Characters Discussed
Jerry Hyland
Jerry Hyland, the leader of a small-time, three-person vaudeville act who becomes an executive at Glogauer Studios in Hollywood. A likable second-rate actor in his early thirties, he has a penchant for concocting moneymaking schemes to get the trio out of vaudeville. After seeing The Jazz Singer, the first motion picture with sound, Jerry is convinced that talkies will revolutionize the film industry. He sells the act and persuades his partners to go to Hollywood to become part of that revolution. When it seems that he has “gone Hollywood,” Jerry redeems himself by leaving California to go after May.
May Daniels
May Daniels, a member of the vaudeville act who becomes an elocution teacher at Glogauer Studios. Tall, slender, and attractive, May has a quick, sharp mind with a tongue to match. She is the voice of reason, although a slightly cynical one, throughout the play. May dreams up a gimmick for the act to market in Hollywood: an elocution school to prepare silent-film actors for the talkies. Although she is in love with Jerry, she returns to New York when it seems that he has adopted the film industry’s superficial values.
George Lewis
George Lewis, the vaudeville act’s straight man, who becomes the supervisor of productions at Glogauer Studios. About twenty-eight years old, George is clean-cut, naïve, and rather dim. George follows Jerry and May’s lead, which includes acting as the elocution school’s technical adviser, “Dr. Lewis.” He comes into his own when he meets and falls in love with an aspiring actress. The head of Glogauer Studios is so impressed by George’s guileless candor that he promptly makes George supervisor of all productions. George’s blunders work to his benefit, and “Dr. Lewis” becomes Hollywood’s new genius.
Susan Walker
Susan Walker, a young woman who goes to California to be a film star. The female counterpart of George, she falls in love with him when they meet on the train to Hollywood. George’s intervention with the studio head gets her the lead in Gingham and Orchids, a dreadful film in which she gives a wretched performance. Critics, however, love the film and her star turn in it.
Herman Glogauer
Herman Glogauer, the head of Glogauer Studios. A caricature of a Hollywood mogul, Glogauer foolishly passed up the opportunity to make the first talkie, so he is now open to new ideas, including an elocution school at his studio. In a comic confrontation, George becomes the first person to remind Glogauer of his error in judgment concerning talkies. Glogauer mistakes George’s ignorance for insight and assumes that George cloaks his brilliant perception in seemingly simple statements and careless actions.
Helen Hobart
Helen Hobart, America’s foremost film critic and columnist. She is immensely impressed with herself and her accomplishments. Helen was once in a vaudeville troupe with May, and the trio takes advantage of this tenuous connection to break into the motion picture industry.
Lawrence Vail
Lawrence Vail, a New York playwright hired by Glogauer Studios, one of a shipment of sixteen playwrights. Vail’s numerous efforts to meet Glogauer and get an assignment are fruitless. After six months of sitting in his office and collecting his paychecks without speaking to anyone except the payroll clerk, he returns to New York.
Rudolph Kammerling
Rudolph Kammerling, a temperamental German film director. Brought to America by Glogauer, he directs the sappy Gingham and Orchids under George’s inept supervision.
Miss Leighton
Miss Leighton, Glogauer Studios’ reception secretary. Decked out in glamorous gowns, she deals with the swarms of people who converge on the reception area.
Mr. Meterstein
Mr. Meterstein and
Mr....
(This entire section contains 617 words.)
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Weisskopf
Mr. Weisskopf, Glogauer’s flunkies.
Characters
May Daniels
May is one of the trio of vaudevillians at the heart of the play. Of the three, she is the one who frets the most. Right from the start, she's acutely aware of their financial struggles and the necessity to find work. She is shocked when Jerry sells their act without consulting her. Despite this, May is resilient. She quickly devises a plan for their time in Los Angeles: launch an elocution school. It's May who has the connection, Helen Hobart, that helps them secure the studio school. At the studio, she shoulders most of the responsibilities.
May is not fooled by the superficiality of Hollywood and stands her ground. When Jerry starts to neglect her, she confronts him about how he has changed. She adopts a similar stance with George when he makes mistakes, as well as with Herman Glogauer and others. May leaves Los Angeles on her own when she knows it's the right decision. Although she thinks Gingham and Orchids is terrible, she seizes opportunities when they arise. The film becomes a success, prompting May to return to Hollywood to collaborate with George and reunite with Jerry.
Mr. Flick
Mr. Flick is a painter who works at the movie studios, changing the names on the doors with temporary paint due to the constant turnover.
Phyllis Fontaine
Phyllis Fontaine is a somewhat well-known silent film actress. The transition to sound films poses a challenge for her because of her accent. She enrolls in May’s elocution school at the studio to prepare for roles in talkies.
