American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1940)

THE P PART II IN the course of the Parkers' fifteen-day stay in Mexico City, of which the first part of the ' tory was nrinted in the May issue, Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Harriette Parkev of Los Anereles started one morning for Xochimilco, a Federal district of 11,000. It is an intrigu''ner place, with canals, mostly about thirty feet wide. The location is known as the Flower Gardens or Floating Gardens. The canals are bordered by trees and gardens. The populace raise flowers and sell them to tourists from canoes. "We rode in a flower-ornamented flatboat about twenty feet long," said Mr. Parker, "and it was operated or pushed by a pole in the hands of an Aztec Indian. He was indeed picturesque. This being Sunday, a great crowd of Mexicans and tourists were riding in the balmy sunshine. Many were eating luncheon at tables on the boats. Incidentally there was much drinking and merrymaking generally. "There were dozens of these boats occupied by musicians. For only 4 cents U. S. they would come alongside any boat and play. Sometimes they are hired by the hour or day. Also the flower, soft drink, pulque and other canoes would pull up alongside of us and try to sell their wares. We rode for about four hours at a cost of 5 pesos, or 80 cents U. S., and thoroughly enjoyed the outing. "The camera was plenty busy during these hours, in which fine singing and some dancing were interspersed with an occasional jam or collision. The best of humor prevailed, however. There were some restaurants along the line, with big crowds at the terminus, a small village named Nativitas." Bull Fights Make Film The bull fights supplied the Parkers with many feet of film. The Plaza del Toros open-air stadium holds 20,000 persons. The Lots of babies in Mexico. Puebla Hotel, built in 1726. W orkingmen with serapes (overcoats are unknown) . Cathedral near Cordova. RKERS general admission tickets on the shady side cost 7 pesos ($1.12 U, S.), while on the sunny side the same classification rated at 4 pesos. The Parkers decided to fool the '■ scalpers peddling the reserved i seats by obtaining perfect seats on i the shady side of the general ad i. mission section. The scalpers are ; clever, really, and sometimes se ; cure many times the scale price. The fight started at 4 p.m. with a colorful parade. Autos filled with , girls in Spanish costumes made a picture really fetching. They were . followed by the ritualistic parade, or quadrilla, of the matadors, each with his five graded toreadors, and then came the mounted picadors. To these Mr. Parker awards ■ the real palm for bravery. Following the many attendants came the teams of mules employed to haul the vanquished bulls off the field and to a happier hunting ground. It was all a real show. There were five fights. The bulls were smart, lively animals. Several hundred soldiers with loaded rifles were on hand for an emer | gency. Police also were plentiful, ' There was a momentary diversion , from the ring when one of the lat ^ ter stationed near the Parkers pulled in a careless pickpocket. It was a day to be remembered. One of the things that will remain . longest in the memory of the Parkers w-as the raving, hysterical > mob. Fortin Tropical Spot i It was 5:30 p.m. when the An-, gelenos arrived at Fortin, 225 miles . south and • east of Mexico City, truly a valley tropical spot. Bananas, oranges, mangoes, in fact, all tropical fruits; flowers, gardenias, hibiscus, and ever>i;hing fragrant surrounds the Spanish style Hotel Ruiz Galindo, set in a square block of gardens. The ceiling of the room was 20 i feet high. As night fell the atmosphere was dampish inside. As a measure of precaution the Parkers : had carried along with their impedimenta from Los Angeles a set of blankets for an emergency, as well as various fruit juices, etc. < They went after the blankets right there and found them worth the freightage. The house is under German management, as are many of the hotels 264 .June, 1940 • American Cinematographer