ss the floor in a new costume and fell to the floor with severe pains in her legs in front of the costumers and staff. Hattie insisted that she see her own physician. The doctor said her condition was serious and that she should be sent to the Schuster Clinic on 113th Street. She was diagnosed with early signs of rheumatoid arthritis. This was quite rare at her age of seventeen. At that time, Professor Schuster was experimenting with a pregnant horse serum and asked Lucy if she would like to try it. She accepted in an instant. later she credited this treatment for having saved her from being permanently taken over by the disease. She still had to give up her modeling and go home. She spent most of her time in bed or in a wheelchair. Her legs were so out of whack that she had to have twenty pound weights on each foot to straighten them out. For the next two years she was in constant pain. She wondered if she would be able to pursue her acting career again. Lucys best friend in those days was a hair dresser named Gertrude Foote, known as Footie asked if she could go along with Lucy back to New York as Lucy was going to work with Hattie Carnegie again. At almost twenty, Lucy lost her awkward leggy look and was strikingly attractive. Her hair was a mousy brown and her eyes were an intense blazing blue. A designer, Rose Ruth, who was a favorite at Hatties was walking with Lucy when she ran into a friend, Sylvia Hahlo, an actors agent. Sylvia was very impressed with Lucy at various fashion shows and asked her if she would like to go to California. Lucy asked what she would do there. Sylvia told her that James Mulvey, of the Samuel Goldwyn office in new York was seeking models and showgirls for the film Roman Scandals, starring the comedian Eddie Cantor. These girls would be added to the galaxy of beauties known as the Goldwyn Girls, who were chosen for their looks and popularity at the time. While Lucy was hesitating with her decision she was...
