The Edwardsville Intelligencer from Edwardsville, Illinois • Page 5

TOUGH JOB A PROPHET HOLLYWOOD Being named a Wampas "baby star" means that big things are expected ot you, but the show that it's no guarantee of fame and even the experts can go wrong at picking talent Lupe vas a baby star in 1928--and she's one of the feto of that year's list to be in the spotlight today. She has a hltle belter than an even chance of becoming a success on the screen--Jacqudinc one of the 1934 Wampas Baby Stais. The piopheli had good in 1926, picking a lot of girls who are still at the top of the heap--and among them mat the lovely a Wray, forged slcudily ahead cvei Hv Dan Thomas of the most hijjhiy-piiit'd honors whieli a rising screen actress can i is lo be cltcted a Wampas Baby Suu. Yet such a distinction docs not by any means indicate that full-fledtjcd stardom is just around the corner. And on the other hand, there is no rule which says that a must be a Wampas babe in order to achieve success on the silver screen.

Many of the Wampas girls a failed Within a year after being elected they have passed into oblivion and been forgotten completely. Others, who for some reason have been overlooked by the Wampas (Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers), have forged steadily ahead until their names have meant something in the movie world. In other words, being a prophet in Hollywood is a pretty difficult job. However, the Wampas has hung up a good record--scoring with 56 per cent of Us selections, according to the writer's tabulation. Naturally there is plenty of room for a difler- ence of opinion on that subject.

What constitutes success in the film colony? Granted, only a scant a of the Wampas babes have attained real stardom. But does one necessarily have to become a full- fledged star in order to be regarded as a success? That's a question which only you can answer. A NOTHER question which arises is "how long must an actress remain in the limelight before she is considered successful?" A great many of the early Wampas Baby Stars who rose to considerable heights have since passed out of the picture entirely. But considering the fact that the first baby stars were chosen 12 years ago, that is not exactly strange. Few of our greatest stars are able lo survive over a of that length.

Of course, there isn't a reason in the world why they shouldn't. They just don't, that's all. Such is celluloid fame. Probably the best way of showing why Hollywood'considers it quite an honor lo be named a Wampas Baby Star is to go back over the records of these girls, records which that a girl with the aforementioned title tacked to her has a little more than a 50-50 chance to succeed before the cameras. And Only two of the girls picked for stardom 1924 are still famous--but one of them is the Clara Bo id in the film colony that is a big chance.

Of the first baby stars, elected in 1 922, only one remains in prominence today--Colleen Moore, who, after an absence of three years from the screen, staged a genuine comeback last year in "The Power and the Glory." While she no longer is considered a star in the true sense of the woid, she still is a pretty big figure in the movie world, and is still famous. Howevei, there were seven other baby stars of that year who rose to enviable positions in the film firmament. They were Helen Ferguson. Lila Lee, Bessie Love, Mary Philbin, Pauline Starke, Lois Wilson and Claire Windsor. The record for the following year wasn't quite so good, all I 3 of those girls having gone by the boards as far as the movie world is concerned.

Four of them did enjoy real success before bowing out of the picture, however. They were Evelyn Brent, Laura LaPlante, Eleanor Boardman and Jobyna Ralston. HINGS picked up a bit in 1924, with six of the girls going over the top, although only Clara Bow and Marian Nixon have remained in the film spotlight. Of that group the red-headed Clara was the shining light, being the outstanding box office hit of the entire industry 'for two years. Miss Nixon never attained such heights but she has gone on steadily year after year.

The other four who made names for themselves were Dorothy Mackaill, who nearly reached the very peak; Alberta Vaughn, Julmnne Johnston and Elinor Fair. The following year, 1925, was the worst of all for the Wampas. Only three of the 1 3 attained any sort of distinction, and while they were considered successful by the movie crowd, not a one ever had a chance of being termed a star. Those three were Olive Borden, Madeline Hurlock and Dorothy Revier. As a calm always precedes a storm, so it enough to be regarded as successes, and two are still very much the center of activity.

