Tyrone Power, one of the newer “heart throbs” of Hollywood, who is said to be running a close race with Robert Taylor, was born I Cincinnati on May 5th, 1914.

He has a theatrical background; his father was Tyrone Power, Sen., a noted American actor, while his mother, Patia Power, was also on the stage.

Soon after Tyrone’s birth the family moved to New York, as his father was to appear there in “Chu Chin Chow.” For the sake of her son’s health, Patia Power moved with her two children to San Diego for a few years. This was during the World War, and while in San Diego she organized the Power Players, who supplied entertainment in the army camps situated in the neighborhood.

When the war was over Patia Power returned to acting. Eventually she and her husband were engaged to appear in the same production. This was supposed to be only for a short time, but the play proved so successful that it went on and on playing in various towns. Tyrone, Jun. Practically grew up with this play, for he was always around with it, and when he was seven years old he was given a small part in it for a time.

In 1923 his mother returned to Cincinnati to fulfill an engagement as instructor in a dramatic school, and Tyrone received his elementary education at St. Xavier Academy there. Later he attended the preparatory department of the University of Dayton. He remained there for a year and then returned to Cincinnati where he entered Purcell High School.

He graduated from there in 1931, and then took up the stage seriously. He and his father spent that summer in Quebec preparing for the autumn season with the Shakespearian group in Chicago.

After making his grown-up debut with his father, Tyrone was always with him. Wherever the elder Tyrone played, so did his son. They were the very greatest of pals.

Eventually Tyrone Sen. Was asked to go to Hollywood to play in the screen version of The Miracle Man. As always Tyrone wanted to go with his father, and a small part I the production was promised him.

They had been at work on The Miracle Man for a week when one night Tyrone, Sen. had to work very late. It had gone midnight when Tyrone, Jun. Received a phone call to say he was wanted at the studio as his father was ill and wanted his son to take him home.

When Tyrone reached the studio he learned that his father had collapsed early in the evening, but had insisted on going on working. No one suspected that he was as ill as he was, and it was a terrible shock to young Tyrone when the doctor told him that there was no hope.

His father died in his arms, and his last wish was that his son should work hard to follow in his footsteps and be a success.

Tyrone’s delight at the success he eventually achieved on the screen was tinged with sadness at the thought that his father was not there to share his joy.

Five years elapsed between the time of the death of Tyrone Power, Sen. and his son’s success on the screen. In those five years he had a struggling time and several disappointments.

When his father died his mother and sister, who were in Ohio at the time, went to Hollywood to be with him. The small part he was to play in The Miracle Man did not materialize.

He began to look around for work, making the usual visits to casting offices and agents, all with disappointing results. It seemed that no one would give him a chance.

He found that if anybody fixed an appointment for him it was not because they had a part to give hi, but because some old-timer wanted to reminisce about his father.

It was then that he realized that his father’s name was going to be a big obstacle in his career. People thought that he was trying to trade on his father’s ability and record. He says that, of course, he could have changed his name, but he would not consider such a thing for one moment. He loved, admired and respected his father too much. He was only too proud to carry on the name. The relationship had given him the desire to act, and whatever ability he had as an actor.

“And so, handicap or not, I am keeping his name!” he asserted.

Waiting for his Chance

As it seemed hopeless to wait for a chance on the screen, Tyrone moved with his mother to Santa Barbara where they worked in the community Theatre. He did not, however, give up all hope of a screen career. Between plays he would run down to Hollywood to try to get a break. He kept on trying for nearly two years, and he then decided that he would go to New York and endeavor to gain success on the stage there.

It was year, however, before he reached New York. His money only got him as far as Chicago where an engagement on the radio materialized. He confesses that this only kept him on a sandwich and a glass of milk a day diet, but he was gaining further experience.

He was despairing of ever getting sufficient money to pay his fare to New York when a real stroke of luck came his way. He was engaged for the play “Romance,” which ran for eight weeks in Chicago. He saved as much of his salary as he possibly could, and when the engagement was concluded, off he went to New York.

Once again the round of visits to managers and casting offices began. He budgeted his savings and allowed himself just fie dollars a week. Eventually he got a job as understudy, but never had the opportunity to appear.

He met Katherine Cornell, famous American actress, and she promised him that the following winter he should have a part in her production of “Romeo and Juliet.” The time between was taken up by a stock engagement.

At the close of the “Romeo and Juliet” production Miss Cornell again engaged Tyrone. This time it was to appear in her revival of “Saint Joan.”

It was at this time that Hollywood, in the person of Darryl F. Zanuck, heed of Twentieth Century-Fox company, took a hand in Tyrone’s career. Mr. Zanuck had seen a screen test of him, and offered him a contract which Tyrone accepted.

"...He was cast as cousin to Simone Simon in "Girls' Dormitory," then followed "Ladies in Love," in which he played the part of a the young nobleman whom Loretta Young failed to land. When he was cast for "Lloyd's of London," he had no idea that his role was so important. Mr. Zanuck did not call him into his office, slap him on the back and tell him that he was to have the chance of his lifetime. An assistant-director merely tossed him a copy of the script along with the rest of the big cast, and let him find out for himself. Tyrone took the script home that night. "I found my character's first appearance was on page twenty-seven," he says. "So I began to read form that point. I turned a page and there I was again. I couldn't believe it. I kept on turning pages, and suddenly the whole thing dawned on me. My character was in there all the way, doing big things. "I tell you I almost collapsed. This was the thing I had been dreaming of. The reading of thtat script was the biggest thrill of my life. It can never be duplicated."

Love is News was his next picture, in which he was again cast with Loretta Young. He then appeared with her again in Café Metropole, and he is to be seen this week in his latest film, Lovely to Look At, in which he is co-starred with Sonja Henie.