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Photograph by Pirie McDonald
STEPHEN F. VOORHEES
Second of a Series of Studies of Leaders of the Amateur Cinema League
THE members of the Amateur Cinema League may feel that Mr. Stephen Voorhees' fame lies in the fact that he is the vice-president of the League, but to the world at large he is known as the senior partner in the distinguished firm of Voorhees, Gmelin and Walker, the architectural firm responsible for such buildings as the New York Times, the New York Telephone, the Brooklyn Edison, the Travellers' Insurance at Hartford, Conn., and the State Street Building at Syracuse, New York. They are the architects for the Associated Companies of the Bell Telephone Company, the Salvation Army, and the Consulting Architects for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. They also planned the largest building for the Western Union Company. These are but a few of the buildings which Mr. Voorhees and his associates have to their credit, but they in themselves constitute a mighty record of achievement and place the reputation of the firm at the forefront of the world of architects.
Mr. Voorhees utilizes his hobby in
By Katherine M. Comstock
his work. In other words he takes movies of construction problems, or of particularly interesting bits of construction, so that he can keep a record of them. These films are shown to the men in his office to aid them in solving similar problems in connection with other buildings. He has also taught some of the men to handle a camera thus enabling them to add to the growing library of film. Mr. Voorhees says that the work has not yet been systematized but that he hopes when it has been they will be able to have a definite record not only of the most difficult work in connection with each building, but also a record of the growth of the building, and that these films can be used for instructional purposes within the organization.
"There is a tremendous scope for moving pictures in this field," said Mr. Voorhees. 'Already different manufacturers are grasping their opportunity and producing 16mm. reels of their particular product. This afternoon I am projecting some reels of
valves for the benefit of my co-workers. Boilers, water systems, heating systems, elevators, etc., can all be displayed in this way right in the office, and decisions made with a great saving of time to all concerned."
Probably all Amateur Cinema Leaguers are curious as to how Mr. Voorhees first became interested in taking his own movies. Like many other pioneer fans he had been for years a keen user of the still camera. Taking snapshots had long been his hobby. Replying to the question of his first interest in movies he said:
"During the war, I served in the Surgeon General's office in charge of the design of army hospitals. Next to my drafting room was located the moving picture laboratory where instructional pictures were made for use in the medical training centers. Through contact with the officers in charge, I developed a strong desire to make my own moving pictures. I was deterred for a time, however, because of the cost involved and the cumbersomeness of available equipment. Sometime later when the 16mm. home movie cameras and projectors were introduced I
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