Collect 'Em All #54

Will Rogers
No. 39 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut cigarettes

WILL ROGERS, who is noted for his inexhaustible fund of dry, philosophical humour, was born November 4th, 1879, near Claremore, Oklahoma, and christened William Penn Adair Rogers. At seventeen he was a cattle-puncher, and later continued this occupation in the Argentine. When the Boer War broke out he worked his way to Cape Town to join up, but the war had ended by the time he arrived, and he joined a Wild West show. This began his vaudeville career, which lasted for eight years. He has had greater success in talkies than in silent films; his latest include David Harum, Handy Andy and Judge Priest.

Collect 'Em All #53

Ginger Rogers
No. 38 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born in Independence, Missouri, on July 16th, 1911, Ginger Rogers (whose real Christian name is Virginia), began her stage career in local shows when only twelve years of age. She was a natural dancer, and two years later was winning cups and medals, one contest giving her the reward of a month's tour in vaudeville. She remained on the stage, and gained great popularity in musical comedy, eventually winning stardom. Young Man of Manhattan made in New York, was her first film; later came a Hollywood contract. Recent films are Flying Down to Rio, Change of Heart, Upperworld and The Gay Divorce (sic).

Collect 'Em All #52

Esther Ralston
No. 37 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born on September 17th, 1902, in Bar Harbor, Maine, Esther Ralston comes of a theatrical family, for her parents were well known on the vaudeville stage, and she made her first appearance with them while still a child. In her early teens she turned to film work, and won a great success in silent films, one of her earliest roles being that of Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan. After two years in vaudeville, she returned to films in the British production, Rome Express. Her recent American talkies include To the Last Man, By Candlelight, Sadie McKee and Romance in the Rain.

Collect 'Em All #51

Pat Paterson
No. 36 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Pat Paterson was born in Scotland on April 7th, 1911, and made her first stage appearance during her Christmas holidays in a pantomime. This was at ten years of age; when she was fifteen she ran away to London, arriving with £5, and plenty of optimism. After securing a role in a touring company, she appeared in Andre Charlot's cabaret shows, and later won fame as one of 'The Two Pairs' who became popular on the wireless. She had appeared in more than a dozen British films when Hollywood took her, and she made a great hit in her first American film, Bottoms Up. She has also appeared in Call It Luck.

Collect 'Em All #50

Merle Oberon
No. 35 in a series of 50 from Players' Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born in Tasmania in 1911 and christened Estelle Thompson, Merle Oberon is of Irish descent. She came to England in 1931 on holiday, and was seen by Alexander Korda while he was directing Service for Ladies. Her work in his film Wedding Rehearsal convinced him that she had much promise as an actress, and when he formed his own company, he gave her a five-year contract. Since then she has appeared in Men of Tomorrow, The Private Life of Henry VIII, The Private Life of Don Juan and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Collect 'Em All #49

Jack Oakie
No. 34 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Jack Oakie, whose real name is Lewis Offield, was born on November 14th, 1903, in Sedalia, Missouri, and educated at La Salle High School, New York. Leaving school, he became a clerk in the the office of a Wall Street broker, but chiefly occupied himself in entertaining the other clerks and devoting much more attention to his activities in amateur theatricals. Later he was offered a job as partner to a well-known vaudeville star, and then received a small part in a Laura La Plante comedy Finders Keepers. His latest successes include Murder at the Vanities, Looking for Trouble and Shoot the Works.

Collect 'Em All #48

Anna Neagle
No. 33 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Anna Neagle was born in Forest Gale on October 20th, 1908, and christened Margorie Robertson. Educated at St. Albans High School, she began her career as a teacher of gymnastics and ballroom dancing, and after being a finalist in the World's Ballroom Championship, she turned to the stage and made her debut in Charlot's 1926 Revue. While she was still in the chorus, Jack Buchanan noticed her and she leapt to fame overnight as his leading lady in Stand Up and Sing, repeating her success with him on the screen in Goodnight Vienna. Bitter Sweet, The Queen's Affair and Nell Gwynn are her later pictures.

Collect 'Em All #47

Douglass Montgomery
No. 32 in a series of 50 from Players Navy Cut cigarettes

Born in Los Angeles on October 29th, 1907, Robert Douglass Montgomery was a prominent member of the Pasadena Community Playhouse while still at a High School. Before he was seventeen, he had won his way to Broadway, subsequently becoming a member of the famous New York Theatre Guild. In 1930 he made his film debut in Waterloo Bridge, under the name of Kent Douglass. After four pictures, he returned to Broadway, but is now back at Hollywood again. Recent successes include Little Women, Eight Girls in a Boat, Little Man, What Now? and Music in the Air.

Collect 'Em All #46

Joan Marsh
No. 31 in a series of 50 from Players Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born on July 10th, 1914, in the San Joaquin Valley, California, this famous film star was christened Nancy Ann Rosher. Her father was Charles Rosher, a well-known camera-man who at one time photographed Mary Pickford's films. Nancy began her film career when nine months old, but left the screen when she was seven to be educated. When she was fifteen, she returned to the studios and adopted her present name, Joan Marsh. She specializes in tap and acrobatic dances, but she seldom displays this talent in her films, the latest of which include Rainbow Over Broadway and You're Telling Me.

Collect 'Em All #45

Ida Lupino
No. 30 in a series of 50 from Players Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born in London in 1916, Ida Lupino represents the youngest generation of the famous family of clowns, for her father is Stanley Lupino. Although she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she had no stage experience before making her film debut in a crowd scene in The Love Race. After a big part in Her First Affaire, other leading roles in British films followed. Then came a Hollywood contract, and she sailed for America in August, 1933. Following Search for Beauty and Come On, Marines, a severe illness kept her off the screen for several weeks, but she has returned in Ready for Love.

