The international photographer (Feb-Dec 1929)

Eighteen T h INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER October, 1929 Te ch n ic o /o rings •BY= IRA HOKE Warner Brothers' galaxy of color. "Show of Shows," has finally reached completion. During the long weeks of production the picture numbered among its Technicolor cameramen nearly every member of that organization. Barney McGill, supervisor of the picture, has the following Technicolor men on his list of photographers active in course of production: Chas. Schoenbaum, Howard Greene, Friend Baker, Chas. Boyle, Ray Rennahan, Milton Bridenbjcker, Roy Musgrave, Ira Hoke, Earl Stafford, Henry Kruze, Earle Walker, Robert Tobey, Carl Guthrie, Maurice Kains, Robert Tobey and John McBurnie. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayers' gigantic color, talking feature, "Rogue's Song," is now well into production under the guiding hand of Percy Hilbarn, Charles Schoenbaum and Friend Baker who, assisted by Warren Lynch and John McBurnie, constitute the Technicolor staff. * * * After more than two months in the making, the Paramount Famous Lasky all color, all sound, super-special "Vagabond King" has finally reached the cutting room in its entirety. Henry Gerrard, chief cameraman, is assisted by Harry Merland, Wilbert Wright and Clifford Shirpser. The Technicolor staff consists of Ray Rennahan, supervisor, assisted by Roy Musgrave, Ira Hoke and Carl Guthrie. * # * Charles Bohny, formerly of the Mack Sennett photographic staff, has joined the Technicolor camera department. * * * Peverell Marley is supervising "Cotton and Silk," the new all color, all sound picture being produced by M-G-M. Technicolor has placed one of their crack crews on this production. The color men are as follows: Charles Schoenbaum, supervising; Friend Baker, in charge of camera mechanisms; Earl Stafford, Warren Lynch and John McBurnie. * * * TECHNICOLOR SHOP EFFICIENT The boys on the Technicolor staff are justly proud of the wonderfully organized camera department which has been created and is maintained largely through the efforts of Ed. T. Estabrook, chief cameraman for the Technicolor Corporation. Estabrook, himself a cameraman for many years with Technicolor, has worked out a series of departments which his field experience has proved most efficient for the proper maintainance of the delicate mechanisms of Technicolor cameras. The main camera assembly shop, where all equipment is maintained and stored, is equipped with separate work-bench space for every cameraman on the staff, with ample locker room for personal tools and equipment. Gerald MacKenzie, in charge of the optical and prism laboratory, has just received from the manufacturers four complete portable testing benches. These testing devices will henceforth accompany every unit on distant locations where daily service from the Hollywood plant is impossible. Mackenzie, and his assistant, Joe Lane, will instruct all Technicolor cameramen in the proper maintenance of their prism mechanisms while on location, in order that the high standards of efficiency necessary in Technicolor equipment, may be maintained under adverse conditions often encountered while away from the plant. Probably the most appreciated department in the series of Chief Cameraman Estabrook's maintenance units is the efficient little developing and drying laboratory, where tests shot on Technicolor cameras may be developed and dried within a very few minutes after being made. Earl Wilson, veteran Technicolor laboratory expert, is in charge of this test laboratory. General maintenance of Technicolor's score or more of cameras is carried on by a special staff of trained artisans who carefully test and calibrate every moving part of the color boxes periodically. This maintenance crew is directly under the supervision of Ed. T. Estabrook, and its personnel is as follows: Gifford Chamberlain, Curtis Cady, Fred Grant and Henry Prautsch, Jr. * # * Because of the extreme accuracy necessary for the proper registration of Technicolor film, a complete precision machine shop is maintained in connection with the main camera department. This machine shop, which is equipped with the finest machinery obtainable, is in charge of Henry Prautsch, chief machinist for the Technicolor Corporation. In this shop Mr. Prautsch and his staff of six precision machinists replace worn mechanisms, make lens mounts, clutches, and the thousand-and-one things that are found necessary during the course of motion picture production. * * * BOYLE JOINS TECHNICOLOR Charles P. Boyle, well known for his many successful Paramount pictures, among which were "Behind the Front," and "We're in the Navy Now," has joined the Technicolor staff of notable first cameramen. Frank Good, who just finished supervision for the Technicolor Corporation on Warner's production "Golden Dawn," has shifted his entire staff to Roy Del Ruth's new directorial masterpiece in color "Hold Everything." "Hold Everything" features Georges Carpentier, the famous boxer, and Frank expects several weeks' intensive training on the part of all members of his crew before the picture is finished. J. Dev Jennings is co-supervising with Frank Good. Their staff consists of Lee Davis, in charge of camera mechanisms, Milton Bridenbecker and Chas. Geisler. * * DYAR CHIEF OF STILL DEPARTMENT Otto Dyar, who for the past year has been photographing for the Publicity Department of the Paramount West Coast studios, has been promoted to chief of the Production Still Department. Otto joined the Paramount still staff over four years ago, and won recognition through his remarkable still photographs on the "Vanishing American" and "Wings." Many of the Clara Bow and Bebe Daniels pictures made during the last several years have gained fame on the twelve-sheets through the medium of Brother Dyar's camera. Dyar has a background of more than ten years in the photographic field of the motion picture industry. During this time he has operated movie cameras as well as 8 x 10s. * * * AT FIRST NATIONAL Elmer Fryer photographed the opening of the Warner Bros. Theatre at Fresno. Faxon Deane's smile has come to be an institution on this lot. Earl Crowley is all cheered up. Mrs. Crowley has returned from a visit with friends in the east. Bill Fraker has gone to join Director Henry King. We miss this genial old timer. "In the Next Room" is a mystery play, under direction of Eddie Cline, featuring Jack Mulhall and Alice Day. The 659 boys on the job are John Seitz, chief cameraman; Bob Wagner, Billy Schurr and Dick Towers, cameramen; assistants, Irving Glassburg, Palmer Belmont, Jack Anderson, Jack Warren; Les Rowley, stills. Elmer Dyer, that clever aerial photographer, pictorialist and trick still artist, has gone up to the vicinity of San Francisco for a few weeks. THE STORK Born: To Mr. and Mrs. Geo. T. Trafton, on Sunday, September 15, 1929, a son, weight nine and one-half pounds. Local 659 and The International Photographer extend heartiest congratulations to the parents and welcome the youngster with open arms to this mundane sphere.