International photographer (Jan-Dec 1941)

Lincoln, enclosed in a stockade covering five acres, was built from early photographs and used for less than a reel of the picture. Almost as much as was spent for this huge set was expended on Olivia de Havilland's wardrobe: 15 changes of gown, done of the most costly fabrics in the lush fashions of the 1870's. For Beth Custer was a fashion leader of her day, even in the "wild" west with her soldier-husband. One of Hollywood's largest dry-cleaning establishments went on a night shift basis during the time the major battle scenes for "They Died With Their Boots On" were being filmed. Often as many as 1,200 uniforms, torn and dusty after a day's work, had to be cleaned, mended, and made ready for 6:00 the next morning, when the rider-extras started parading through the studio gates. Makeup department workers had to clean and renovate 500 to 600 long black wigs each night after the Indians, real and synthetic, had finished their day. It was an all-night job. The picture sweeps through 19 years of Custer's life, covers much territory. Starting with West Point, it moves to Washington, Bull Run, Gettysburg, Monroe, Michigan, back to Washington, to Fort Lincoln, then to the Little Big Horn. All of Hollywood's stunt men worked throughout the battle scenes, some of them earning as much as $250 a day for spectacular falls from galloping horses. Highest paid were the riders of their own horses who had trained their mounts to fall, play dead as though shot. As a contrast to the riders, not one animal was so much as scratched all during the hectic production. TIN CAN SQUAdRON (Continued from page 3) But there's the enemy fleet. We were being attacked by their air force and our AA battery was hard at work. More swell shots! It was like a three ringed circus. A sharp command can be heard now and swiftly the torpedo tubes swing out to firing position. Another signal is given and swish — the "tin fish" are off to accomplish their deadly mission. These are practice "fish" and lack the means to blow a ship out of water. Their accuracy, however, is unimpaired by the absence of the "business" part. The battleships seem awfully big now. We can see their secondary battery pumping away at us. The thought didn't occur to me then that I should be very thankful it wasn't "live" ammunition they were using. It has many times, since. Another few minutes and our terrific speed had carried us beyond the line of fire of the "enemy" fleet. Our problem for the day was over and it was up to the umpires to tell us which side was victorious. Thus another Tactical Maneuver is completed, although to our modern Navy it was just another day's work — just another day of practicing for the day "when." For us it was a day of thrilling pictures. Our cameramen aboard one of the big battleships had filmed the maneuvers from the "defense" angle and we had some shots to delight the editor's heart. But our work with the destroyer squadron was not yet finished. I learned that Uncle Sam's taxpayers are well protected even in times of National Emergency. Everyone of these precious torpedoes must be rescued, overhauled and made ready for the time when future occasion may require them. And so for many a weary hour we cruised back and forth over a pre-determined area scanning the bleak waters for our "tin fishes." It was a monotonous backbreaking job requiring many small boat launchings and precarious trips over a bouncing ocean to recover them. Through the slick of an ocean suddenly turned tranquil, we of the Destroyer Squadron sailed homeward. That region of my body adjacent to the belt line had subsided with the angry waves and was now setting up a clamor for food. A most welcome sign to one who has been seasick. At the table that night the chair lashing was dispensed with although the table racks DESTROYER US S. CUSHING 16