"I just got back from a fun filled weekend, " said Stegosaurus. " This weekend was the 74th annual King Kong dinosaur cast reunion. Everyone was there. Even my friend Styracosaurus, whose scenes were cut. It doesn't seem like it has been over 70 years which isn't a long time as far as dinosaurs are concerned, but for humans its a lifetime. We had such fun !!

The whole thing made me very nostalgic and I will be glad today to relate to you the history of my long and storied acting career. I am sort of frustated with it, but resigned. I feel very typecast in that every role I play I play a Stegosaurus, and my dream is to one day play a romantic leading role. That would be a nice challenge. It's not a challenge to play myself all the time.

My acting career began the year I met Willis O' Brien, " Obie " in 1925. I appeared in his silent film masterpiece, The Lost World .... I only had a bit part, but if you look you can see me walking around. I didn't say anything, but then nobody did. I enjoyed it so much that I joined the SAG, ( Screen Actor's Guild ) and went in search of more film roles. I accepted a bit part in the 1933 RKO feature Flying Down To Rio with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. We had filmed this nice dance routine, ( This was about 9 or 10 years before I founded The Stegosaurus School of Dance, ) and everyone seemed to like me. Mr. Astaire complemented me on my dancing form, and Ginger Rogers even gave me a kiss. But then the director, Thornton Freeland, cut my scenes !! At the last minute !

I was so mad ! I wanted to stomp on RKO studios. Mr. Astaire begged me not to, Ginger Rogers begged me not to, and so did Mr. Freeland, but there was no way I was listening to him !

I did however, listen to a frantic Obie, who came out and begged me, he said, " Please, Stegosaurus, don't do this ! If you stomp on RKO, I'll lose my job ! " When I heard this, my heart went out to my old friend, because I knew he had been having a rough year, and I didn't want to make it worse. Obie said, " If you leave RKO standing, I'll put you into my next film. "

That next film was King Kong. If you haven't seen it please do. I'm still real proud of my performance there this many years later. I look really good in it and I've aged well.

Just so you know, it did not hurt when Mr. Cabot shot me in the head. Those obviously were blank bullets. You wouldn't know though because my acting is so good. All I have to do is lay there still. I'm good at playing extinct. I should have won an Oscar.

In 1939 I auditioned for the role of Rhett Butler in David O' Selznick's presentation of Gone With The Wind. I was so excited when I was told I'd gotten the part. I stood in front of a mirror for hours on end reciting the line, " Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn ! " I got so good at it that I returned to Metro Goldwyn with the highest of confidence. It was the big day. We were going to shoot the first scenes of the film, and I was going to meet my lovely co star Vivien Leigh !! I walked in, and Miss Leigh was instantly horrified ! I could tell it was because of me, and I asked, " What is it ? What did I do ? " Vivien ran out of the room, exclaiming, " UGH ! I'm not kissing Stegosaurus ! "

I was dumbfounded, but the shock was about to get worse. Mr. O' Selznick then came up to me and said gently, " I'm sorry, Stegosaurus, but Vivien is our star, and we must find someone she can work with. I'm sorry. We'll have to find someone else to play Rhett. "

I was deeply disappointed, but I didn't get angry with Mr. O' Selznick because they left me a nice meal of Georgia Peach Trees and Honeysuckle bushes. I also sensed their genuine regret. I'll bet you that removing me from Gone With The Wind is the hardest thing David O' Selznick had to do in his entire life. What a nice guy he was.

In 1940 I worked with Walt Disney on Fantasia. That was fun. I had to be careful not to step on Mickey Mouse. That was hard.

By 1978 my connections at the SAG helped me get a gig for my cousin Kentrosaurus, in Planet of the Dinosaurs, in which I also appeared. I acted in the PBS feature Walking With Dinosaurs. That was the first time I appeared animated by computer ! Wow ! How exciting ! I have also recently appeared in the third Jurassic Park movie.

Yes I am really very proud of my acting career, " said Stegosaurus. " Let's go to the movies ! "