new ideas of dress and personality from the screen favorites.
Kathryn
McDonald, called the most beautiful woman in the world, was my first
real favorite and I certainly loved her. I had a "case" on her and
she was my ideal for along time.
I
think perhaps that my ideas about different people have been Influenced
by the same types in the movies. A dark squinty eyed person is to
be avoided as a plague. I instinctively like innocent looking girls,
but I know now that sometimes they are the most deceitful.
I
am rather particular as to the looks and general appearances of the
boys and girls I go with and this I know is due to the movies. The
fellows I am seen with often must be "sheiky." That's silly I know
but I can't get away from it. I have been in the habit of thinking
of big goodlooking boys for so long that I'm sure I couldn't get along
with a homely one. I think my viewpoint is changing now, though, as
I grow older because I have come in contact with both kinds and I
find them a great deal different than before.
Love
in the movies as portrayed by the stars always made me squirm because
I knew nothing about it. Now I think it's all "applesauce." When I
was younger though these scenes always stayed longest in my mind.
I'd put myself in the girl's place and try to make believe. But after
all the feeling was second hand.
No
wonder girls of older days before the movies were so modest and bashful.
They never saw Clara Bow and William Haines. They didn't know anything
else but being modest and sweet. I think the movies have a great deal
to do with present day so - called "wildness." If we didn't see such
examples in the movies where would we get the idea of being "hot"?
We wouldn't.
I
know a fellow that (every time I'm with him) wants to neck. He wants
to practice I guess, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he got his
method from the screen. It's so absolutely absurd. I get a kick out
of watching him work up a passion - just like John Gilbert, but it
doesn't mean a thing. Now that fellow is absolutely getting an education
from, the films but what good does it do him? It makes him appear
silly. He's a nice fellow though but he has his "weakness."'
The
first pictures I was most fond of were serial pictures. One,
called. "Tarzan of the Apes" was the most thrilling thing I've ever
seen. I can remember being terrorized to death by some of the scenes,
but I always; came back the following Saturday for more. Now I like
"college pictures" or pictures featuring Clara Bow or Vilma Banky.
They are my favorites.
The movies
play a big part in my everyday life even now. Once a week and sometimes
twice my girl friends and I trot down town to see a big show by ourselves.
I'd rather see a good movie than any play or opera in town and I go
to see them all.
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