International photographer (Feb-Dec 1929)

Thirty-four The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER December, 1929 ^4 Close-up of Ralph Staub Director-Cameraman Behind Screen Snapshots RALPH STAUB Ralph Staub, editor of "The Daily Grind" in The International Photographer, and member of 659, is a cameraman extraordinary with a roving portfolio. He has photographed every important luminary in the screen firmament and on occasions without number has even had the temerity to direct directors — and has gotten away with it. Ralph Staub is the man behind the camera that shoots for SCREEN SNAPSHOTS, that interesting one-reel short that Columbia has been getting out for years. And if you don't think this job calls for a rare combination of talents, then you are not familiar with such jobs. To hold it down, one has to be a production executive, a scenarist, a gag man, prop man, electrician and a whole corps of diplomats rolled into one. If one possesses all these qualifications and in addition rates as an Al cameraman then he may have some idea of Staub in action. Which recalls the fact that he has a middle initial. It's "B" — and undoubtedly stands for "busy." If we should go into a flashback we could fade in on Ralph about six years ago and find him making a series of onereel novelty shorts that he called "Cinema Stars." Previous to that he was a struggling cameraman with various producing organizations. But why go back that far? Staub not only ground out the footage on his one-reelers, but he wrote the titles, edited and cut the film, and then, when he had a completed print ready, took it under his arm, and personally sold it in the state right market. Staub is of the opinion that his customers made more out of his one-reelers than he did himself. The truth remains, however, that he completed and marketed twenty-six of them in a year. Then one night while he was troubled with insomnia he got another brilliant idea. This gave rise to the well-known "Guess Who" novelty short reel contest subject. Ralph has statistics to prove that the business played by this contest short was phenomenal, running many weeks here and there in theaters along the Eastern seaboard, and again he claims that the distributors got a better break on the deal than he did. Getting ideas for novelty short subjects then became a passion with Staub, for the following year he blossomed forth with a new series which he called "Screen Sport Stars." Whether the stars were lazy and wouldn't perform isn't evident, but Ralph evidently got sick and tired of giving the other fellow the best of the break, for he decided, after a great deal of persuasion, to throw in his lot and his talents with Columbia Pictures. The following three years found him grinding out scenes showing the famous film stars on the set and off, in moments serious and gay. Columbia kept distributing these "Screen Snapshots" to great advantage in silent form, up to the time a well-known "Mammy" singer turned the motion picture industry over to the electricians and telephone men. upon which "Screen Snapshots" began to appear with "talk and sound effects." If you've seen and heard any of these talking shorts, you'll agree that they are great entertainment and that Staub surely knows his stuff. Yep, he writes, directs and, if need be, he is able to go out and sell them. In the good old silent days, which are gone beyond recall, Staub would line up his appointments for the day, tote his camera and perhaps a lamp or two to his little car, hop in and be off. The proverbial one-armed paper hanger with the hives had nothing on this one-man Staub organization. But now all that is changed. There OUR NEW ORCHESTRA Impressario Glen Kershner wants to hear immediately from all members of 659 who play instruments of any kind — bar the hurdy-gurdy. Glen who is a fine musician, master of several band instruments and, at one time the top flute player in America, has accepted the responsibility of organizing an orchestra within the ranks of Local 659 and as he desires to get quick action he has asked The International Photographer to send out the call. Address Glen Kershner, care editor, 1605 N. Cahuenga avenue, and state what instrument or instruments you play, what experience you have had and what kind of music you can negotiate. The idea is to organize an orchestra that will be a credit not only to the local, but to the entire I. A. T. S. E. It will not in any way conflict with union musicians, but will be utilized exclusively for 659 affairs. Glen also desires the names of those gentlemen who are singers and who would be willing to help make up a double quartet. A few tap dancers likewise are needed in Mr. Kershner's big scheme and they are urged to get in touch with him. Out of this magnificent body of eight hundred men there is an immense wealth of talent of many kinds and Mr. Kershner is certain that he will be able to develop an orchestra and other entertainers as skillful as may be found anywhere. are many more headaches. When "Screen Snapshots" goes abroad today, there's a $65,000 sound truck, two prop men, one gag man, several automobiles and a chauffeur, and Mr. Staub major-domo's the whole outfit. It costs ten times as much to get the stuff today as it did in the days when the movies couldn't even whisper, let alone shout. In shooting his scenes Staub has many setbacks; but he is never discouraged. More than anyone else in Hollywood he watches the parade of the stars, for to him it means bread and butter, jewelry for the wife and shoes for his four-yearold kiddy. He has shot every big movie opening that has taken place in Hollywood during the past six years and his slogan is: "When Better Stars are Made, Staub will shoot them." That Ralph B. Staub hasn't lost his sense of humor in spite of all his activities is evident from The Daily Grind, the wisecrack column he personally conducts in this magazine every issue. The only thing Ralph doesn't want so far as his wisecracks are concerned is to be taken seriously. O0ECZ LENSES/ The cinematographer who does not use them, does so only because he is unacquainted with the experience of using them, unaware of those qualites of super-fineness which have made them famous throug-hout the world in every branch of photographic art. The Hypar Series, from f 2.7 to f 3, from 15 mm. (sub-standard) to 4-inch focal lengths are recommended everywhere by the wisest heads in cinematography. GOERZ ACCESSORIES They are standard to the professional photographer, the amateur photographer, the professional cinematographer, the amateur cinematographer. the photoengraver, the scientist, the projectionist, and in the many specialized fields that utilize optical equipment. SPECIAL DEVICES The firm of Goerz is the first thought of the worker, whose requirements deviate from the ordinary. We place our factory, skill, knowledge, research, experimental staff, and years of experience at the disposal of every indvidual or firm who calls upon us. Write for specific information or literature in general. C. P. Goerz American Optical Co. :il9-B East 34th St. New York City