1914–1918: Essanay/Keystone/Triangle thumb|left|Bobby Vernon with Swanson and Teddy the Dog in Teddy at the Throttle (1917)|alt=Black and white photo of a young man, a young woman, and a dog Her family once again residing in Chicago, the adolescent Gloria developed a crush on actor Francis X. Bushman and knew he was employed by Essanay Studios in the city. Swanson later recalled that her Aunt Inga brought her at the age of 15 to visit Bushman's studio, where she was discovered by a tour guide. Other accounts have the star-struck Swanson herself talking her way into the business. In either version, she was soon hired as an extra.
1914–1918 Essanay/Keystone/Triangle thumb|left|Bobby Vernon with Swanson and Teddy the Dog in Teddy at the Throttle (1917)|alt=Black and white photo of a young man a young woman and a dog Her family once again residing in Chicago the adolescent Gloria developed a crush on actor Francis X Bushman and knew he was employed by Essanay Studios in the city Swanson later recalled that her Aunt Inga brought her at the age of 15 to visit Bushman's studio where she was discovered by a tour guide Other accounts have the star-struck Swanson herself talking her way into the business In either version she was soon hired as an extra