Creighton Hale — And How He Rose (1925) 🇺🇸
Creighton Hale, the handsome actor, long has made a pal of art,
He was five years old, he tells us, when he played his first big part.
This was back in dear old Erin, where his dad put on East Lynne,
Creighton cast as Little Willie, wore a most ecstatic grin.
He was known as the boy actor and he really won much fame,
But he never had an inkling he would choose the acting game.
He was also a boy singer holding forth in big church choirs,
He was nearly groomed for opera in the visions of his sires.
Then there followed schools in London with a college course somewhere,
Till one day from Greek roots wearied, he gave all these things the air.
He first worked at engineering and reported for the press,
It was one long strenuous program with no holidays, I guess.
While between times he was acting in legit as well as. vode,
And he had his own productions for a period on the road.
With The Dawn of a To-morrow he came traveling to this land,
He was manager and actor and his whole career seemed planned.
For the show went well on Broadway and the footlights seemed his place,
But an art called motion pictures one day stared him in the face.
Well, in his first fling in pictures, he was Hale, the serial king,
He was stuntster and daredevil, doing every risky thing.
Next a tour with Ben Greet Players doing Shakespeare with the rest,
Then he had three years with Griffith in the rôles he likes the best.
There was summer stock on Broadway — reaching stardom — thus art grows —
Both in Little Old New York and a play called Just Suppose.
In the City of the Angels he appeared on Christmas Day,
And was offered a screen contract with a featured rôle to play.
Then another and another, yes the screen has got him fast,
So his days before the footlights are the memories of the past.
In the Lubitsch The Marriage Circle and the Seastrom “Name the Man,”
He has scored with these directors and has gratified the fan.
Creighton Hale has one sole purpose when creating each new part —
A portrayal so outstanding, it’s a finished piece of art.
[Ernst Lubitsch | Victor Sjöström]
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Collection: Picture Play Magazine, April 1925