Marin Sais and Ollie Kirkby — Jealous? Not a Bit of It! (1916) 🇺🇸

September 19, 2025

Being the tale of a search for the green-eyed monster in the den of the “Social Pirates.”

by Cecilia Mount

This is an interview on the subject of jealousy. At least, it started out to be that. I thrilled with the thought that I had bearded the green-eyed monster in his den — merely to find that I had only secured a chat with two very charming and sweet dispositioned young women who averred that they wouldn’t know the self-same dragon were he to pass them on the street. Why, they actually appeared belligerent when I announced my quest.

“Jealous?” they echoed, with uplifted eyebrows; not a bit of it! Why, we are having the time of our lives as ‘Social Pirates.’”

But I was still unconvinced. Firm in my convictions that as a green-eyed monster detector I had some pretensions at least, I determined to stand by my guns.

“Listen,” I said softly, trying diplomacy. “Here you are, two stars, Marin Sais and Ollie Kirkby, featured with equal honors in a series of pictures. Now, it is unheard of that two players of equal prominence and ability should divide the glory of stardom for even one picture without a clash of temperament. And you are to go thru fifteen pictures! Why, it’s impossible.”

A cheery laugh from two clear throats was my only answer. Then Miss Kirkby’s blue eyes twinkled, and her face took on the pleading mien of a penitent.

“You are right, tho,” she said. “We are jealous. Terribly so. Do you know we have been fighting bitterly for three years? Yes, and last year I took a second prize and gloated gleefully for twelve months until Marin had to come along this year and take the first award. Just a minute” — I had started to ask for an explanation. “It’s all about chickens and ducks and all that. Both Marin and I are gushingly proud of our big homes here in California and we spend all of our time caring for the blue-blooded fowl. The annual Tropico Show is the event that decides which is the winner. Just now I feel like a tail-ender. But I do believe Marin smiled at the judges when I wasn’t looking.”

“I did not,” interrupted the accused one. And both joined in another hearty laugh which convinced me that the only green-eyed monster I would be likely to find around the Kalem studio, would be certain to be a chicken. So I decided to change the key-note of my interview and make it a “two-in-one” talk. I asked them how they enjoyed being Social Pirates, the aptly descriptive title that George Bronson Howard, the famous novelist and playwright, has chosen for his first picture series. In the initial announcement of the pictures I had seen the Social Pirates described as “two fascinating young women, who live by their wits and wiles — preying on the wealthy and sophisticated.” As I looked at the curly, jet-black hair and brown eyes of Miss Sais, and the blue-eyed Miss Kirkby with wavy brown hair that was enough to make me jealous, I could see that the counterparts of the Social Pirates had been well chosen.

“It’s wonderful,” enthused Miss Sais. “You don’t know how righteous it makes you feel to go thru day after day bringing evil men and women to justice. Of course you know that, tho we are Social Pirates, we prey only on those who deserve it. Even if the means we use are not always just right, we have the satisfaction of knowing that we are fighting fire with fire.”

“And make believe we aren’t the clever pair!” chimed in Miss Kirkby. “We use the most daringly brilliant schemes — it’s no wonder the men all become our victims. That is the advantage of playing in stories written by a well-known author — they all ring true. It’s so much different from the old-fashioned thriller stuff. Really I like Social Pirates better than any picture I have ever been in.”

The last statement gave me an opportunity to inquire further into details of the star’s screen career. “How long have you been playing in Motion Pictures?” I asked.

“Three years,” was the reply. “And all the time with the Kalem Company. I will frankly confess that I started as an ‘extra,’ too. Oh, yes; I was one of those white-capped-and-aproned maids that answer every time a bell is rung, and help the star on with her wraps and so on. It seemed a terribly long time that I was playing small ‘bits’ and, truth to tell, I was becoming discouraged with the prospect of ever convincing any one that I could do better. But all the time the officials back East in the company’s office seem to have been watching me on the screen, and one day a telegram came, telling the director to put me in ‘stock,’ which meant that I had a permanent engagement. Then the ‘Mysteries of the Grand Hotel’ came along and I was given a chance to star.

But it was probably modesty that caused her to drop the subject here.

“Since the days of cowboy and Indian pictures,” spoke up Miss Sais, “I have played in blood-and-thunder Western pictures, riotous comedies, refined comedy-dramas and tense emotional subjects. I was educated to be a concert singer, but the screen captured me and now I have to save my voice for my friends. I don’t know whether they appreciate it,” she closed, with a demure smile.

The wonderful versatility of Marin Sais, which was seen to such advantage in “Stingaree,” the series by E. W. Hornung, is well brought out by her innocent autobiography above. In all probability it is her Latin blood that is responsible for the wide range of her acting ability, for Miss Sais is the daughter of one of the oldest Castilian families in California. She was born in Marin County — which accounts for the name that has proven a cause for perplexity to many picture fans.

“I’ve grown so tired of explaining to people what it means,” she laughed. “But really, if you knew what a lovable place Marin County is you wouldn’t wonder that I am so proud to wear the name and show that I am a ‘native daughter.’ Ollie missed half the joy in life by being born in Pennsylvania. But we’ll forgive it, for her parents tried to atone by moving out to California while she was yet in short dresses and pig-tail.

“For this is the wrong place to look for green-eyed people. We are both brimful of ambition, both working our heads off to please the followers of Motion Pictures and to do big things, but for all that we are two pals, working hand in hand as two good and clever Social Pirates should work. For that matter you’ll find that same spirit of hearty co-operation all thru this studio. The Kalem Glendale Company is just one big happy family enjoying every moment of life, because we are all working hard to do the best we can every minute. You couldn’t start an adult-size quarrel if you were to try.

“Not unless you were to mention homes or chickens, or blue-blooded saddle-horses,” concluded Miss Sais as I rose to go. “We are all unreasonably proud of our homes, as you will find most players who have settled down to the comforts of Motion Picture acting. A small cottage, a little garden and a few chickens certainly spell ‘heaven’ to a player who has been accustomed to the road life of the speaking stage.”

And all the way back along the road to Los Angeles I honestly believe every chicken I saw had jealous green eyes.