BORN with a decided theatrical "pull," the young lady refused
to use it, preferring to make her own way up the ladder of fame. She was
Elaine Hammerstein, descendant of the famous family of that name.
Miss Hammerstein was born in Philadelphia in 1897 and finished her schooling
at Armitage College, Pa. Her eyes of gray mirror mischievous merry pranks,
which her character and actions do not belie. A fair complexion and brown
wavy hair top off her 120 pounds of sparkling life.
Miss Hammerstein belongs to the Hammerstein family, who have been so
prominent in American theatricals. She is the granddaughter of the celebrated
Oscar Hammerstein of grand opera fame, and the daughter of Arthur Hammerstein,
well-known stage producer.
Instead of relying upon her influential relatives, Miss Hammerstein applied
to a motion picture company as any other girl might have done. Her beauty
and charming personality won for her a small part in a film. She scored
so well that she was given the leading role opposite Robert Warwick in "The
Argyle Case." From that moment on, her success was assured. It was
a Selznick picture, and that company signed her up for a long term.
She was then given leading roles in "A Modern Othello" and
"The Mad Lover." Her first starring vehicle for Selznick was "The
Country Cousin." It was as "Queen Flavia" in "Rupert
of Hentzau" that Miss Hammerstein scored her greatest success.
Miss Hammerstein is a vigorous outdoor girl at all times. Every moment
of her spare time is passed in tennis, golf, canoeing, riding her spirited
horses or driving a powerful automobile. She is a student of good literature,
and can converse in several languages. |