| Jimmy Stewart was seen one night in 1933 in New | | | | gesture of sending the Oscar statue home to Indiana, |
| York performing on stage as a female impersonator | | | | Pa. for his father to display in the Stewart family |
| by an MGM talent scout. He was signed to a contract | | | | hardware store.With the War breaking out in Europe |
| to come to California to work for the prestigious studio. | | | | moguls like Mayer were pressured by the US |
| Studio Head Louis B. Mayer expressed doubt when he | | | | government to make films that were pro-British and |
| first saw him,"He's so skinny! A beanpole." Efforts | | | | anti-German. In exchange they were promised that the |
| were made to put weight on him, the 133 pound actor | | | | leading men in Hollywood would not be drafted. But |
| was constantly sharing butterfingers candy bars with | | | | Jimmy Stewart told Mayer that he intended to join the |
| Ann Miller which seemed to fatten her up more than | | | | army. The Mogul, who was quite the actor himself tried |
| him.If Mayer was unimpressed by his new star's | | | | to dissuade his growing asset from leaving. "Young |
| physique, his behavior was a refreshing change | | | | Man, you will do so much more for the service men if |
| compared to some of the prima donnas at MGM like | | | | you stay home and make films. They will need |
| the usually drunk Spencer Tracy, or the demanding to | | | | entertainment. James my boy, don't deprive them. And |
| be alone all the time Greta Garbo. Stewart never | | | | your salary, your contract, your MGM family, don't |
| complained about his salary or workload. Whatever | | | | throw all that away." But despite being five pounds |
| the task be it screen tests or B-movies, he was | | | | below the required weight Stewart insisted upon and |
| always on time and knew his lines, although sometimes | | | | received his induction to the armed forces (Due to the |
| his trademark stammering lead to extra takes. If they | | | | depression a lot of malnourished guys got in).He would |
| loaned him to a lesser studio like Columbia, he was just | | | | eventually transfer to the air corps and lead a |
| happy to be working. Slowly, in the late thirties with | | | | thousand men into battle in the European theater, but |
| great performances in Frank Capra movies like You | | | | the humble star began his military career as a buck |
| Can't Take It With You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes To | | | | private peeling potatoes. To join the service in in 1941, |
| Washington(1939), Stewart's star rose as did the | | | | his MGM salary of $1500 was reduced by the army to |
| respect for his talent. He became known as a | | | | $21 a week. Upon receiving his first payment Stewart |
| swinging lady's man around town. Mayer was | | | | immediately sent a check for two dollars and ten |
| surprised and delighted by his Academy Award for | | | | cents to his agent. |
| the Philadelphia Story (1940) as well as his humble | | | | |