American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1926)

March, 1926 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER Seven Coupling Films Coronation of Sir Hari Sinqh Officially Retained to Record Durbar Ceremonies for Ruler's Private Archives. % Maharaja of Kashmir Personally Retains A. S. C. Member for Unique Film Mission. In one of the most distinguished missions ever accorded a cinematographer, Herford Tynes Qowling, A. S. C, left last month for Kashmir, India, to officially film the coronation of Sir Gen. Hari Singhi K. C. I. E., K. C. V. O., as Maharaja of Kashmir. Cowling's trip carries all the color of the most romantic fiction. He entered on his I 5,300-mile journey on the shortest possible nfotice, and had scarcely the proverbial moment to spare in making the many rail and ship connections which his record jaunt entails. Personal Offer Cowling was at his home in Suffolk, Va., when he was cabled the offer to film the coronation ceremonies. The offer was sent by Sir Gen. Hari Singh personally, and came to the A. S. C. member out of a clear sky. There was an exchange of several cablegrams, and on January 7th, the future ruler of Kashmir accepted the terms quoted by Cowling. Short Notice The A. S. C. member discovered, on investigating train time and sailing dates, that, in order to arrive in India in time for the coronation, he would have to sail from New York City at 10 o'clock on the morning of January 9th — which gave him less than two days in which to make the extensive cinematographic preparations for his historic trip. Close Connections The veteran cinematographer and globetrotter pressed the telegraph wires into service and, with his home town in Virginia as the base of operations, was soon taking care of the details in his campaign. He found that by sailing from New York on the 9th on the Leviathan, he would arrive in Paris on the 16th. Thence he would proceed by rail across Europe to Naples; then by steamer to Alexandria; by train to Port Said, and by steamer to Bombay where he would arrive on February 5th. From Bombay to Kashmir, Cowling's destination, stretches a distance of 800 miles which the A. S. C. member would have to traverse by native railways and by automobile over native roads — and the latter are not reputed to be among the best in the world. This schedule was calculated to land Cowling in Kashmir on February 10th. "Just a month to make the trip," the A. S. C. member stated before he left, "and it could not be done a minute quicker. If I miss a train, I'm sunk — but I don't intend to miss any." Whole-h ear ted Coop e ratio n Cowling's urgent telegrams and telephone messages, by virtue of which he made possible his speedy departure, met with ready response among the various representatives of the industry. The Eastman Kodak Company rushed his film to the ship where it arrived 30 minutes before the vessel sailed. Bell and Howell sent through special supplies for Cowling's new Eyemo, and these arrived shortly before sailing time. The Akeley Camera organization fitted a special F 1.9 lens to Cowling's Akeley, in a micrometer focusing mount furnished by the manufacturers, within a period of two hours' time — all of which the A. S. C. member regarded as "some rush job". In New York, Carl L. Gregory, dean of the New York Institute of Photography, veteran cinematographer and life friend of Qowling, stopped his work and assisted in arranging passports and other incidentals. Through the cooperation of J. C. Kroesen, of the Edison lamp works, arrangements were made to send to Bombay, from the Paris plant of the organization, a quantityof 1500-watt Madza bulbs to assist lighting the actual coronation scene in the Durbar Hall at Jammu, Kashmir. Cowling will also remove a section of the roof of the building to allow the entrance of sufficient daylight fbr the occasion. "Had it not been," Cowling wrote aboard the Leviathan at sea, "for my friends in the Eastman Kodak Company and other branches of the cinema sales business I could not have made my hasty departure. If I did not have the confidence in Eastman, Bell and Howell, and the others that 1 had, I would not have attempted it. In view of the fact that all photographic goods had to be packed especial I v for tropical protection and transport, and (Continued on i'age IS)