WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 10

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

STARS AND THEIR CAREERS PREVIOUS OCCUPATIONS Of all sad words of tongue and pen The saddest are : these: It might been: Hollywood, which likes its poetry, has Us own answer to those famous lines by John Greenleaf Whittier. It is: “Sometimes, but not always.” Quite frequently, those lines are happy words. Francis. Lcdercr, for exaiUjple, might liave been a bank clerk in Czechoslovakia instead of an internationally famous screen star. His father wanted him to be a banker, and insisted that he take examinations for a clerical job in a Prague financial house. Fortunately Ledever failed iii liis examinations. .. ' ' v ...

Richprd Dix might have peem <a soap salesman. His father operated a soaj> factory and wanted Richard to go on the road selling its product. Ginger .Rogers might have been teaching school to-day instead of starring in RKO Radio’s big musical comedy” “Roberta,” with Irene Dunne and Fred Astaire. To be a teacher was her enrly ambition, but the winning

of a State dancing championship sidetracked it.

Katharine Hepburn might have been a surgeon. The star wlio won. the highest acting award of the Academy of" Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has a doctor father who was anxious that she take up his profession.. , John Beal, who plays opposite Miss Hepburn in her latest picture, “The Little Minister,” might have been an artist starving in a garret.— He was studying for an art career- when theatrcajl pipducers', impressed by bis work in college plays, induced him to become a Thespian. Except for a turn of fate, Ann. Harding might have been a business woman. -She was well launched on a business career with a New York insurance company. She joined a Little Theatre group, and this proved to be the turning point in her life. Robert Woolsey might still be a jockey except for a nasty spill which ended his days on the turf. Bert Wheeler, his partner m HKO Radio comedies ,might have been the owner of a news stand. He served Ins apprenticeship as a newsboy. A combination of pluck, talent and circumstances launched him on an acting career.

Many liappy returns of the day! Such were the fond greetings that poured in for little Miss Carol Ann Young, daughter of Robert Young, on the celebration of her first birthday. But she was more interested in the cake decorated with one candle.