Herman Glogauer
Herman Glogauer is the owner of Glogauer Studios and a formidable figure in Hollywood. He finds himself vulnerable when Helen, May, Jerry, and George pitch their elocution school idea to him. Having previously dismissed the Vitaphone technology that led to talkies, Glogauer is eager not to miss the next big trend. He adopts the elocution school concept briefly before discarding it. Glogauer is impulsive, always trying to stay ahead in Hollywood. Unaccustomed to being challenged, he promptly hires George as the studio head when George stands up to him. Glogauer interprets George's blunders as brilliance, as long as they ultimately serve his interests. His primary concern is the bottom line.
Helen Hobart
Helen Hobart is a prominent film critic in the United States and a friend of May Daniels. They both previously performed as actresses in the same troupe. May leverages this connection to pitch their elocution school idea in Los Angeles. Helen arranges a meeting with Herman Glogauer, the owner of Glogauer Studios, which leads to the establishment of the school. However, Helen claims half of the profits. When the school faces closure, Helen remains distant from May, only interested in maintaining advantageous relationships. She navigates the Hollywood scene so skillfully that studios have gifted her a house and a kennel full of dogs.
Jerry Hyland
Jerry is one of the three vaudevillians at the heart of the play and is the most action-oriented of the group. After watching The Jazz Singer—the first movie with spoken dialogue—Jerry believes that the future lies in films. Convinced of their potential success in Hollywood, he sells their vaudeville act for $500 without consulting his partners and decides they will move to Los Angeles. This decision does not please May, with whom there is some romantic tension.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Jerry is determined to achieve success in the film industry, although May ends up doing most of the work. May feels sidelined by Jerry's fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle. It is only after she leaves following George's dismissal as studio supervisor that Jerry realizes her significance and what truly matters. He goes after her, and when he catches up, he expresses his feelings. They end up together by the play's conclusion.
Rudolph Kammerling
Rudolph Kammerling is a German film director working in Hollywood who is highly frustrated with Dorothy Dodd being cast in the lead role of his film. Upon meeting Susan through George Lewis's intervention, he recognizes her as perfect for the part. Kammerling directs Gingham and Orchids with Susan in the lead. However, after Herman Glogauer halts the production due to George providing the wrong script, Kammerling contemplates returning to Germany.
Florabel Leigh
Florabel Leigh is a relatively well-known silent film actress who struggles with the transition to sound films due to her accent. She enrolls in May's elocution school at the studio to improve her chances in talkies.
Miss Leighton
Miss Leighton is the overwhelmed receptionist at Glogauer Studios, trying her best to manage numerous phone calls and meet various people's needs. However, she completely overlooks Lawrence Vail, and her neglect contributes to his decision to quit.
George Lewis
George is one of the trio of vaudevillians central to the play's narrative. As a young and single actor, he is somewhat carefree and often unaware of his surroundings. Initially, George follows the lead of May and Jerry. When Jerry announces their act has been sold and they're heading to Los Angeles, George simply goes with the flow. Similarly, when May decides to open an elocution school, George complies. His primary goal is to get along with others. One of the few times he takes decisive action is when he notices and becomes infatuated with Susan Walker. He uses his luck to assist her.
George's biggest opportunity comes when he attempts to advance Susan's career. After their school shuts down and they're all unemployed, George learns that Rudolph Kammerling is looking for a new lead actress for his film. He recommends Susan for the role. By standing up to Glogauer, George secures Susan the part and is appointed as the supervisor of the studio's production. Despite facing two challenges, George manages to keep his job, stay connected with his friends, and win over Susan. He recognizes his good fortune.
Lawrence Vail
Lawrence Vail is a renowned playwright working as a scenario writer at the studio. Frustrated by his inability to schedule a meeting with the studio head, he is constantly passed from one person to another. Even Miss Leighton, the secretary, frequently forgets who he is. Vail feels underutilized and dissatisfied with his job. He left a fulfilling life in New York City to work in Hollywood, but despite being on the studio's payroll, he hasn't received any assignments. Eventually, Vail resigns and checks into a sanatorium that exclusively treats playwrights. He encounters May on the train back to New York City. Although May decides to return to Los Angeles, Vail continues his journey to New York.
Mrs. Walker
Mrs. Walker is the mother of Susan Walker. Despite her limited knowledge of Hollywood, she supports her daughter's aspirations. Mrs. Walker does her best for Susan both before and after she is cast in Gingham and Orchids.
Susan Walker
Susan Walker is a nineteen-year-old aspiring actress from Columbus, Ohio. She is traveling to Los Angeles with her mother to pursue her acting dreams when she meets George Lewis. Although Susan lacks significant talent, George's affection for her leads to her starring in a film. She has agreed to marry him once her acting career takes off, and by the end of the play, they are a couple.
