Movie Makers (Jun-Dec 1928)

A. A. HEBERT Third of a Series of Studies of Leaders of the Amateur Cinema League By Katherine M. Comstock EVER since 1903, I have been intensely interested in the experimental end of radio." explained Mr. A. A. Hebert, "and in 1912 my interest in radio brought me in touch with Mr. Hiram Percy Maxim, one of its greatest enthusiasts. We became great friends and have remained so ever since, so it is not strange, is it, that a few years later I should have been bitten by the home movie bug, when Mr. Maxim developed into such an ardent devotee?" It certainly is not strange, nor is it strange that these two men should have become such good friends for they have three hobbies in common — movies, radio and yachting. Moreover they are both naturally enthusiastic and they are willing to work very hard in the furtherance of any cause in which they are interested. Mr. Hebert now lives in Hartford. Connecticut, as he has to be near the headquarters of the American Radio Relay League, of which he is officially the financial supervisor, but for many years he lived in New York City. He has been a financial man most of his life, and was for a long period President of the Ulster Foundry Corporation, and of this organization he is now a Director. He is also a Trustee and Rear Commodore of the Hartford, Conn. Yacht Club. Therefore, this third one of Mr. Hebert's hobbies — yachting — ■ quite evidently holds its place with the other two, and in mentioning the \ acht Club he enthusiastically and quite naturally passed along the information that it is one of the finest organizations in the country. Mr. Hebert has a son who is also an enthusiastic amateur cameraman and together they have been working on some interesting novelty films. Mr. Hebert admits that his son is a more proficient photographer than he, but it takes two to make the wheels go round in some of these novelty films and they enjoy working together especially where experimenting in movie making is concerned. Upon resigning his position as President of the Ulster Foundry Corporation Mr. Hebert moved to Hartford to take up his work with the American Radio Relay League, and through his successful supervision of its finances to help build it to its present standing. In 1926. when the for mation of the Amateur Cinema League was brewing, his interest in amateur movies brought him into the formative conferences where his practical suggestions and aid were so great that when the League was formed he was requested to become its treasurer and to bring his knowledge of things financial into play in its behalf. This he has done very successfully, and the Amateur Cinema League is to be congratulated on its good fortune in having this particular man as treasurer. Mr. Hebert has been for many years so intimately associated with the American Radio Relay League that it is almost impossible to talk about him without discussing the development of that League, and perhaps at this time it is not amiss for he sincerely believes that the Amateur Cinema League is slated for a similar phenomenal development, in fact he cannot see the end of its growth. Let us take some figures. The American Radio Relay League was founded in 1914. In the fourteen years of its existence its magazine has achieved a circulation of 50,000. The Amateur Cinema League was founded in 1926 and its magazine, Movie Makers, already has a general circulation of 8,000. "And that," says Mr. Hebert, "shows tremendous headway for a two-yrear-old. It cannot help but grow for its interest is vital. You see I look on the Amateur Cinema League with the same eyes that I do on the Radio Relay League. That. too. is of vital interest and it has not stopped growing, nor will it. for more and more people become interested in this method of communication and (Continued on page 608) 581