Loretta Young's popularity never has stopped growing and she is regarded as a bigger star today than ever before. Helen Twelvetrees hasn't made quite that good a record, although hers is one of which any girl could be proud. Loretta'b sister, Sally Blane, is becoming ac- again, too, and it not be at all surprising if she scored a real triunph before another year has passed Others of that weie temporarily in the svum were Jean Aithur, now trying for a comeback, Josephine Dunn, Sharon Lynn and Anita Page. In 1930 there were no baby stars, but 1931 to be another banner year with the Wampas scoring 10 hits out of the 1 3 girls selected. Several of them are doing big things today too.

was with the Wampas. Following its bad year, it crashed through with a whole string of hits in 1926. In fact, quite a number of them still are recognized among our top-notch actresses. From a box office standpoint Janet Gaynor has headed the list of feminine stars for the last two years. Joan Crawford has been an outstanding star for several years and is more popular today than ever before.

Dolores Del Rio rose to considerable heights and still ranks high on the movie roster. Fay Wray has forged steadily ahead. Mary Astor is one of the most prominent of the screen's leading ladies. Mary Brian never has gone to the top but has maintained a steady pace through the years. A ND there were others who enjoyed much success, even though it wasn't as lasting.

Among them were Dolores Costello, Marccline Day, Sally O'Neil and Vera Reynolds. In 1927, six of the baby stars won temporary (Copyright I 331 -by EvcryWoclt success, and one of them. Sally Rand, is known throughout the nation today--as a fan dancer, not as a movie star. The others of that year who made thtir names known were Barbara Kent, Helene Costello, Frances Lee, Mary McAhster and Martha Sleeper. Martha still is very much in the swim and promises to do even more in the future than she has in the past, In 1928 there was a good crop, eight gills winning fame.

Only two, Lupe Velez and Sally Eilers, are in the spotlight today, however. But both of them are going strong, ranking as leaders among the feminine featured playeis. Others of that year who scored temporarv hits were Sue Carol, Lina Basquette, June Collycr, Alice Day, Ruth Taylor and Molly O'Day. And Molly may again make her name a prominent one in pictures, having just returned to Hollywood after an absence of three years, determined to make a comeback. Seven of the baby stars of 1929 went far OAN BLONDELL is rated by her studio as a star in her own name.

Studio executives are predicting that Rochelle Hudson will He one ol the biggest stars on the screen in another three years. Constance Cummings has advanced to the point where her sen-ices are constantly in demand both here and England. Frances Dee is forging steadily ahead, Karen Morley is doing well, and Sidney Fox is back after a considerable absence, playing a leading role which she hopes will re-establish her in the position she held a couple of years ago. Joan Marsh, who almost got shoved into oblivion because of excess weight, has taken off 30 pounds and grabbed a new long-term contract with a major studio. Anita Louise, youngest otthe 1931 baby stars, is working steadily, and so is Barbara Weeks.

The 1932 Wampas record is nothing to brag about, only six of the girls being really in the swim today. Outstanding in the group are Dorothy Wilson, Ginger Rogers, Mary Carlisle and Gloria Stuart, all of whom have done some very good things. Ginger Rogers is actually within sight of stardom. Two others who apparently have a real future before them are Patricia Ellis and June Clyde. And there you have the Wampas Baby Stars to date, with the exception of those picked only a few months ago.

Naturally it is too soon to determine yet just what they will do but there are some mighty good looking bets. Some actresses have come into pictures and forged ahead so rapidly that they were way out of the baby star class before the Wampas had any opportunity of recognizing them. Outstanding of this group are Garbo, Katharine Hepburn and Ruby Keeler. each of whom leaped into prominence with a single picture. In any event, it can't be said that a girl rises to stardom as a result of being picked by the Wampas, nor is she held back by not being selected..