Satini Puailoa

I danced with fire knives and played Polynesians and Indians after I left Samoa in 1919 and came to Hollywood in 1924. I made my first movie when Coolidge was president. In those days they paid seven and a half dollars a day to extras and sometimes we worked for five dollars. A lot of extras would leave the set when a scene was over, but I'd stay. When the director wanted somebody for a stunt, I'd say, "Here I am!" You'd get paid more if you spoke or stood near an actor, so I would get as close as I could to the star and speak. I joined SAG in 1937 and we paid only $11 to be a member. I was in a lot of the "Road" pictures and worked with Bing Crosby. He gave me a set of golf clubs and I sold them for a dollar and a half for car fare because I don't play golf.