Motion Picture Mail (October 28, 1916)

October 28, 1916. Page 5. GLIMPSES OF THE BALBOA STUDIOS AT LONG BEACH, CAL. Story of Balb oa T HE Balboa studio of the Ilork- heimer brothers, located in Long Beach, Cal., is one of the few — if not the only one — built out of profits. Its owners take especial pride in the fact that they never sold a penny’s worth of stock in their enter- prise. Starting in one small structure three years ago, Bal- boa has been growing steadily, until to-day eighteen different buildings are used to house its various de- partments. And judging from the way its business is expanding, further additions will be needed in the very near future. A year ago experts in photoplay-making who vis- ited the Balboa studio pronounced it a model plant, complete and compact. But nothwithstandiug this, the llorkheimers have been going right ahead with their enlargements. As fast as they made money they have have put it right back into the studio to increase its efficiency. This has been possible because there are no stockholders crying for dividends. In the recent past a papier mache department has been installed by Balboa. The work turned out by it is highly artistic. This is evidenced by the sculptural ‘ ‘ props ’ ’ to be seen in Balboa releases. The statu- esque electroliers which adorn the grounds surrounding the plant attest this further. A whole building is de- voted to the papier mache department. Just behind it a blacksmith shop has been fitted up. Many visitors to the plant cannot understand what need there is for a blacksmith shop to make pictures. The best answer to them is to say that if there is anything in the world which does not enter into pic- ture-making it liasn't been uncovered. But as a great deal of metal work is used in “sets,” the forge and anvil come in very handy. Two large warehouses of fireproof sheet-iron con- struction have been added to the Long Beach studio this year to provide shelter for the ever-growing “prop” department. There are larger studios in southern California than Balboa when it comes to the ground space utilized by several, but none of them begin to own the amount of equipment that the Hork- heimer brothers have assembled. Nearly all of the studios rent their furniture and other accessories used in dressing sets. Herein Balboa has made a radical departure. Ever since the be- ginning all sorts of odds and ends have been acquired, until to-day this studio has, without doubt, an accu- mulation of the most varied lot of ‘‘ props' ’ in the industry. Furniture from the cheapest to the most costly period stuff is found in its warehouses ready for instant use when a director calls for it. Most studios prefer to rent their “props,” because it takes too big an investment to own them. The llorkheimers believe in a year's time their outlay for rentals and breakage will practically amount to what the stuff could have been bought for in the begin- ning. They have always regarded renting as on a par with the “Penny wise and pound foolish” policy. Only recently they bought .f 10,006 more worth of fur- niture from the leading stores in Los Angeles. Important additions have been made to the ward- robe department during the past year. Balboa always gowns its extras, particularly when society gatherings or ballroom scenes are “shot.” The supply is re- freshed twice a year. In between time, these are kept in condition by wardrobe women. A visit to the women’s section of the wardrobe rooms is always a treat to fair visitors at Balboa. They marvel at the quality of the gowns, all of which are kept in glass cases when not in use. While the improving has been going on no part of the physical plant has been overlooked. For the pro- tection of the cameras and other costly paraphernalia a concrete vault was constructed. In this each camera By Mabel Condon man has a compartment with an individual lock and key. The carpenter and paint shop have both been amplified. To the former has been added wood-turning equipment, while the latter was enlarged by the addi- tion of a stock room for wallpapers and moldings. These enter into the building of “interiors.” Balboa has entirely dispensed with the old style painted set. Now everything is “practical,” as that term is used in the realm of amusements; and no set is used twice. This is in deference to the public’s growing demand for more variation in productions. When once ‘ ‘ shot ’ ’ a set is done over before being used again. For this reason, it takes more time to make motion pictures now tlian it did a few years ago. More and more attention is being given to detail. The improvements already enumerated all contribute directly to the making of better motion pictures. Yet they are not the only ones to be undertaken by the Ilorkheimer brothers. All the while they have been enhancing the sightliness of their plant. The grounds surrounding it have been parked, and two landscape gardeners are in constant attendance. Beauty spots, with pergolas, have been provided wher- ever opportunity has made it possible. As you enter Balboaville, as that part of Long Beach is called where the studio is located, you cannot but be impressed by the sightliness of the whole layout. “I know that some people believe you can produce in almost any sort of a shack,” said President H. M. Ilorkheimer, “but that has never appealed to me. To get results of the best type I am convinced that you need the