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The Mail, Saturday, March 16. 1935 3BO Is Francis LHtrtcT Surely a person of no importance.’ It it Mr. Lederer himself speaking. but few will be found to agree with him. For Mr. Lederer is a matinee idol extraordinary, a man over whom half of feminine Europe palpitated during hit stage career, who went to New York, took the place by storm in “Autumn Crocus. 'hen went to Hollywood and began a dim career which promises to be just as colorful.broad-shouldered; his eyes are dark and Ouida would have said they a.nouldered His hair is biucic. heavy.huna and do it in such a way thatT'' even an American girl feels she ought to utter at the gesture; he isunmarried, and Joan Crawford shown she is not indifferent to charm. That describing Mr. of indicating his qualifications for being the matinee idol of the decade.His past is as romantic as his present. and in addition It has all the elements of drama—poverty, unhappiness, and struggle.j.JE was the youngest of three brothers, and the son of a struggling leather merchant of Prague. Czecho-Slovakia. His sorrows began when he was a round-eyed youngster of nine. His mother and his father separated, and the family was divided. From that time onward he did not know a mother's care and affection. Francis ior Frantisek ashe was called then) and his older brother went with their father to live in their grandmother's home; his own mother and the other brother wentMetals and Fabrics toojp best cleaned with ASCRUB ITS• CLOUDY •AMMONIA^StefARE THEY RIVALS?—FrasrhLederer (above) it credited with being the only man to rival Fran-ctaot Tone's place In the affections of JoIt was s lust, but not unduly merciful home that little Frantisek found with his grandmother and maiden aunt. His father was strict, and whipped the boy for what he considered derelictions of duty.The atmosphere of the home, in contrast to the usually happy, carefree air of Prague citizenry, was rigid and such diversions as a cigarette. a glass of ale. and a theatre were rigorously barred. There was nothing in that home to foster any spark of theatrical talent a iad might have.They wanted to maki business man of Frantisek. But whatwas the use of stuffing ihat---hopelessly impractical mind with and figures, logarithms, dates, declensions? His brother ichieved startling success, and at 17 years age he spoke eight languages, much to the Joy of the elder Lederer like many semi-educated people, a fierce reverence for learning.JN Prague at that time there was aschool of screen acting. Francis Lederer scraped and «avcd a few pennies until he had enough to pay for an audition. The Instructor encouraged him, and sent the boy Into the seventh heaven of delight- But be had to have more money to go onwith the course.He wrote to his mother, who replied that she would have nothing to do with making him an actor. It was useless to approach his father, so there the matter ended, for a thne. But a wealthy patron of the clothing ■hop in which Frantisek worked took an interest In the earnest, eager lad. Thia man was the sponsor of a localP%/VAT£ UV£P 0£ f/LM PT-AJSTF.H1 ULNA t» U»» wmu “**■ .bom. .p.rt (ram Joan, Fr.ncl* Lederer U most frequently n»«-rlnUd. Here they ure pictured dtn-Inj iojrether In Hollywoodfarmhouse. moved into Ihe servant^ quarters, and lived there alone He has one roam where ne keeps nothing but Rood luck charms and gifts, for he U very superstillous. When someone hands him a gift !»e Insists that the giver spit on It six times.rhat’a where Srrabb's scores—It’a as ready to help you wish clothes snow-white is to bring back the loot brilliancy of Jewellery —«s willing to cleon silver lo mirror, brightness as lo polish the porcelain ol bathroom or kitrhen t dauling white Indispensable, low for washing dishes, freshening carpets and curtain*, whitening iinene and laces. Keep Scrubb'a handy!Have you friedScrubh'j Ammoniac ed LIQUID BATH SALTS! Delight-fully refreshing, and far superior to bath crystals for water-toftemng. cleansing and perfumingIn five eupfi ruling perfumes.Learn All About CRICKETThe Game described by Don Bradman, \ff. Oldfield, A Mailey, and A. Moyes“The News” Cricket Hints(Illustrated) Price 6d.On SALE at NEWSAGENTS, BOOKSELLERS. and SPORTS STORES1 Hu family lived in two small. j room* In an apartment house. “Thatj j U» a rather inaccurate description of i the place. he explained recently, f “Rather call It a community house,! I for only the very wealthy own their i home* In Czecho-Slovakia. My | mother's people were rich and lived in a house to themselves, but the I five of us were huddled together in ’ a large community dwelling with only i I two rooms and kitchen allotted lo I each family. No electricity, no gas j for light or cooking, no plumbing.” I I The father’s funds swept down to j vanishing point after the war. and frequently Frantisek knew what it was to be hungry and cold. But the lad with the large dark eyes was never brow-beaten by his surroundings. for he was buoyed up by the hope that one day he would become that lovely and mysterious thing, an i actor.When he was 13 years of a*je he suw his first live actor—and waa! heartbroken.drank. Frantisek had pledged hlm-j | self since childhood