Repertory Good Training For Movies

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 6

Repertory Good Training For Movies

“TF aspiring youngsters would realize X the value of little theatres or repertory, radio and summer stock, there would be fewer broken-hearted boys and girls in Hollywood,” declares George Seitz, pioneer director of the screen and pilot of the Judge Hardy family through their cinematic adventures.

“There is no place in Hollywood for untrained youngsters no matter how attractive they may be," states Seitz. As an example Seitz points to Ann Rutherford who plays Mickey Rooney’s girl friend, Polly Benedict. “There is a girl,” he says, “who has been in theatrical work since a child and her experiences have enabled her to learn new things every day. When she was five she appeared on the stage in Sail Francisco. She trained in little theatres, took up radio work and made a success of it, made her debut in Western pictures and forged steadily onward.”

Seitz points to other players from repertory who have won Hollywood success. “Robert Taylor started in little theatre work at Pomona College. He was unknown when I directed him in his first important role, the second lead in ‘Society Doctor.’ I knew at first glance he’d go places. He showed his training. And the flood of fan letters that greeted his appearance on the screen certainly proved it. Robert Young came from the Pasadena Community Players and has forged right to the top. Laraine Day, who plays the pretty nurse in the Kildare pictures. came from the Long Beach Little Theatre. I could go on naming many more.

“The point is that the theatre which trained the older stars is not as widespread as it was, but little theatres iu many cases can give the training the legitimate stage used to. There are some very fine ones, such as the Pasadena Players ami the Dallas Little Theatre. One of the finest professional training schools in the world is the Mohawk Drama Festival directed yearly at Union College, Schenectady, by Charles Colburn.

Seitz, who started his career as writer and director with the Pearl White serials of silent days, has in his time launched many youngsters to success on the screen. In the eighth Judge Hardy film. “Jnr’se Hardy and Sou,” he introduced three newcomers in Martha O'Driscon, June Preisser and Margaret Early.