ENTRANCE TO MOVIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17159, 1 October 1923, Page 5

ENTRANCE TO MOVIES.

SYLVIA ASHTON AS COOK

The old saying about the way to a man's heart being through his stomach also applies to the heart of a director, but the theory has never been put into practice, so far as we know, except once, says an American writer. Sylvia Ashton is the one who tried it and succeeded with it.

A meal cooked by her got her into motion pictures. This meal was eaten by D. W. Griffith, Mack Sennett, Mabel Normand, Mary Pickford and several other notables of the present day. When they ate the. meal they were the old Biograph Company. But here’s the story.

Miss Ashton had been in San Fran cisco arranging a vaudeville act, and just as she was about to start oh her tour, the hotel in which her costumes and properties were kept took fire. The fire destroyed everything she had—except four dollars.

So with the four dollars she took passage on a lumber boat to Los Angeles. She didn’t know what she was going to do in Los Angeles, but she knew there was nothing for her to do in San Francisco—she had no friends there from whom she cared to bor-

“ I just felt that Los Angeles would offer something." she said. “ I had nothing to lose, anyway. And on the boat my luck turned. I met a. woman there who was a great friend of Fred Mace, the Biograph comedian. She was going to Los Angeles, as a mattpr of fact, to visit the Biograph Studio. It was St. Patrick’s Day. and as this woman was a wonderful cook. she. had promised to cook the celebration dinner to be held at the studio.

Well, we had barely arrived when she became sick. She was worried half to death, because they were all expecting that wonderful dinner. We had become quite friendly on the trip, and I offered to take her place. So when Fred Mace met us at Los Angeles she introduced me as the substitute cook. She rushed me over to the studio in his car. and I cooked the dinner. Now cooking has always been one of my specialities. ** After dinner everyone was in a jovial mood, and they were particularly kind toward me, because my meal had made a distinct hit with thfcxu. Suddenly someone said ; V hy shouldn’t she be good in pictures?’ Mr Griffith, Mr Sennett and others looked at me. Then Mr Sennett exclaimed; ‘ She's just right, for that scene we are going to do to-morrow ! ' My life was saved. The next day 1 made my motion picture debut, and I'm frank to admit that T was scared to death. In my fifteen years on the speaking stage T had never had stage fright once, but this time I had it good and strong. “ My first day was extremely strenuous. T had to chase a fire-engine down the street, going as fast as I could and I was rather large at that time. From that day I was kept busy in comedies. Later on. when Sennett organised the Keystone Company, T became a member of the stock company. I did comedy under Sennett for nearly ten years. In that time I think I did everything that could be done. It was exciting all right. “ But T wasn't happy. I always felt that there must be something better for me somewhere. The work was so hard and so tiring that it never satis fied me. Then T started thinking and reading and I suddenly made a decision. ‘ There's something better than for me!’ I said one day. and Cm going to find it! With that I left the company. “ Three months later, at the suggestion of Jeannie Macpherson, who knew me in the original Biograph da vs. r was given a trial by Mr Cecil B. Dp Mille, with a view to plaving in “ Old Wives for New.’ I made good on the trial, and played the part, and just, as soon as I had started working under Mr De Mille I knew that I had found what I was looking for. The work was a positive joy to me—and it has rc mamed so ever since

J. h , ave been at the Paramount studio for a long time, and I am happier than I ever was in my life L found my place. I only hope T never have to leave. Everyone in the studio. from the property boys up to Mr De Mille, call me ‘ mother,’ and I like it. They all come to me when they're in trouble, and I alwavs try to help them out. Now although the work is hard, and I’m often tired. I never worry. I never feel blue. I have work that I love and everyone in the studio is my friend. And there is no one on earth who is finer to work for than Mr De Mille. He can bring out whatever there is in a person and he brings it out in such a wonderful way that association with him ir a continuous pleasure." Miss Ashton still g-.ves dinners, and everyone who has ever eaten one .knows that her -story • true.