Evening Star Newspaper, September 15, 1935, Page 97

Magazine Section THIS WEEK Jonesey’s Step-Daughter “Let's go to Hollywood!” said Jonesey. “Gee!” said his step-daughter. Now the former little movie usher and 5 shoe wrapper is known the ¢ Gaynor. Few ever heard of Jonesey; yet he pushed Janet along the road to fame by Jim TuLLy Author of ** Beggars of Life,” " Shadows of Men,” " Jarnegan,” Etc. world over as Janet Janet Gaynor in her latest picture; Jnnesey lived to see her dreams come true ANET (GAYNOR was born in Philadelphia less than thirty vears ago. She has been in films about a dozen vears. A gifted girl who instinctively felt the natural - thing to do in any situation, she early became known as ‘“‘a director's favorite.” Her latest picture. ‘‘The Farmer Takes a Wife."" was released a short time ago. When it was completed Janet got on a boat and left for Honolulu to be Governor Walter B. Poindexter's guest of honor at the Festival of Hawaii. It is the highest honor that Hawaii has ever awarded a Hollywood movie actress. Barely five feet tall, Janet weighs around @ hundred pounds. Her hair blends chestnut with auburn. Her eyes are deep brown, and mirrors of elfin sadness. They linger longer in the memory than those of any other actress. She has the manner of a hurt child. too brave to cry. With a magical wand she thereby touches the universal heart of motherhood. There is the tragedy of the beautiful inept about her, the violet hammered to the ground with rain and rising bravely to meet the morn- ing sun. She owes much of her career to the faith and kindly helpfulness of one man — her stepfather. Janet, who is natural as rain. is the first to admit it. Now a superb actress, it was Harry Jones who held the stirrup that she might leap into the saddle and gallop down the golden road. Her real name is Laura Gainer. Her father was an extra player for the Lubin Company in Philadelphia. He at last decided that return- ing to his trade of painting and paper hanging was more profitable. Later. Janet's mother married Harry Jones. In an effort to earn a living, Jones drifted with his wife and her two small children across the nation. The future cinema Cin- derella graduated from high school in San Francisco and secured work wrapping shoes in a large store. She had been a mimic from childhood, and dreamed of becoming an actress. Read- ing one evening that an usher was wanted in a film theatre, she was there an hour ahead of time. A score of other girls arrived later. When the manager reached the theatre. he looked in consternation at so many lovely girls. Shun- ning the possibility of ques- tioning them, he asked, ““Which girl was here first?"’ Janet, though naturally shy, stepped forward. She went to work at once. It was a new world for Janet. Often, in the darkness, when all the people were seated, she would watch the films — and dream. She shared her dreams with her stepfather, who was known in the family circle as ‘“ Jonesey.’ He had observed her talent for ‘mimicry, and was the first to see how she ‘‘stood out’ in the most casual snapshot taken with his small camera. Even at this late day, when cameras have improved vastly, it is still an important asset to ‘‘pho- tograph well.” One evening her step- father said to her, “I've been thinking, child, that we ought to take a chance in Hollywood. " They taiked with Janet’s mother. Always the bulwark behind Jonesey and her daughter, she merely said, “When do we start?”’ Janet was too overcome for words. “Don’t you want to go?” Jonesey asked with banter. The girl's eyes filled with tears. Clenching her hands, she finally said, “Gee!"” Jonesey and her mother understood. Never did more timid women enter the city of hope and despair. The genial, round-faced Jonesey was their window upon the world. For all his good nature, Jonesey had deter- mination enough for several men. He rented a modest apartment in Hollywood, and went to work as an electrician. Janet began making the weary rounds of the studios. carrying her photographs. Growing discouraged after weeks in the G The director stopped at Janet’s picture. Her eyes had caught him. cinema city, she went to the Hollywood Secretarial School, and enrolled to learn stenography. There was another girl in the school who was ambitious to become an actress. She had a call from a studio official who wished to interview her. “Why,” asked the teacher, aware of Miss Gaynor’s ambition, “‘don’t you take Janet along?”’ The girl hesitated and said, **Well, I guess I could.” The girl who “took Janet along” talked freely to the little girl who was later to be- come world famous. “I may never make the grade. My face is longer than daylight, and I don't photograph well —" She looked closely at Janet, ‘“Now you've got everything —all you need is a lucky break.” She sighed, “And remember you'll never get it pounding a typewriter.” Janet returned to the cinema war. A series of *‘O. Henry films” were to be made. With scores of other girls, Janet Gaynor took a test — and failed. A girl won it who is heard of no more. A group photograph shows Janet seated next to the director who chose the other girl. She is huddled back as if in fear, her slight body nearly hidden. One looks at the picture now — and wonders. There is a bewildered haunting expression about Janet's face. as if the pathos of all the women in the world were registered there. A brave smile lingers at the corners of her mouth. Defeated, she went home to her mother and Jonesey. “Well, Mamma'’ — she sobbed in her mother’s arms. That splendid woman, as in- tuitive as her daughter, allowed the wild storm to sweep across her daughter’s soul. She then soothed Janet and motioned to Jonesey, who said, “Why, child — I didn’t expect you to be selected — you were too young — I just wanted it to prepare you for what nearly everybody gets in Hollywood — you're going to be a great star yet.” ) The wounds of defeat healed, the winsome and brave little adventurer again stormed the gates of cinematic fortune. Five months passed. Told in three words, they were centuries of hope deferred. Worn out often from the endless quest, no matter how depressed, she always found a haven of cheerfulness at home. Her mother was as strong as a rock in a weary land. Be- sides, a line from old Ibsen had remained in Jonesey's mind. He quoted it often to Janet. It was, “Never be so mad as to doubt your- self.” She returned home one evening with cheer- ful tidings. She was to go to work as an extra player with the Hal Roach Comedy Com- pany. Jonesey took the news with a smile. “‘Why certainly, child — I knew they couldn't stop you."” . No one on the Roach set noticed the lonely and lovely little stranger. It may be for this reason she managed to keep on the payroll for six weeks. At the end of that period she obtained other extra work at the Universal Studios. (Continued on page 13)