HAROLD LLOYD

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 15

HAROLD LLOYD

A HUMBLE START Is there such a thing as a lucky coin? Sceptics will immediately say “No!” But Harold Lloyd, star of Paramount's latest comedy release, “For Heaven’s Sake!” which opens at the Princess, Tivoli and Everybody’s Theatres on the 28th inst., says there is. You see, it was this way. A mere flip of a coin decided that Harold should go to Los Angeles, instead of New York, as he wished. The scene opens a little more than 10 years ago. The location is San Diego; and our characters—Harold and his father. At the time, Harold was going to high school, acting as an instructor at a dramatic art academy during the afternoons, and in the evenings playing character roles with the local stock company.

Lloyd Senior, or “Foxy” as he' is known, had suffered business reverses, and wished to go to some place where he could start anew. New York and its stage appealed to Harold, but to the father’s mind the then lowly cinema seemed the logical place for Harold to be. They talked it over but failed to come to a definite Conclusion. Finally, it was decided to do whatever was designated by the flip of a quarter. And —the answer was—go west, young man, go west. So they arrived in Los Angeles two weeks later. HAD HARD TIML

And Harold started his siege of the studio gates, but succeeded in reaching only the outer offices. That was as far as he got. Gradually, the tiny bankroll acted as though it had been placed on a rainy street corner. Then one diiy the pair decided to put everything in one final supreme effort. Harold went out to Universal City, but this time, with a make-up box. Just before the noon hour he sneaked behind a restaurant located right across the way from the studio. There —he assumed a regular screen makeup, and proceeded to mingle with the picture extras. In this way he managed to actually get inside the: studio, for the first time in his life. A fellow came up to him and said, “How’d you like to work this afternoon, kid?” LANDED A JOB Does a fish swim? Yes, sir, he’d work. And work he did! That day he started on “Samson and Delilah.” That’s the story of Harold Lloyd, perhaps the greatest star that has ever been seen on the screen. At first, he thought himself cut out to be a character actor. Then one day, on doing a comedy role, he stepped into his own field, and actually stole the picture from its star. That was Lloyd's making. and from that day to this, he's been known as a comedian. “For Heaven’s Sake!” produced by the Harold Lloyd Corporation, was directed by Sam Taylor, with Jobyna Ralston playing opposite the star.