The Motion Picture Studio Insider (1935)

June, 1935 Motion Picture Studio Insider 19 By LEIO J. RIVARD LAW enforcement and protection of property in Movietone City, the 11 Caere Fox Film lot which stretches from Santa Monica Boulevard to Pico, is the complex assignment handled by Director of Safety Joseph W. Reilly and his force of forty-five uniformed, disci' plined studio police. In addition to the ordinary police duties of a “city” whose popualtion may fluctuate anywhere from 2,000 to over 5,000, the studio force must put their alertness and system against the ever' present problem of studio gate'Crashers. From curious kids and over'enthusiastic fans to hungry and desperate actors, they storm the portals in an attempt to see this or that star or studio executive. The system in force at Movietone City has proved pretty hard for the crashers to beat. All interviews are ar¬ ranged through a central office, with a list of persons who are to be admitted sent to each gate. If one’s name isn’t on that list, it’s just too bad. A glib salesman succeeded in talking himself through the gate about a year ago, but it hasn’t happened since. outfit is organized along the semi-mili¬ tary lines of the New York force, in which Reilly once held the rank of lieu¬ tenant. Neat khaki uniforms of good quality are furnished and kept cleaned and pressed by the studio. There is very little turnover in the personnel of the department, as the jobs are made quite permanent to attract a reliable type of man and take advantage of the increased efficiency which results when the force is experienced and thoroughly familiar with its duties. Each man on the force gets two weeks’ vacation, with pay, every year. Movietone City has its own ordi¬ nances, as well as those of the state and county, which the studio police also enforce. There are traffic and parking regulations, rules against smoking on sound stages and in cutting rooms and regulations as to the proper use of com¬ pany equipment. Reilly states that, con¬ trary to what some people might expect, he has enjoyed excellent cooperation from stars, directors and other promi¬ nent people in heeding the rules. Like many other interesting Holly Joseph W. Reilly wood personalities, Joe Reilly has had a career previous to coming to Hollywood which runs the gamut of many adven¬ turous occupations. He was a chart boy on an ocean liner, served nine years in the cavalry of the United States Army, was a professional boxer, and as a de¬ tective lieutenant in the New York po¬ lice department arrested such noted crim¬ inals as Nickey Arnstein, “Gyp the Blood,” “Lefty Louie,” and “Dapper Dan Collins. He also had the privilege of caring for such noted visitors to New (Continued on Page 41) POLICE FORCE MODELED AFTER N. y. DEPARTMENT Every year, however, approximately 1100 kids succeed in gaining admittance to the studio by climbing the wall. They’re usually spotted by a patrolman before they get very far, and a letter is sent to their parents requesting that the trespass not be repeated. Wall-climbers of mature age are also apprehended from time to time. The Lox police force is organized into two groups, the smaller of the two, un¬ der Captain H. Myers, guarding the Western Avenue lot. The larger group at Movietone City is captained by John L. Muehlhausen, a colorful figure who served for five years as sheriff of the Cripple Creek district in Colorado, when it was one of the most unruly por¬ tions of the entire West. Muelhausen has arrested many noted desperadoes and has never had to use his guns on any of them. Four sergeants assist the two captains in supervising the force. The eritire MOVIETOFJE CITY S police force on parade. Joseph Reilly reviewing Fox’s Finest prac¬ tically every man having served on a metropolitan police force before joining the studio police department.