Paddy O’Flynn — A Stepson of the Movies (1928) 🇺🇸
His father’s name was Patrick David, and his mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Gordoon. Irish! On both sides! That same Elizabeth, grown older and gray, but with none of the twinkle gone from her eyes and her smile, wished her son to be an electrical engineer. But things just didn’t turn out that way. Her son took the name of Paddy O’Flynn, and came to Hollywood instead.
When his parents first left Dublin they settled in Canada, but it was not until after they had moved to Pittsburgh that Paddy was born.
When he was seven the family sent him back to Toronto to attend school there. He was never a distinguished scholar, but he excelled in athletics throughout his school years. Hockey holds the sport limelight in Canada, and Paddy was slim and wiry — built for speed on skates. He was also a piano student at St. Joseph’s, and displayed considerable promise as a musician. But, as with many other things, Paddy’s interest waned.
That interest was an elusive thing in those days, and it continued to be fickle until he came to Hollywood. Good music, as taught at St. Joseph’s School, was not for Paddy.
A battered banjo came into his possession, and the half-mad, half-dreamy jazz he learned to play on it amused and entertained him far more than his lessons at the piano. Paddy’s buddy, Mose Yokum, was also a piano student, and loved music, but he, like Paddy, preferred jazz tunes to the melodies of the masters.
While the family was in consultation as to the most suitable school to which Paddy might be sent for his training as an engineer, word came that Mose and Paddy had already returned to the States.
They managed, by some hook or crook, to secure a brief vaudeville engagement, and considered themselves on their way to prominence as actors. Both boys were awkward and green, with no theatrical training whatever. But they played “hot” music, and the audience responded to their youthful enthusiasm.
Vaudeville knew Mose and Paddy for a number of years. Mose managed to organize his own orchestra, but Paddy didn’t relish being just one of the band. The banjo was discarded in favor of a ukelele, and he continued his act alone. He was billed in vaudeville, and frequently over the radio, as “Paddy O’Flynn and His Galloping Ukelele.” During a vacation he visited Hollywood, and incidentally played there at KFQZ. Hollywood was friendly, and liked Paddy’s Irish smile.
A producer gave him a lead in a serial. From the first moment he experienced before the camera, Paddy knew that his wandering fancy had found its true love. At first, of course, he was camera shy and ignorant of screen values. He soon overcame this difficulty, and all through the filming of the picture he was constantly being told that he was a real “find.”
If he thought his career in films would be easy sailing, after his work in that first lead, he was doomed to bitter disillusionment. In the two years which followed, he worked almost constantly, and was still called “a find,” but the parts he appeared in never seemed to get past the cutting room. His bits were always eliminated as either not important to the story, or because of some change in continuity. But, during all this time, Paddy studied as he had never studied before, despite the disappointments he was continually suffering.
Finally his reward came, and it was well worth working and waiting for. Henry Irving Dodge, author of Skinner’s Dress Suit, and Skinner Puts It Over came to Hollywood in connection with the production of one of his stories. He met Paddy, and announced that he “could write a story every hour for that boy.” He paid Paddy many other compliments, which Paddy didn’t take seriously. He was used to praise by this time, and it never seemed to get him anywhere, so he was a bit cynical. Mr. Dodge, however, was actually in earnest. He created the role of Skinner’s son, and called him Bill Skinner, Jr., and explained in no uncertain terms that Paddy was the one he wanted for the part.
Thus Paddy’s jinx has taken flight. With his temperament, his famed Irish grin, his ability, and backed by a loyal following of fans, Paddy is destined to write some romantic chapters into the story of his career. The fan following which he has gathered will be back of him every inch of the way.
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Paddy O’Flynn’s jinx has apparently taken flight, and he has been given a chance to do some real work in pictures.
Collection: Picture Play Magazine, November 1928