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Twenty
AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER
June, 1924
Filming a Ghost City
Gold Rush Days of Twentieth Century Leave Deserted "Ghost Cities" in their Wake
The house that champagne built — that is, champagne bottles which, piled like bricks, maybe noted in the walls. Hobbs, the star ; Al Davis, director, and Vivian Rich inspecting the "bricks."
An interesting account of the "ghost cities" left in the wake of the gold rush in Nevada is told by Alois Heimerl, A. S. C, who has returned to Hollywood after filming an Al Davis Production, Al Davis directing, at Rhyolite, Nevada.
Heimerl explored the remains of the ghost city in the making of "Mavericks," which Al Davis directed from the Saturday Evening Post story by Carl Clausen, who tells of a lone prospector who waited for a "come-back" of the dead mining town.
"Rhyolite," Heimerl explained, "is one of the 'ghost cities.' It sprang into existence in 1904 and struggled along with a population of 75 people for a few months. Then a rich strike was made after which prospectors poured in from all parts of the world.
"In less than four years the population exceeded 55,000. At the present time there is one lone prospector living there. The railroad track has been pulled up but the depot remains. It was built at a cost of $25,000.
Desks in Original Crates "The schoolhouse is still standing. It cost more than $20,000 to build. Some of the members of the company
prowling around in the building found schooldesks in the basement still in their original crates.
"Part of the story takes place around the world famous Shoshone Mine which gave out over ten million dollars w.orth of gold. This was the first film company to invade that part of the country.
"Every exterior in the picture has never been photographed before. The company also journeyed to Chloride Cliff. From this point, the highest point and the lowest point in the United States were photographed — namely, Death Valley, 212 feet below sea level and Mount Whitney 14,985 feet above. This is incorporated in one shot — a distance of 82 miles.
Signs of Former Times "In some of the scenes will be seen Champagne bottles bearing the date of 1900. The town is in ruins and scattered all over the streets were found beds, stoves, a coffin, telegraph poles, beer bottles and stock certificates by the thousands. There is a house built entirely of bottles thrown out of the famous '66' saloon. This saloon employed six bartenders working on eight hour shifts, 24 hours a day. The owner of this place is living in Beatty, Nev., where the company was staying. He in