Editing Mervyn LeRoy (section)

=== Gag writer (comedy constructor) and Alfred E. Green, 1924–1926 ===

During the filming of [[The Ghost Breaker (1922 film)|''The Ghost Breaker'']] (1922), bit actor LeRoy suggested a number of humorous skits, which were incorporated into the picture by director [[Alfred E. Green]]. Green offered him a position as "gag man". LeRoy recalled:

{{blockquote |I didn't have to think twice. That was what I wanted—a chance to be in on the creative aspect of movie-making. It wasn't directing, but it was getting closer. It was inventing, not interpreting...I abandoned my acting career with no regrets.<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 pp. 67-68</ref>}}

While working at [[First National Pictures]], LeRoy wrote gags for comedienne [[Colleen Moore]] in several films, including [[Sally (1925 film)|''Sally'']] (1925), [[The Desert Flower (film)|''The Desert Flower'']] (1925), ''[[We Moderns]]'' (1925) and [[Ella Cinders (film)|''Ella Cinders'']] (1926). LeRoy served as acting advisor and confidant to Moore. In 1927, her husband [[John McCormick (producer)|John McCormick]], studio head at First National in Hollywood, asked LeRoy to direct Moore in a version of ''[[Peg O' My Heart]]''. When the project was cancelled, studio president [[Richard A. Rowland]], with Moore advocating, authorized LeRoy to direct a comedy, [[No Place to Go (1927 film)|''No Place to Go'']], starring [[Mary Astor]] and [[Lloyd Hughes (actor)|Lloyd Hughes]] and launching LeRoy's filmmaking career at age twenty-seven.<ref>LeRoy and Kleiner, 1974 pp. 169-173: personal and professional relationship with Colleen Moore. And: 75-76: first directorial assignment</ref><ref>Canham, 1976 p. 135 And: p. 167</ref><ref>Barson, 2020: "LeRoy moved behind the scenes, writing gags (and sometimes more) for such Colleen Moore pictures as ''Sally'' (1925), ''Ella Cinders'' (1926), and ''Twinkletoes'' (1926)."</ref>