John Arledge - Up Pops Arledge (1932) 🇺🇸

In 1931, "Up Pops the Devil" played in Los Angeles. Besides the devil, up popped John Arledge!

by William H. McKegg

Having told Raymond Hackett, the leading man, that I'd go and see his show, I had to keep my word. The house responded to John Arledge and Esther Howard. They were the two highlights of the comedy, in the roles played respectively by Richard Gallagher and Lilyan Tashman in the trivial screen version.

Being quite prophetic, I could see that Mr. Arledge would make good movie fare. And was I not right?

Fox seized him and gave him the role of Jimmy, in Janet Gaynor's Daddy Long Legs, then as Charlie Farrell's friend in "Heartbreak." Thus you came to see him. And rest assured you will see him again and often.

Later, while devouring Hungarian goulash at the Fox studio, who should pop in, as lively as a bird, but the same Mr. Arledge? I calmly turned to Dorothy Manners, who was daintily eating chop suey opposite me, and said, "I knew that chap would land in pictures. Behold!" La Manners cast a slumberous glance his way.

With the general release of Daddy Long Legs, there were many ah's and oh's from sweet young things. Johnny Arledge had popped into view. His part stood out. And that means everything in the movies.

"I was sick — really physically sick — seeing myself in that part," Johnny seriously declared when I mentioned the prominence it had given him. "I thought I was terrible."

And, children, he really meant it!

But I am ahead of my story.

Months later, starting on my expedition to interview Mr. Arledge, I came to the French Village, near the Hollywood Bowl. The tiny medieval door of the Arledge abode being open, I walked right in and tripped over the bottom step of a narrow, steep circular stairway.

Strains of Tschaikowsky's E Minor Symphony floated down to me. Following the moaning harmony I finally reached the apartment — a high-ceilinged, cross-beamed room.

Part IV of the symphony had now run its length. Should I change the record? Better not. I had already made free enough with the place. But just then Mr. Arledge stepped in from the bedroom, where he'd been telephoning.

The ice was broken by music. After saying "hello" to each other, we held an impromptu concert with the phonograph. The gloomy thunders of Finlandia echoed over the apartment. Jascha Heifetz played a trivial Debussy waltz. Lawrence Tibbett roared out the prologue of I Pagliacci.

Mr. Arledge was lying on the rug before the fire. He tra-la'd to various melodious passages. He sat propped up on his elbows, his legs straight out before him. Now he'd lie on his side, or sit on his heels, waiting for the record to stop so he could spring across the room to put another one on.

At Mr. Arledge's request, I scribbled out some of the Italian words. Then I got up to leave, for mine host was going to the football game. The last glimpse I caught, before I fell down the medieval stairway, was of Johnny trying to outdo Tibbett in Italian opera.

Another time I listened to the Arledge saga.

He was born in Crockett, Texas. As soon as desires came into his mind, he longed to play the organ. His mother taught music and had instilled a love for it in her son. During his high-school days his father died. Johnny, his mother, and his sister were left alone. Now Crockett is a nice place, but young Mr. Arledge wanted to see the world. He had never been out of his home town.

"I knew there were many things outside," he said, "things I wanted to see and know. My friends possibly thought me something of a nut, wanting to fly into some insecure existence. But I wanted experiences with life. I wanted a chance to express myself in music or "acting."

So he packed up and went to the big city of Dallas.

The nearest chance that came Johnny's way there was working in a vaudeville agency. Soon, however, he left the office for the stage, rounding out an act as an accompanist.

Of course he thought of Hollywood, but inhospitable reports prevented him from going there to join the crowd. Out of a job, he accepted his cousin's invitation to take a trip with him to San Francisco. When his cousin returned to Texas, Johnny remained and started for Los Angeles. Rather than starve for art's sake, he took a job as a clerk in a mail-order house.

Who will say Hollywood parties are rowdy and useless? At a gathering some one suggested to Johnny that he apply for extra work in "The King of Jazz." He did, and for six weeks he was a movie actor. Another long engagement was given him as one of the million soldiers in All Quiet on the Western Front. Bits came from here and there, but no particular notice was taken of him.

A call eventually came from the stage. Pauline Frederick was to appear in The Crimson Hour, and a juvenile was needed.

Johnny went to the theater. Your name? What have you done? Call again Tuesday. Being clever, Mr. Arledge called Monday. "I thought I'd come too late if I waited till Tuesday," was his explanation when a reason for his premature arrival was demanded.

"I was nervous, of course," he related, almost lapsing back to stage fright at the very recollection. "I felt they were all laughing at me. When I finished reading my part, Miss Frederick came over and shook hands. That was one of the greatest things that had ever happened to me!"

The play helped a lot. Then, Up Pops the Devil came his way. No one in the company had much faith in his ability to put over such a large role. All the same, Mr. Arledge scored.

That was how he came to be signed by Fox and cast in Daddy Long Legs.

Always a keen fan, he has his favorites just like you, and you, and you. He considers Phillips Holmes one of the finest young actors on the screen. Of the ladies, he places the late Jeanne Eagels above all.

"She had what no present actress has," he remarked. "An inner flame, a great artistic force. I saw her in Rain and The Cardboard Lover. No two plays could be more unlike — yet she was brilliant in both!"

He saw The Letter sixteen times!

Still so completely under the sway of the vibrant Eagel's personality is Johnny that he named his dog Jeanne. Somerset Maugham holds an honored place in his library.

Fan mail is coming in. Johnny gets a thrill autographing his photos. His one sole desire now is to get a chance to show some real marked ability, for he does not want to be typed.

Sensitive, with deep feeling, he is well-fitted for real parts. He would be excellent in "Merton of the Movies."

Recently he returned to his home town of Crockett, for which he has a very deep affection.

"It was wonderful to return after having gained at least a foothold in the work I wanted so much to do," he said in calm reminiscence. "I had set out two years ago, went through the experiences I wanted, and was back at the place I started from."

Silence followed. Then, "Have you heard the new Gershwin Concerto?" A leap to the phonograph!

Behold, boys and girls! Up pops Johnny Arledge!

The Arledge saga is short and simple — itching heels, vaudeville, store clerk, stage, and now the screen.

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Collection: Picture Play Magazine, March 1932