lo do neither • and has kept that pledge! and he■. j was horrified a: the thought that he I I would be expected to do likewise.But soon after he saw his first film.l and In it was a hero who was atrictly 1 I temperate. Immediately the boy’s I ambition veered; he would be an I actor, yes, but an actor for the screen. I^HE father tried to spur rmvnunffcr son bv whionlnv himmissed bringing home a good report' from school. But whippings could 1 not prevent his reading novels when 1 he ought to be study in, grammar. | Even before he reached his 1een* he had a vague longing for the theatre. IA! school he wn» forever making! little stages of his own construction, and he averred that he wns going j lo be an actor—although he had only' a rough idea of what an actor really J was. But he saw in that word a chance of escape from the hard realityIOAN CRAWFORD might be a lovely statue cast In broi usual stagy of a film star taking her rate as she bathes I secluded spot on her Bollywood estate.The next few months were pure bliss to Ihe boy. He spent every minute he could watching rehearsals andeventually played a bit in 9 mobscene. He found excuses for his frequent absences from home as well as he could.He was carrying a spear in an opera one night when he attracted the attention of a leading actnr in the troupe, who offered lo teach hint to act—providing he could obtain Ins father’s permission.Francis Lederer today rales that as the most difficult job of his life. He was literally trembling when be at last braved his father’s quick temper and asked his consent for the trainingHe thought his father would threaten a whipping the moment he beard the news. Bui Instead, he look it calmly.An actor. he repeated. Have you ability? With his falher In tow, the excited lad visited ihe leading man. and gave a reading from several plays. The actor agreed toJe^ROM then on. his career became theatrical history. Soon after his twenty-firm birthday he was a matinee idol; by the time he wa* 25 years of age European women were talking of him as they had once talked of Chevalier. He was brought to Hollywood from Broadway with a fanfare of trumpet*, was straightaway made a star, but refused to act likeHollywood, or part of it. says lie is mad. Why?—because he will not act up to Hollywood’s concept of a romantic, glamorous young man.There are so many ways in which this young man is a rebel. He will not talk about himself. He was invited to Joan Crawford's house and forgot about it until a week later He is serious minded and throws all his energy and a large part of his private fortune into the cause of international peace.He decided that he should have a home in Hollywood—but none ol your show places. He found a stoneJ_£E admires beautiful and intelligent women, and his nearest approach to a personal romance is the dark-eyed Steffi Dun a. But whenshe went to Hollywood, he would not help her to acquire film fame, but Insisted that she prove her ownHe likes Joan Crawford, but he fights shy of speaking about her In public. It was said that she sent him gardenias every evening to be kept fresh on his dressing table when he was playing in “Autumn Crocus. She built a private theatre in the grounds of her luxurious home, largely under his direction. She invites him frequently to dinners and parlies at her home.Franchot Tone, whom she call* her Head Man, is reported to be annoyed by the Interest she displays inthe handsome Czech. But all Joan says is Mr. Lederer is one of my best friends, and all Francis says“Miss Crawford is charming, but I hardly know her. I have not sooken more than 15 words to her in privateHe declares that Anna May Wong, the Chinese girl, is the most intelligent woman he has ever met and that Gail Patrick and Kay Francis are the most beautiful. He goes right ahead doing and saying just as he pleases, m spite of what Hollywood says.Sallys prettyShe uses cosmetics ®v®ry day but she guard, against unattractive Cosmetic Skinof clever girls all over the country •re adopting the screen stars’ beauty care.Though I use cosmetics, as most qirls do, I never worry about Cosmetic Skin.Gentle Lux Toilet Soap quards aqainst it Surelylt;rsylv/os7cStarring in PARAMOL’NT’S •BPHOLD MY V 1FE,” a B P. Echulberg PiodocrlonT TAVEyou seen warning signals X 1 of unattractive Cosmetic Skin — enlarged pores, dullness, tiny blemishes... blackheads, perhaps? No need to worry 1To guard against this modern complexion trouble — keep their complexions exquisite—thousandsCosmetics Harmless if removed this wayCosmetics need not harm even delicate skin unless they are allowed to choke the pores. Many a girl who thinks she removes cosmetics thoroughly leaves bits of stale rouge and powder in the pores day after day. Then the pores become clogged, distended—Cosmetic Skin develops.Lux Toilet Soap is made to remove cosmetics thoroughly. Its ACTIVE lather sinks deeply into the pores, carries away every vestige of dust, dirt, stale cosmetics. Before you apply fresh make-up— ALWAYS before you go to bed at night, use this gentle soap.Lifiji
Newspaper Details
Adelaide Mail
Adelaide, South Australia, AU
Sat, Mar 16, 1935
Page 20
Full Page
Clipped by
Angela E.
USA 26 Apr 2025
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