The Photo-Play Journal (May 1916-Apr 1917)

THE PHOTO-PLAY JOURNAL FOR MAY, 1916. PAGE 23 ^M ^^L^^^" ' lS LjR| ■ »1 r 168 ' I] a i ^ 2 . ; m AP Lois Meredith, Balboa's newest star and President H. M. Horkheimer PPROACHING the Long Beach, California, studio where Balboa feature films are made, the visitor is first impressed by the fact that it utilizes all four corners of the two intersecting streets where the plant is located. Notwithstanding, it is a marvel of compactness and completeness. Order and cleanliness prevail everywhere, because the Horkheimer Brothers — Herbert M. and Elwood D. — Balboa's sole owners, are believers in spick and span-ness. All of the buildings are painted a uniform green, with white trimmings, in imitation of the coloring of Uncle Sam's one-cent Balboa stamp, which was issued last year in commemoration of the Pacific Coast expositions. All the grounds about the studio have been parked. A landscape gardener is carried on the pay-rool to keep up the lawns Here and there are beauty spots, fountains, flower beds. The guiding spirits of this company do not believe it possible to get the maximum artistic effects in ramshackle surroundings, such as prevail at many studios. Adjoining the big open-air stage is a double-decked tier of dressing rooms. The visitor's heart leaps when his eyes fall on such names over the doors as Lois Meredith, Ruth Roland, Jackie Saunders, Henry King, William Conklin, Frank Mayo, Marie Empress, Roland Bottomley, Mollie McConnell, Daniel Gil f ether and many other well-known screen favorites who are regularly seen in Balboa features. Passing through the shops where the sets are built and painted, admission is gained to Balboa's enclosed studio. As California suffers from a minimum of inclement weather, this part of the equipment is not used as much as in the East. But it comes in handy for night work ; for frequently it becomes necessary to work the players in shifts to get out a production on schedule time. Balboa's switchboard and arrangement of chrome-actinic lights is a revelation even to the expert electrician. Passing the row upon row of scene-docks bordering the openair stage, the visitor is next admitted into the "prop" department. Here on every hand one sees evidences of Horkheimer efficiency. These rooms contain more furniture than many a furniture store. Any period or style can be "dressed" out of the stock, which consists of a hundred thousand different items. All are card indexed and have a definite place, so that they can E. D. Horkheimer, See y and Treasurer Balboa Amusement Producing Company Doans prominent in be located instantly when needed. Balboa's property rooms are considered the most complete on the Coast. Nothing is rented. Crossing the street, one enters the building where the wardrobe department is housed. Here the clothing and accessories for the extras are made and kept. Stars and principals all furnish their own garb. A little farther back is the laboratory, where the film is developed, printed and assembled. Then comes the projecting room, or "little theatre," in which every production is tried out several times before being released. On the corner opposite this building is a large, vacant piece of ground, where Balboa builds many of its large outdoor sets, that cannot be accommodated on the stage. On the fourth corner the visitor finds the papier-mache department where "bum" rocks, etc., are made. Then comes the company garage, in which twenty automobiles used daily for various phases of picture-making are kept. Two homey, comfy bungalows house the executive departments. In the first one, the scenario editor and his assistants have accommodations, the like of which no other company provides. The press representative even enjoys the luxury of a solid mahogany roll-top desk. The general offices are in the adjoining bungalow, where the Messrs. Horkheimer hold forth in elegantly equipped quarters. Last, but not least, is the place where the business manager holds sway — Norman Manning, who courteously shows visitors through the studio. He has a register, where all must sign. While the Balboa Company does not solicit callers, none are ever turned away. It is a marvel to all who see the place when they learn it has no stock for sale and charges no admission. Balboa is a private enterprise, and as such has prospered generously. From a modest beginning it has become the largest actually independent moving picture producing studio in the business, in three short years. The visitor on leaving is absolutely convinced that Balboa is one of the greatest producing companies, and contains within its vast area a family instead of a "bunch" of players. Every one, from the executive to the office boy, has that call-to-see-us-again way, that makes one anticipate a second visit. After cheery good-byes to all, the visitor jthen departed with memories of an unusually interesting visit to the home of Balboa. ircle." Left to right : Corene Grant ^Villiam Beckway, Cameraman, Ruth Roland, Star