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lU .rS T K A T K M IK A T U K K SKt'TlON
June 21. I !»30
P lctu n - tn th e Illu rt ra te d fV u U Jrr H ertion » r r * posed,
and do no t d ep ict p r in c ip a l' uni t j so c a p tio n ed
l i t n |> v v I h I t . ,
teatarr
E d.tar
Raymond Turner Conquers Tremendous Obstacles to Achieve Success in Movies
»
Sometime* "K a y " fourni it n r r n u r r la tramn the
street* lua »yak to work but t o o proud to beg. f inally,
hr got a "brrak." and Ihrn. rvrn Al Jolson. »b o sei-
dotn « h i m Ihr spotlight with anyone, recognized thr
'«u n e colored actor by riving him an important part
in "Big Boy." "K a y " proved a “ W OW ." S u re r» at
!a»t! Then thr film magnate» brgan bidding for hit
talyrnt. Krad this throbbing story b rio »:
tug place dumped the contents of this improvised savings
bank on the table The little pile of nlckles dimes. Quarters
and lew half dollars represented the savings of a long
period of self denial. Pocketing the few dollars of change
he faced the West and started nu toil-worn young body
toward the city where his heart already was— Hollywood.
Several weeks later a tired, dusty, hungry boy tramped
from studio to studio in search of work No one seemed to
have even a day's work as an extra for him The massive
studio gates and the uniformed gutemen seemed always
between him and his objective. He was nearly famished,
but the indomitable spirit that carried him from New Mexico
to Hollywood, under the most trying conditions, kept him
plodding on.
Dame fortune Smiles
Then Dame Fortune smiled on him. tine day as he
»a s »a ilin g near a studio gate half supporting his tired,
starved body by grasping the iron rail outside the watch
man's little office. Opportunity knocked
Al Rockett, thr
producer of "Abraham Lincoln." came hastily out of the
gate and asked Ihr galrman to call an employment agency
for hint. As he waited hr noticed Raymond sagging slightly
against thr rail. Young Turner became suddenly aware of
him gate and attempted to stand ereet. Rockett smiled at
him and Turner swayed a hit. Ihrn pulled himself together
amt smiled—the sort of smile a courageous man smiles when
he is losing a hopeless fight.
Rockett, with the deep sense of understanding that hau
placed him high tn the held of directors and producers,
understood, partly at least He asked the gateman to can
cel the call; turned to Raymond and said. "Come inside.
Son I want to talk to you."
»
Innds < hauffruring Job
In Rockett's office on the big studio lot a voung colored
lad was telling an amazing story of hardships and persever
ance
Under the skillful guidance of the producer, the
conversation drifted Into channels that led to this unbur
dening of confidences
At the end of the narrative the
man whose fame was won by an understanding heart softly
said
" I had it sized up about that way. That's why I asked
you to come In I've Just lost my chauffeur. He had u
chance to take a small part with another company on the
lot and I let him take it
It seems to be Just my luck to
get good men who want to act and then lose them the
first time a camera starts grinding Can you drive?" Rav
answered In the affirmative
“ Well.” said Rockett, '\ou have a job. W e ’ ll
find out about your acting ability later. What
you need now is a ‘flock of hot groceries.’ ”
Ills First Firture
The deal was made. Tho he was not vet an actor, he
at least had access to the studio. As he told me later
"Tt seemed wonderful to see the gates that had so
long been barred against me quickly open when I drove up
tn Mr. Rockett’s big limousine "
Raymond Turner was not destined to be a chauffeur
for long
When he picture. Hills of Mistng Men
was
made. Al Rockett let Director J. P McGowan have Rav
for the comedy part of the cook
Hts histrionic ability was definitely proved tn this ptc-
«
• C o n t i n u e d
on
p*gr M
ON TIIT. LTTT. thr big good-natured smile of Ray
mond i Rav I Turner, whose rise to sucres» in liullv-
»o od rame only after long privation, anxiety. and hard
work. His work has put him in contact with some of
the greatest movie celebrities In Hollywood.
By BUD D Y M A SO N
T
HIS is u talc of dreams that came 'true. Ljreams of
fortune and fame that a young colored boy visioned
while toiling fourteen hours it day under a blazing
sun on a New Mexico ranch. The New Mexico sun is more
conducive to dreams than work, but young Raymond Turner
had many tasks to perform. As he plodded his weary way
about tho sun-scorched ranch under the relentless rays of
Old Sol he dreamed and planned.
r
A l the little theatre Itt Rosswell he hud seen u few moving pictures. On
tile rare occasions when he was able to scrape together u few penhles to pro
cure n ticket to this slinbby little house of enchantment he would come
early nnd stand outside waiting for the box office to oiJen and when the
last show wns over and Ihn lights put out for thr night, a bright-eyed lml
would reluctantly leave the theatre.
Voung Turner KNKW he could art' Ills friends were equally positive
that he couldn't.
He made the mistake of telling hts friends of hts hopes and aspirations.
Muny men with the spark of genius that might have won them fame have
been laughed into an embarrassed oblivion by “ friends" who could not un
derstand
Not so with Raymond. Their Jibes and laughs only served to
spur him on with the firm determination to prove to them that they were
wrong
Tramped the Streets Hungry
He gathered hla few belongings, and taking an old tin can from it* hid
((.'»■llass* m rlgkt st ts* sf this sago
"R A Y " ACTINO FOR THK CAMERAS. Already talented, it was an easy matter for Ray te develop
into a versatile actor: consequently he has been caat In several different types of parts. Hts biggest
difficulty was In landing an opportunity.