Dohp

In recent Universal Newsreels, cinemaddicts have twice observed an extraordinary character named John Q. Dohp. He appeared first in the reel about the Irish Hospitals Sweepstakes. After the customary parade of giggling prizewinners had explained how happy they were and what they planned to do with their money, John Q. Dohp, as a sweepstakes loser, wagged his head in foolish disappointment, explained he had been buying sweepstakes tickets for many years but still hoped to win eventually. Two weeks later, in a reel about Manhattan socialites parading on Easter, John Q. Dohp appeared again, this time as an incongruous and loutish rustic, wobbling along in a plug hat much too small for him.

John Q. Dohp's real name is David Oliver. A crack cameraman who has cranked for Universal and other companies for 18 years, David Oliver has also been an energetic parlor mimic. When his friends told him he belonged in pictures, he modestly denied it. His unpremeditated debut on the screen took place when Universal editors decided its sweepstakes newsreel needed the shot of a loser as a closing touch. Cameraman Oliver remembered that he held a worthless ticket, volunteered to act the role. It was good enough to call for an Easter encore. Last week, after sizing up audience reaction, Universal decided to make John Q. Dohp a regular feature of its newsreels, gave David Oliver a new contract for $100 a week for photography but forgot to include in the contract any lien on his services as an actor.

Last week, David Oliver was busy settling himself into his new career as Mr. Dohp. His first move was to acquire an agent. The agent's first move was to put him on the radio in the Rudy Vallee hour.

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