Does Hollywood Want a Fat Boy ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 541, 19 December 1928, Page 6

Does Hollywood Want a Fat Boy ?

DANBY DELIBERATES AUSTRALIA’S ROTUND SON Hoes Hollywood want a fat boy? If the answer is in the affirmative, the future of Percy Danby, of New South Wales, is assured. At present Percy is not quite sure about it. He has played numerous heavy roles in Australian productions, but admits that Australia is not yet firmly established on the map of the screen. However, he is going to try his luck, and soon 3G4lb of young Australian manhood will parade before American motion picture directors. Percy left Auckland for Vancouver on the Niagara yesterday. It says something for the well-known liner that her usual cargo capacity was not restricted on this account. Prior to his departure Percy called at The Sun Office, eased his way through the main door, and challenged tho elevatoK The cabin shuddered its way aloft and Percy stepped out smiling.

Seating accommodation was a problem but, after a careful selection, Percy risked a chair. “I am always cautious about that,” he said, still allowing a board smile to cleave lOin of face. All this is extremely personal, but Percy does not mind. On the contrary he welcomes girth statistics, for his fat is his fortune. To call him stout ,or even extremely stout, is to libel unfairly by faint praise. Percy is enormous. His age is 27, his height sft 6in. He weighs a little over 26 stone. Other structural dimensions are as follow: Chest, sft: hips, sft 3in; thighs, 2ft 6in; calf, 22in; shoulder, 22in; face, lOin across; biceps, lSXin; ankle, 14£in. He takes an ISlin collar and wears size 9 in shoes. Now, John Ivilonis, laugh that off!

Percy was born in Parkes, New South Wales, and has been in the show business since he was 10 years of age. Parkes is proud of its son and local opinion classes him as the most popular man in the district. But, in any case, Percy is a pacifist. He smiles a\l the time; even when he sees his tailor’s bill. Australia has quite a number of fat men to its credit, and Percy is by no means a record-breaker on the other side of the Tasman. Tom Jannings, a famous Australian character, smashed every available weighing machine with 32st 101 b of solid flesh and bone, while the late Drewy Hyson, of Perth, scaled 30st in his socks.

Nevertheless, Percy has time enough yet. His weight has remained constant for a number of years, but lie does not despair, and is pinning his hopes for the future on starchy foods.