very best conditions and surroundings possible. Here you see the desirability of harmon- izing the outside of your studio with that within. Beautification contributes indrectly to the finished product. It inspires, and that is why we have given so much attention to cultivating outward appearances at Balboa.” E. D. Ilorkheimer, secretary and treasurer of the company, is heartily in accord with this policy. The brothers communicate their ideas to Norman Manning, business manager, and he executes them instanter. Team work has built up Balboa. The heads of all departments are continually trying to devise ways to improve their respective bailiwicks. The best evidence of their efficiency is the fact that Balboa has gone ahead steadily since the day of its beginning, whereas many other companies have fallen by the roadside. T IIE Horkheimcr brothers have achieved for their LongBeach studio the unique distinctionof being the largest actually independent motion picture producing plant in the industry. Because they have never permitted themselves to be tied up to an exclu- sive contract by any one releasing agency their pro- ductions are now being distributed by three of the world’s foremost film jobbers. Patlie exchanges handle all of the photoplays pro- duced under the famous Balboa brand. For the pro- gramme of the General Film Company the Hork- heimers make the Knickerbocker Star Features. They also put on multiple reel productions regularly for the B. S. Moss Corporation for “state rights” selling. And besides these, Ilorkheimer film plays have been released by William Fox, the World-Equitable and other equally well-known agencies at various times. As a result of this record—unequaled by any other motion - picture - making organization — the Balboa Amusement Producing Company, the official name of the Ilorkheimer studio, has come to occupy a position second to none in the film world in a compara- tively short time. While 1916 has been somewhat dis- astrous for not a few of the leading screen producers, Balboa acclaims it as the banner year in its history. To keep pace with the steadily increasing demands for their photo dramas the Ilorkheimer brothers have found it necessary to make numerous plant enlargements. As it stands to-day, the studio utilizes all four corners of the street intersection where it is located, and eighteen separate buildings are used to house the various depart- ments. Because of its particular success in the screen- ing of continued stories, Balboa has come to be known to the trade as “The House of Serials.” To date it has six multiple episode picture plays, ranging from twenty-eight to thirty reels each, to its credit. “The Red Circle” and “The Grip of Evil” were issued from the Balboa studio during the present year. Work is now in progress on “The Neglected Wife” and “Who Wins.” At the same time “The Twisted Thread” is being made ready for filming. All of these productions are released through Pathe and wit- nessed by millions of people in the course of a year. As the Ilorkheimer brothers average six producing companies their aggregate output is large. To their credit stand some of the best known feature plays of the year, such as “Boots and Saddles” (Moss), “The Twin Triangle” (World-Equitable), “Pay Dirt” (General Film), “Comrade John” (Pathe), “The Power of Evil” (Moss), “Spellbound” (General Film), “Little Mary Sunshine” (Pathe), “Should a Wife Forgive” (World-Equitable), etc. Of the six photoplays sent abroad by Pathe to be hand-colored this year five were Balboa productions. They were ‘ ‘ The Adventures of a Madcap, ” “ The Shrine of Happiness,” “Rose Among the Briers,” “The Matrimonial Martyr” and “Sultana.” To the Ilorkheimer brothers belong the credit for having given to the screen one or the interesting new personalities of 1916 — Little Mary Sunshine, the youngest leading lady of the films This baby star has just turned four years and she is already known from coast to coast. On the basis of her initial show- ing Pathe entered into a contract for six five-reel photoplays starring this “baby grand” at a record- breaking figure, said to be the uiggest ever paid -or a child picture. Little Mary Sunshine is not a mere incident in her productions, as is the case with the average child in pictures, but she carries the burden of the story on her tiny shoulders. The Balboa Amusement Producing Company is unique among motion picture studios by reason of the fact that no stock in its lias ever been offered for sale. Sole ownership is vested in Herbert M. and Elwood D. Ilorkheimer. Both give the business their undi- vided attention. II. M. Ilorkheimer, founder of the companv, serves it as president and general manager, while his brother, E. D. Ilorkheimer, is secretary and treasurer. Due to the resourcefulness of these men Balboa has been placed in the front rank of the film industry. According to the owners, its success is largely due t8 the co-operation they have enjoyed from their em- ployes. A considerable number have been with Balboa since the start. Many well-known players are seen in Ilorkheimer productions. Among them are Ruth Roland, Jackie Saunders, Mollie McConnell, Henry King. Frank Mayo, Daniel Gilfether, Roland Bottomley, Neil Hardin, etc. The scenarios are written by a staff consisting of Will M. Ritchey, editor; D. F. Whitcomb and Calder Johnstone. The business department is headed by Norman Manning.