Wesley Barry — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

He filled a long-felt want when he came along on the screen, for young Wesley Barry popularized freckles to such an extent that every mother who previously shook an anxious head over her bespeckled offspring began to “swell with pride” and to fondly regard her ugly duckling as something quite the thing.

Wesley is not only all-American, but he is an all-film lad, for he was born right in Hollywood, August 10, 1907, the day that the sky presented such a mottled appearance And Hollywood is the other name for motion pictures.

He grew up the natural kind of boy which he now portrays upon the screen. He protested, “Aw, Gee!” when ordered to wash his neck, carried a regulation frog-sticker, and pursued the bad boys who yelled, “Freckle face!”

When he was seven years old, a young director was attracted either by his terrific supply of freckles or the plaintive, human face, and put him at work on the old Kalem “lot.” He did not become known until later, however, for producers insisted that all subjects cover facial blemishes with grease paint.

But Marshall Neilan took Wesley and put him on the screen, freckles and all, to say nothing of spears of hair, waving at cross purposes with the rest of the mop. Thus was “Freckles” Barry born on the screen. After six years of hard work, during which the public watched more and more for the reappearance of that bespeckled face, Wesley became a star in his own right. “Dinty” put him over with great success. This was followed by “Penrod.”

Later screen productions which served him as starring vehicles are “School Days,” “Rags to Riches” and “Heroes of the Street,” Warner specials.

Wesley has not neglected his education. He has studied constantly under a tutor from the Hollywood High School. He expects to go to college later. He has blue eyes, red hair and weighs 110 pounds.

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Portrait by Evans • Los Angeles

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)