Perspectives

On Sep. 30, 1918, every seat was full in Dallas’ Crystal Theater for every showing of “The Girl of Today” because Corinne Griffith was there in person to promote her latest silent picture. Just three years earlier in November 1915, The Morning News informed readers: “Texarkana has given to the world who it is claimed will be a real star of the movies in the person of Miss Corinne Griffin (stage name Griffith).” Born in 1895, the daughter of a Methodist minister lived in the town that straddles the Texas-Arkansas border until she was ten. Her mother then took her to a finishing school in New Orleans, where in her teens she dazzled everybody, including the judges of a Mardis Gras beauty contest, with her grace and stunning good looks. There are two versions of how Corinne got her big break. In the first, a Vitagraph director spied her at a high-society function in the Crescent City and offered her a movie contract on the spot. In the second, Texas-born director King Vidor opened the door to her silent- screen debut at age 20.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said Friday he opposes a push by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to end tenure for new professors at the state’s public universities and to revoke it for faculty who teach critical race theory, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Editor’s note: There were some ommissions and inaccuracies in the Saturday, Sept. 24, story about Ron Fowler being named a Distinguished Alumnus of Mexia High School. Following is the original biographical submission, with minor edits for style.