Collect 'Em All #44

Margaret Lindsay
No. 29 in a series of 50 from Players Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born in 1908 in Dubuque, Iowa, Margaret Lindsay is one of a family of five--she has three sisters and one brother. After completing her education, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Art, and later came to England, where she played in five shows before returning. She then took film tests, and made her debut in The Fourth Horseman. Cavalcade brought her into prominence, for she appeared as the young bride who was drowned on her honeymoon trip in the Titanic. Her latest films include The House on 56th Street, Lady Killer, Merry Wives of Reno and The Dragon Murder Case.

Collect 'Em All #43

Pert Kelton
No. 28 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Pert Kelton was born in Great Falls, Montana, the daughter of vaudeville players, and began to appear with her parents when quite a child, travelling with them all over the world. When they retired, Pert made her way to the Broadway stage, and commencing as a singer and dancer, developed into a most popular comedienne. Her screen debut was made in a small part in the talkie version of Sally. Later pictures include The Bowery, Bed of Roses, The Meanest Gal in Town, Sing and Like It and Bachelor Bait.

Collect 'Em All #42

Jack Hulbert
No. 27 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Jack Hulbert was born in Ely on April 24th, 1892. He was educated at Westminster and Cambridge, where he joined the amateur theatrical group, and decided that as he had a natural talent for entertaining others, he might as well earn his living by it. In 1913 he made his professional debut in The Pearl Girl, in which a leading role was taken by Cicely Courtneidge, who was destined to become famous with him and to be his wife. After the War, he returned to a successful career, and later took up film work with even greater success, his best-known pictures including Falling for You and The Camels Are Coming.

Collect 'Em All #41

Leslie Howard
No. 26 in a series of 50 by Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Leslie Howard was born in London on April 24th, 1893, and on leaving Dulwich College, worked as a bank clerk. He served with the 10th Hussars until he was invalided out of the army in 1917, and then turned to the stage. While appearing in America, he accepted the leading role in the film version of Outward Bound. Later films include Service for Ladies (which he made in England), Smilin' Through, Berkeley Square, Of Human Bondage, British Agent and The Scarlet Pimpernel. His real name is Stainer; he is married and has a son and daughter.

Collect 'Em All #40

Robertson Hare
No. 25 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born in London on December 17th, 1891, J. Robertson Hare had no relations on the stage, and his parents were a little startled when at the age of nineteen he announced his decision of taking up a stage career. A few years later he was playing the title role of Grumpy on tour. Then came the War, but after the Armistice, he resumed his professional career, and was offered a role in one of the Aldwych farces in which he made his name. He is married to Rene Vivian, formerly an actress, and they have one daughter, Diana, aged ten. His latest films are A Cup of Kindness and Are You a Mason?

Collect 'Em All #39

Ann Harding
No. 24 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Ann Harding, who was christened Dorothy Gatley, was born in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, on August 7th, 1904. The daughter of an army officer, she began to earn her living in an insurance office, and in her spare time read manuscripts for a film company. Then she joined a group of amateur theatrical players, subsequently appearing professionally in stock companies. This led her to the Broadway stage, and later to Hollywood, where she was persuaded to try screen work while on holiday. Paris Bound was her first film, later productions including Gallant Lady, The Right to Romance and The Life of Vergie Winters.

Collect 'Em All #38

Sonnie Hale
No. 23 in a series of 50 from Players Navy Cut cigarettes

Born in London on May 1st, 1902, Sonnie Hale is the brother of Binnie Hale. After being educated at Beaumont College, he made his first stage appearance at the age of nineteen in the chorus of Fun of the Fayre at the London Pavilion, and soon became famous in musical comedy. It was in Germany that he made his film debut, and it was not until after he had made three films there--Happy Ever After, Tell Me To-night and Early to Bed that he appeared in British Pictures. Among his latest are Wild Boy, Evergreen and My Song for You. His real name is John Robert Hale-Monro; he is married to Jessie Matthews.

Collect 'Em All #37

Cary Grant
No. 22 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Archibald Alexander Leach was born in Bristol, January 18th, 1904. At the age of twelve, his adventurous disposition prompted him to run away and join a travelling acrobatic troupe, but a month later his father found him, and he returned to school. Later he ran away again, and toured England with a theatrical company. Then he went to America, and after appearing in stock companies, won fame on Broadway and adopted his present name. A visit to the Paramount studios resulted in a contract. His latest films include Thirty-Day Princess, Kiss and Make Up, Enter Madame and Ladies Should Listen.

Collect 'Em All #36

Janet Gaynor
No. 21 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born in Philadelphia on October 6th, 1907, and christened Laura Gainer, Janet's present success is due to her stepfather, who stood by her and encouraged her when she was making the rounds of the film studios looking for a job. She began as an extra, and after rising to play lead in one or two Western comedies, was given a chance with a dramatic role in The Flood (a.k.a. The Johnstown Flood). It was Seventh Heaven that swept her to success and began her popular partnership with Charles Farrell, with whom she appears in Change of Heart. Her other films include Paddy the Next Best Thing, The House of Connelly and Servants' Entrance.

Collect 'Em All #35

Norman Foster
No. 20 in a series of 50 from Player's Navy Cut Cigarettes

Born in Richmond, Indiana, on December 13th, 1900, Norman Foster started his career as a newspaper reporter in his native town. Later, going to New York for a better position, he turned to the stage instead, and after a hard struggle, gradually won the position of a popular leading man. He had his first leading film role in Gentlemen of the Press, a talking made at Long Island. Later he was given a Hollywood contract. Among his recent films are State Fair, Orient Express and Strictly Dynamite. His real name is John Hoeffer and he is married to Claudette Colbert.