"Hello, chief, how goes the newspaper battle in these days of depression?" growled Pete, the world-famous stage and screen star of dogdom as he strolled non-chalantly into the editorial department of the Corsicana Daily Sun Wednesday morning (the 25th), crawled up into a chair, shifted his pipe from one corner of his mouth to the other and wisely blinked at the editor.
He then carefully deposited the pipe at his side, yawned in a bored manner, and said:
"Let me introduce my manager, H. Lucenay - better known to the wrestling fans of Corsicana in years gone by as Harry Swoboda - he requires that I be interviewed by the newspapers - so shoot the questions."
"That ring around your eye -" started the editor.
"I knew that would be the first question," Pete snapped back. "They all ask that. Yep, it is the real thing - it grew that way - take a close look - and furthermore, I don't care whether you believe it or not - Ripley did," Pete assured the interviewer.
Pete Tells His Story.
"Don't ask me any more questions - let me tell my story - I have done this so much - I know all the questions and answers," was Pete's next outburst as he gave a disgusted look at the smiling and proud manager.
Here's Pete's story:
"I am nine and a half years old and have been in the moving picture and theatrical business practically my entire life. I have played in Our Gang comedies, Buster Brown comedies, Educational comedies and many others, besides personal stage appearances. My contracts with the movies have paid me as high as $400 a week. My ancestry - Well, my father was Pal, another famous movie dog, and my mother was a Pasadena, Cal., society dog. I am part English bull and part bull terrier. The monocle I wear permanently comes from the English side of the family, I suppose.
At Palace Theatre
"I will be at the Palace theatre Thursday and Friday of this week, where I will be glad to see all my friends and admirers.
"Come on and take my picture - they always do - let's get it over with," was the manner in which Pete ended the interview. The picture was taken.
Concerning H. Lucenay - Harry Swoboda to his Corsicana friends, Harry was here during 1916, later going to Knoxville, Tenn., returning to Waco about the time of the outbreak of the war. He attended the first officers training camp at Leon Springs - went across for the duration of the war. California was the next stopping place, where Harry worked as an extra in pictures.
One day while on the lot with Pete's father, Pal, the director gave Pal a place in the picture.
"At the close of the day, I was handed a check for $7.50 for my services and another check for $15.00 for Pal's services," Harry smiled. "I immediately decided I would end my career on the screen and manage the dog - it seemed to be considerably more profitable."
Personal Appearances
Harry and Pete are not under contract at the present but are making personal appearances on their own, but are scheduled to return to California in March to resume movie work.
Oh, yes, Pete kindly agreed to go through his stunts before departing from the Sun office and it is needless to say he drew an interested and appreciative audience.
Pete has traveled extensively, and has the distinction of being photographed with more celebrities of the screen and stage than any other dog, his publicity scrap book will attest.
Sidenote: Now at nine and a half years of age, Pete's ever-drifting date of birth is now in the middle of 1923, right in the middle of when he was working in "Fighting Blood" as a full-grown dog.