Sam Hardy — He Just Wouldn’t Go into the Movies (1927) 🇺🇸

Sam Hardy made his screen debut in the title role of Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford after Mr. William Randolph Hearst had seen him on the Broadway stage and thought him ideal for the part.

Sam did not know much about pictures nor did he want a picture career. The “legit” was his idea of making a living. While working before the camera on this Cosmopolitan opus some three years ago, Hardy was offered several other screen engagements and turned them ‘all down. He signed for a stage production which opened even while the finishing touches were being put on Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford.

His stage career during recent seasons has been a steady upward march. He was co-starred with three famous English comedians in Chariot’s Revue and he played for two years with Lenore Ulric in Kiki. Other of his stage efforts include Princess Pat, the Ziegfeld Follies, The Riviera Girl, La, La, Lucile! and The Charm School.

Then fate again brought him to the screen. Bob Kane saw a stage performance of Sam’s and immediately engaged him to play the important role of the press agent in “Bluebeard’s Seven Wives.” This picture brought Hardy great success and immediately he was signed up for “The Savage.” Then Kane sent for him to appear in “The Great Deception.” Immediately following that came The Prince of Tempters, “Not Herbert,” and “The Butter and Egg Man.”

Now Sam has about decided that he will stick to the screen and wonders why he did not stay there in the first place.

Photo by: Russell Ball (1891–1942)

Collection: Picture Play Magazine, January 1927