Small But Clever Business Woman

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 21 January 1939, Page 2

Small But Clever Business Woman

JANET GAYNOR IS HER OWN MANAGER Hollywood,—Janet Gaynor is one of the smallest stars—she is only five feet —yet her salary is one of the largest, and under her thatch of curly auburn hair lies one of the shrewdest brains in the business. She may be a clinging vine on the screen, yet she does what no other actress dares do, she manages her own business interests with no agent to advise her (writes Viola MacDonald in the Adelaide “Advertiser”). Crawford and Garbo, Hepburn and Sullavan, all have their managers and agents who are constantly boosting their stock, haggling with producers for rises, tearing up old contracts and signing new ones. Janet Gaynor does her own tearing and signing up, and thereby, because she trusts her own judgment, she saves herself several thousand dollars annually in agent fees. Miss Gaynor started her career at Fox studios 12 years ago after struggling out of the extra ranks. “There are thirteen of us in pictures now who were once extras,” she told me. “Clark Gable was one of them. “My rise from the extra ranks was slow. It was far different from the way young people are discovered nowadays by the army of talent scouts. My first extra work was in a Hal Roach comedy starring Alberta Vaughn. After that I was lucky enough to get bit parts and once played a bit with Clark Gable.” Her first lead, Janet said, brought her SSO, but it was not until 1927, and “Seventh Heaven,” that she became a star. She won the academy award and the team of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell was launched. Until two years ago the diminutive red-head was known as “Queen of the Fox Lot,” but then, dissatisfied with the sameness of her screen roles, she decided not to renew her contract. With no agent to advise her as to the wisdom of this step, but only her unfirring business instinct to guide her, Janet packed her belongings and moved out of the ornate dressingroom that had been hers for ten years. Most reporters in Hollywod thought that the “Queen of Fox” was ail

“washed up” as an actress, and that she would retire on her carefully invested fortune; but Janet had other plans. True, she had no agent to bustle round the studies trying to get another contract for her, but she had always managed without a go-between. If any producer wanted to talk to her about a part, she would see him herself, discuss terms, and draw up her own contract. “No one knows my own capabilities and limitations better than I do,” said Janet, when asked why she “sells” herself. “I know that some stars consider money matters distasteful, and leave such things to their agents. I get a thrill out of doing my own business, of finding stories that will suit me best, and of meeting producers on their own ground.” While she was at liberty after her ten years at Fox, Miss Gaynor made certain that all the other studios were apprised of this fact, and then she settled down to wait for overtures from them. They were invited to send scripts for her consideration, and among the many stories to be delivered to her front door was one from David Selznick. It was a rough outline of “A Star Is Born,” but Miss Gaynor was certain that the part of Vicki Lester was made for her. Vicki was an extra girl who became a star, who suffered greatly in the achievement of her goal, but who nevertheless paid willingly for the gift of fame. It was almost a parallel of her own life. The picture was to be in technicolor, and she realised that this would be an added advertisement for her.

With no advice other than her own instinct, Janet gambled her future on this film, and signed up with Selznick. Two months later the picture received acclaim throughout the country, and Janet Gaynor, whom everyone thought had slipped badly, was back among the tpn most important actresses of the screen. Well started on her second decade of screen work, Miss Gaynor, who is in her earliest thirties, should be one of the longest lasting stars. She has revealed that it is not necessary to rely on a business agent when one >s gifted with foresight and intelligence and the courage of one’s convictions.

Married briefly to Lydell Peck, a solicitor, Janet Gaynor has lived quietly with her mother for the past few years since her divorce. Like other stars her name has been linked romantically with every eligible star. Tyrone Power was her constant escort earlier this year, but inside sources tell me that her real romantic interest is Adrian, M-G-M’s leading dress-designer, whom she met while doing “Three Loves Has Nancy” at that studio.