Editing Gloria Swanson (section)

===1914–1918: Essanay/Keystone/Triangle===
[[File:Bobby Vernon, Gloria Swanson, and Teddy the Dog.jpg|thumb|left|[[Bobby Vernon]] with Swanson and [[Teddy (dog)|Teddy the Dog]] in ''[[Teddy at the Throttle]]'' (1917)|alt=Black and white photo of a young man, a young woman, and a dog]]
Her family once again residing in Chicago, the adolescent Gloria developed a crush on actor [[Francis X. Bushman]] and knew he was employed by [[Essanay Studios]] in the city. Swanson later recalled that her Aunt Inga brought her at the age of 15 to visit Bushman's studio, where she was discovered by a tour guide. Other accounts have the star-struck Swanson herself talking her way into the business. In either version, she was soon hired as an extra.{{sfn|Welsch|2013|pp=11–12}}

The movie industry was still in its infancy, churning out short subjects, without the advantage of today's casting agencies and talent agents promoting their latest find. A willing extra was often a valuable asset. Her first role was a brief [[Walk-on (actor)|walk-on]] with actress [[Gerda Holmes]], that paid an enormous (in those days) $3.25.{{sfn|Welsch|2013|p=12}} The studio soon offered her steady work at $13.25 ({{inflation|US|13.25|1914|fmt=eq}}) per week.{{sfn|Welsch|2013|p=13}}{{inflation-fn|US}} Swanson left school to work full-time at the studio.{{sfn|Welsch|2013|p=13}} In 1915, she co-starred in ''[[Sweedie Goes to College]]'' with her future first husband [[Wallace Beery]].{{sfn|Shearer|2013|pp=18, 25}}
[[File:Gloria Swanson - Portrait (1917).png|thumb|upright|Portrait (1917)]]

Swanson's mother accompanied her to California in 1916 for her roles in [[Mack Sennett]]'s [[Keystone Studios]] comedy shorts opposite [[Bobby Vernon]] and directed by [[Clarence G. Badger]]. They were met at the train station by Beery, who was pursuing his own career ambitions at Keystone.{{sfn|Welsch|2013|pp=20–23}} Vernon and Swanson projected a great screen chemistry that proved popular with audiences. Director [[Charley Chase]] recalled that Swanson was "frightened to death" of Vernon's dangerous stunts.{{sfn|Welsch|2013|pp=23, 30}} Surviving movies in which they appear together include ''[[The Danger Girl (1916 film)|The Danger Girl]]'' (1916), ''[[The Sultan's Wife]]'' (1917), and ''[[Teddy at the Throttle]]'' (1917).{{sfn|Birchard|2009|p=135}}{{sfn|Shearer|2013|p=35}} Badger was sufficiently impressed by Swanson to recommend her to the director [[Jack Conway (filmmaker)|Jack Conway]] for ''[[Her Decision]]'' and ''[[You Can't Believe Everything]]'' in 1918.{{sfn|Birchard|2009|p=135}}{{sfn|Shearer|2013|pp=40-42}} Triangle had never put Swanson under contract, but did increase her pay to $15 a week. When she was approached by [[Famous Players–Lasky]] to work for [[Cecil B. DeMille]], the resulting legal dispute obligated her to Triangle for several more months. Soon afterward, Triangle was in a financial bind and loaned Swanson to DeMille for the comedy ''[[Don't Change Your Husband]]''.{{sfn|Birchard|2009|pp=135–136}}{{sfn|Shearer|2013|p=35}}
[[File:Male and Female (1919) - Swanson Bath.jpg|thumb|Swanson in ''[[Male and Female]]'' (1919)]]