A Native Born Star

RAISED in Hollywood discovered in Hollywood. This short short story of Joel McCrae's career sets him apart from most native born motion picture stars who nowadays go to New York to be discovered. Strongly influenced by William S. Hart be hoped one day to have a cattle ranch. Now he has a ranch of 1,000 acres and besides is a movie star a Bill Hart was once.

At Pomona College Joel's six feet, three inches of stature were used to good purpose in football, track, and footlight activities. Director Sam Wood came to Pomona in 1928 to see his daughter act in a college show with Joel. Wood watched McCrae more than he did his daughter. Though a student of public elocution, Joel didn't get a chance to talk much in the talkies until he was cast in an Alaskan hunting story with the late Louis Wolheim. Talking and acting an outdoors man were two things Joel could do well.