Director D. W. Griffith was one of the legendary figures of the early days of Hollywood. Groundbreaking films as THE BIRTH OF A NATION and INTOLERANCE earned him recognition in the eyes of many as "the Father of the Movies." But Griffith was not wise in how he invested his money. When some friends wanted to throw a tribute in Griffith's honor, they found him living in a secondrate hotel on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Griffith was thrilled to receive this unexpected honor. There was only one problem. Griffith did not own a tuxedo. If he was going to be honored in this way, he must look the part. Unfortunately, a tuxedo was out of his budget.

How did he solve this dilemma? The day of the tribute he applied for a job at an upscale restaurant in L.A. as a waiter. He was hired. He didn't re…