SCREEN’S CHILD STARS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 13

SCREEN’S CHILD STARS

Courage of their Helpers

LIARD times, pluck, and determination—these have characterised the struggles of the women who have helped screenland’s child stars to achieve success. Mothers, sisters, and aunts have faced starvation, met rebuff after rebuff, yet, because of the confidence they have had in their prodigies, have eventually won recognition for them.

The bus rocked its way from Chicago to New York. A brownhaired girl of 17 sat on one of the seats with her seven-year-old brother clasped firmly in her arms. Her legs were hurting, for the child was no light weight. It was the one way she could get him to New York. She did not have enough money to pay both their fares for the 900 miles journey. By sitting on her knee, he was permitted to travel for nothing. The girl's name was Sally Breen. The boy on her knee was Bobby Breen. That journey took place a little over a couple of years ago. To-ciay, Bobby is a film and radio star, earning well over two hundred pounds a week. He was so successful in his first two pictures that Hollywood hailed him as one of the biggest child stars of the talking era.

And he owes everything to the courage of sister Sally. It was her determination that brought him to fame. She had to face hardships and starvation to win through, but her confidence in her young brother never weakened.

Bobby, at the age of three, had a remarkable voice, and he made his public debut in amateur concerts when he was four, starting in his native Montreal and appearing in various other parts of Canada and the United States. I-lis sister sang with him. The family had no money. Their father had owned a confectionery store, but he had always been unlucky.

as the studio had not actually imported him. Thus Freddie got the part that gave him his great chance. Aunt Millicent has been looking after his career ever since, living out there with him, seeing tiiat he is brought up properly. She has lately adopted him.