The international photographer (Jan-Dec 1930)

Eighty-eight The INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER June, 193f Two Men of Tek-Nik Towne ■ BY The threads of men's lives cross and in many cases run parallel to the fulfillment of their ambitions, as illustrated in the case of Pete Mole and Elmer Richardson, the men who gave the motion picture industry incandescent lighting equipment, popularly called Inkies. Elmer Richardson was born in Minneapolis, Minn. Pete Mole was born in far away sunny Italy, but traveled to this country with his parents at the tender age of six years. It may or may not be a co-incidence that one escaped the wheat BOYD enjoyed more pleasures with far greater frequency than their pal, Pete Mole, who worked many hours a da at some "job" for a meager pittance. Pondering over this state of affairs it became clearly apparent to him that at his present work and rate he would probably end nowhere. Action followed immediately. He soon qualified himself to enter Bryant & Stratton College at Buffalo, New York. At this institution he completed a preparatory course in electrical engineering. This was directly followed by a designing and sinoJBB The Mole-Richardson plant and the men <who made it possible. "pete" mole "ELMER" RICHARDSON or lumber business in northern United States — that the other failed to become, in New York City, a purveyor of delectable foods, for which his countrymen are famous. Both however were technically inclined, which accounts for their present occupations. The boyhood of Pete Mole was plentifully studded with hardships, as was the life of the average youngster, brought from his native land to the great, ruthless city of New York. He responded to the prod of necessity, at the age of twelve, becoming a plumber's heloer at fiftv cents a day. As the years marched b" his working experience was varied by such occupations as Western Union messenger service, grocery delivery work and other odd jobs. During this time he never gave up the job of gaining an education. It failed to occur to him, until he was twenty years of age, that he was working in circles, drifting aimlessly. This fact was brought to his attention in rather a subtle, round-about way. It seems that his many friends at this particular time all held rather splendid positions, paying proportional salaries. Furthermore their working day was extremely short compared to his. They dressed to the minute in fashions, they entertained occasionally; they took weekend trips, did the theaters. Briefly they electrical engineering post -graduate course in the Union College at Schenectady New York. Upon completion of his academic work in 1914, he became associated with the engineering division of General Electric Corporation, as a draftsman. There was now a goal to be achieved, a career to be fashioned. With the General Electric Corporation, Mr. Mole began intensive work on the study and development of lighting equipment. His work at this time was on the high intensity arc, which was being designed and perfected exclusively for the United States Army and Navy. During the four years from 1914 to 1918 his work was confined solely to research and design on government assignments. The latter part of 1918 a new interest came into his life. General Electric Corporation made the first sale of high intensity arcs to a motion picture studio for set lighting purposes. A great, new field was opened for this particular type of lighting equipment. Mr. Mole was detailed to work of designing and perfecting high intensity projection lights embodying the necessary requirements for motion picture work. Here was a strange, indefinable lure; something new — lighting equipment made for an unusual use. He thought deeply about this. He sensed that something big, stupendous was to be evolved. It is not surprising that the industry touched him on the shoulder, beckoned, led him across the United States to the realm of cinema. His first work in California was with the old Goldwyn studios at Culver City where he was employed as an electrician, During these past years the thread o4 Elmer Richardson's life had been unraveling. From Minnesota he came tc Los Angeles, where he attended Occidental College, majoring in electrical engineering. After his graduation Mr Richardson taught Manual Training classes in the elementary city schools ol Los Angeles. Later he became associatec with the Chamberlin Reynolds Electrica Company in Hollywood, which name wat later changed. Mr. Richardson became a partner of this firm. Eventually there entered a period oi dissension which caused Mr. Richardsor to leave his company and return to the field of teaching. This was not for long however, and in 1926 he again joined the same firm in capacity of shop superintendent. In the meantime Mr. Mole had executed seven months of his new career in motion picture studio work as an electrician's helper. It is characteristic of Mr. Mole that he told no one at the Goldwyn studio of his intensive experience in the actual designing of the lighting equipment being used on the sets at that time. On several occasions he derived much amusement from various individuals who would stare surprisingly at him when at times he would let slip some technicalities regarding the lights. His status as an electrical engineer was eventually discovered and he was shortly afterward offered a position, as general manager, with a Hollywood electrical firm. He accepted this position in 1923, when the threads crossed and he met Elmer Richardson for the first time. Mr. Richardson was the shop superintendent of this company. In the following three years Mr. Mole and Mr. Richardson worked hand in hand at their respective positions during which time a deep admiration and respect for the abilities of the other grew within these two men. In 1927 they conceived the idea of their own business. The idea took reality in a work shop at the back of a garage located at 6310 Santa Monica Boulevard. At the outset their business consisted purely of renting lighting equipment to studios. Just at this time panchromatic materials were developed, and the talkie film had appeared on the horizon of the motion picture industry. A new type of lighting was badly needed. Mole Richardson, Inc., foreseeing the need, had been conducting exhaustive tests and researches. They came forth with the first practical incandescent lighting equipment, which they called Inkies. The business of Mole-Richardson began to prosper — a dream was being realized. The intangible was becoming tangible. November 1, 1928, the pretentious new home of Mole-Richardson, (Concluded on Page 120)