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or wrangler who spurred his horse
cruelly or failed to loosen the cinch
during lunch hour, was through as
of that minute.
Hart lived quietly, drank like a
gentleman, and loved a good game
of stud poker better than any other
relaxation. He was a good loser and
a graceful winner. When on loca-
tion he would go night-dubbing, but
never at home in Los Angeles. He
enjoyed a laugh, and if a gag back-
fired he took it in stride.
He reacted to unexpected misfor-
tune unpredictably. When a large
investment in Dakota Land Banks
Anna Q. N ilsson & Hart in THE TOLL GATE was wiped out he simply shrugge.d.
When, on location in New Orleans
for John Petticoats, he was told Ince
for full dress, a suit had to be rented had stolen the Hart company books,
for him. he said 'TH be damned" and went
It is not generally known that Hart on working. However, when a woman
managed to make himself believe he bumped into his new car and dented
was in love with most of his leading a fender he wasn't fit to work with for
ladies. Katherine MacDonald said two days.
no a dozen times. He proposed to Hart was the best actor of all the
Anna Q. Nilsson, and there was a Western stars, but he was very senti-
brief engagement, but no wedding. mental, and if not controlled, would
Eva Nov·ak said no. He was engaged let a dramatic scene become maudlin.
to Jane Novak, her sister, but it was But he was wholly objective about
called off, for an unexplained reason. actualizing the West, and spared no
But one of his leading ladies, Wini- expense for authentic props and cos-
fred Westover, who played opposite tumes. He was, without doubt, the
him in John Petticoats, said yes. deadliest looking man behind a pair
They were married December 7, 1921. of guns ever seen on the screen.
William S. Hart, Jr., was born Sep- Hart was a courageous man, and
tember 6, 1922. On February 11, had only two fears: a knife, because
1927, Mrs. Hart was granted a divorce a Sioux boy had cut him up as a
on grounds of desertion. She was youngster, and a dark hole, which he
twenty years his junior. would not crawl into even if he saw
Hart's love of animals, especially you dig it. Where this came from
dogs and horses, was passionate, and no one knows.
abuse or neglect of an animal sent Hart was a loyal friend, but once
him into a boiling rage. A cowboy an enemy, it was for life. Wyatt