“I don’t mind being interviewed, but I would hate to be held up to the public doing that ingenue stuff about loving the dear pictures – and, incidentally, my heroic figure in them – and winding up with a flowery tribute to the possibilities of the screen as an educator.” — Harry T. Morey
Source: 1915
“I didn’t choose it – it chose me. To paraphrase one William Shakespeare – ‘Some are born screen stars, some achieve stardom, and some have screen stardom thrust upon them.’ Of that latter class, barring the star, am I. I was standing in front of the Astor one day, when a stranger addressed me. He asked if I had ever been in the pictures. I promptly answered, ‘Not yet,’ and it required all my will power to refrain from demanding an apology. Queer, what perverted ideas we often have regarding things we know nothing about, isn’t it? The stranger then explained that he was with a producing company over in Jersey and that they needed a man of my type for a certain picture. My first unreasonable indignation over, I decided to take the plunge. Daily I went to Jersey, where I told my inquiring friends I was operating in ‘real estate.’ This false attitude rapidly changed as I came to know the real aim and possibilities of the photoplay, and today I am as staunch a champion as the silent drama can boast.” — Harry T. Morey
Source: 1915
“The first role I was given was that of a policeman. Indignant! Well, rather! However, I swallowed my righteous anger and loftily informed the director he would find I was the one best little policeman he had ever had the pleasure of watching perform. We were taking an outdoor scene in a quiet park, As we searched for a suitable location, Mr. Director’s eye chanced upon a sleeping son of a rest. Inspiration seized him. Calling to me, he said, ‘Morey, I believe you set quite a bit of atmosphere in motion this morning, explaining your superlative recommendations as a truthful imitator of one of the finest! Well, here’s your chance to prove it. Your sleeper is in range. As a prelude to our new scene suppose you give a lifelike imitation of a cop chasing a hobo.’ A bit heated by the raillery and responsive laughs, I gripped my billy firmly and approached the sleeping beauty. I hauled off and landed a swing that a golf champion might envy. The dull thud of wood meeting resisting sole leather seemed simultaneous with the hobo’s amazing display of agility. With one bound he cleared the back of the bench and was off. He kept in the camera range like a veteran. I never saw a man run with such singleness of purpose and utter lack of curiosity. Did I make a hit with my first role? Ask the hobo!” — Harry T. Morey
Source: 1915
Photo: 1914
“I love to be a villain and with the villain’s stand. A fedora on my forehead, a cig’ret in my hand.” — Harry T. Morey
Source: 1915
Photo: 1914
