International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

Thirtv-tzvo T h INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER September, 1934 01 1 ecus o-f^itf?EEr> By Otto Phocus Chicago, 111. Dear Editor — Will have to send you a letter for the "page" this issue as I will not be back in time to complete the article on "birds" as promised in the last issue. I obtained a lot of valuable data on this subject and feel sure you will not mind waiting several months or longer, as it will take that much time to make contact with the "birds" I met, and have them O. K. the data before releasing it. 1 decided to take a couple of weeks off and go to work, and went east to photograph a picture at the Worlds Fair. Of course, you knew they were having a Fair at Chicago, but Fll bet you didn't know the Sky Ride was 628 feet high. If you refer to Westerberg's Book of Tables, page 13, it will tell you how far away you will have to go to shoot it with a two inch lens. You'll be surprised. They can handle 5,000 visitors an hour, if they have 5,000 visitors an hour. It is so high, you can see Michigan on a clear day. I asked the man that expained this if he had ever heard of Catalina Island. He smiled and said, "on a clear day." I have always wanted to take a course in "Show card writing in six easy lessons" and went over to the Hall of Signs to look around. There was a slight mistake somewhere as the only thing I could find was the Hall of Science. It was very nice tho and it contained the Hall of Photography. I met a girl there and call her the Kodak Girl. She was always saying, "Stop! Down!" She had been a fan dancer, but the weather was so hot they had to give the fans to the customers. Some of the other fan dancers had to give their fans to the costumers. El foldo uppo, as we say in the Spanish. I met a fellow that read the International Photographer and he said he got a few laughs out of it. "I am glad you like my page," I informed him. "Glad to know you, Mr. Tobey," he replied. This had me stopped for an instant and then I asked bim if he ever read "Out of Focus." "No" he said, "As soon as my eyes bother me I stop reading." — Always clowning (?) those Chicago boys. Met one of the men that shot Dillinger. He shot him after the police were all through. His name is Richardson and is with a news reel. Later, I saw him doing a "hand stand" on top of a sedan, photographing a parade. I asked him if he wasn't afraid of falling, and he said he didn't mind if it happened in the morning, as that would enable him to get home early. Saw Harry Birch and asked him how his business was. He said "slipping". He photographs slide films and expects to enter the three color field shortly. Max Markmann, (two n's) was my assistant, and when not "assistanting," manufactures racing motors. After a few days on the job he had a new idea of speed as we galloped from one end of the Fair to one end of the Fair. Called on Tony Caputo at the R. K. O. Exchange and he was waiting for something to happen. He is on their news reel. We waited about 30 minutes and nothing happened, but I guess things are slow all over the east. MOVIE STATISTICS If all the money spent for motion pictures in 1933 were changed into pennies and piled up in one stack, one penny upon another, the pile would fall over. If it were changed into one dollar bills and laid end to end it would reach quite a ways. And if it were changed into two dollar bills and laid end to end it wouldn't do any good so far as we can see at this writing. If it were changed into certified checks of 50c denomination and placed end to end it would reach to some star away out in the solar system but we don't know which one. If all the usherettes who worked in motion pictures in 1933 would all quit working there wouldn't be anybody to show the people to their seats. He had a nice office and a desk and can look out on Wabash Ave. and watch the trucks go by, while waiting. Fred (Whitey) Hafferkamp was the operative cameraman and is one of the best known commercial cameramen in the east. He lost a few pounds of weight, on account of the heat, but never lost his temper. That's something! This can be credited to his living in Oak Park. By the time you leave Oak Park and arrive in Chicago, you have no temper left. Go ahead and sue ! Gene Cour motored in from Wisconsin and has just completed a comedy. His next venture will be some shorts about flowers. You would not think this after meeting him, but didn't they put poetry on my page last month ? Oscar Abbe invited me to go out to the Essanay Studios to look at the old relics, but it is not necessary to travel that far in Chicago to see "old" relics. Bill Strafford, Business Mgr. of Local 666, lives in Wheaton. I would not tell this, but he did not introduce me to his Secretary. Fred Wagner arrived without the checkered flag and had more equipment on his back than you can get in the back of a Ford. He shot stills in all directions with the greatest of ease. "Smiling" Charlie, of the House of David, is in the East for M. G. M. making talent tests and what a job for Charlie. He always did get the breaks. I guess I have missed a few of the gang but it was so hot, Si. that you couldn't get a hi-ball for fifteen cents; and that is pretty hot. I visited most of the shows at the fair, but don't see how I can write about them for a Photographic Magazine. Still, the exposure and composition at the Streets of Paris might be interesting. You would appreciate the new bridge across the River at Michigan Ave., but I still think New York has the best Bridges. Well so-long for now — keep your focus sharp and don't forget to stop down. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.