Screenland (Sept 1922–Feb 1923)

MOllVWOOO C*L!FO«M'A <J Directors as well as stars succumb to the terrible malady of Klieg eyes. Cecil B. DeMille recently suffered a severe attack while filming Adam's Rib. Photo by Melbourne Spurr. a set, will give a person Klieg eyes ; at other times, a whole day may be filming of Cecil B. DeMille's latest feature, Ada m's Rib, a huge set was used calling for several of the mammoth open flood lights. At 5 o'clock, when the scene was finished everyone went home, apparently in good health. By 7 that evening calls began coming to the Paramount offices telling of members of the cast suffering from a severe attack of Klieg eye. Scarcely a person on the set that day escaped. Even Mr. DeMille was not immune, and when they were again back for work each had a sad tale to relate of intense suffering. Favorite remedies for Klieg one of the Hollywood studios, insists that Klieg eye is nothing more than conjunctivitis and that a person could easily contract the same malady from exposure to the sun's rays if they gazed at it for any length of time, or if it were nearer. It is the direct violet ray on the unprotected eye that does the damage and is more frequently caused during the photographing of "close-ups." Mr. Graham thinks that carelessness and neglect on the part of the actor or actress are the cause of more Klieg eye than the actual menace of the lights themselves. "They lock the barn door after the horse is stolen," for a second attack of this painful lesson is not to be courted. Mr. Graham gives a simple method for the care of the eyes to avoid difficulties. "After leaving the set, the eyes should immediately be washed with collyrium, then again once or twice before going to bed. If this procedure is followed bv a little boric salve the percentage of Klieg eyes would be practically nil," he says. T at otner umes, a wnuie — ,,"7 „vll„i gone through successfully and about eyes range all the way from several — o — -* . an hour after leaving the set, the demon Klieg begins to put in an appearance and the patient knows he is in for a wakeful evening. The attack may be cleared up in a few hours or it may last two days. The real danger lies in the victim attempting to come back on a set before his eyes are thoroughly recovered. There have been cases where several severe Klieg burnings have laid up an actor for two weeks in a darkened room. SoME authorities claim that blue eyes are more susceptible than brown and that large eyes are at a disadvantage where Klieg lights are concerned. Just as a fair skin falls under the special spite of the sun, so his understudy, the Kliegs, seem to have a special antagonism for blondes, who, unless heavily protected by grease paint, are tanned by the arcs unmercifully. Six years ago, hardly a day went by at the studios without a case of Klieg eye. Sometimes, the whole action of the unit was paralyzed by attacks of this hoodoo of the motion picture lot. Now, however, cases are becoming more rare. Improved carbon has aided to a large extent and the lights have ground glass covers, except for huge sets where a great many people must be photographed. In such cases even the director is likely to suffer an attack of swollen eyelids and stinging eyes. In the drops of castor oil in the eye to ice packs, boric salve and raw potato poultices-. Mr. DeMILLE believes that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure arid has his eyes bathed with collyrium or a solution of boric acid every evening after leaving the set. This, he believes, will prevent a possible attack of Klieg eyes under all ordinary circumstances. Every person on a set is warned not to look at the lights while acting and to wear dark glasses between scenes. It is a peculiar fact that the rays of light from the carbon lamps have a strong power of attraction and one not realizing the danger unconsciously lets his gaze rest on the floods of brilliant pale blue fire thrown on the scene. This is often the reason that so much unnecessary suffering from burned eyes is endured. Several instances of where visitors have had attacks of Klieg eye arc given in support of the theory that it is the fine carbon dust blowing in the eyes that causes the inflammation. People standing at the side of the set, not even within range of the direct rays of the powerful lights, have sometimes suffered from Klieg eyes. All authorities claim that the condition of the eyes has a great deal to do with their susceptibility to the malady. On the other hand, C. B. Graham, graduate nurse and first aid man at HE pain alone is not the worst trouble of this disease. The appearance of the patient plays havoc with his or her vanity. Swollen, inflamed, tear-flooded eyes arc not the general ideal of perfect beauty. How different the soulful brown wells of expression appear when viewed through a maze of tears— not of the glycerine variety — and the long black lashes of (Continued on Page 76) q Blue eyes are viore susceptible than brown to Klieg eyes, and blondes, unless protected by grease-paint, are prone to tan under the lights. Pretty, blonde Wanda Hawley has to take double precaution against Klieg eyes. 6