The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-01-18

We had left the Famous Players
Studio at about six o'clock, after a
happy. busy day, and the evening
passed merrily Two pictures were
finished, "The Founding" and pep
PIMA" which were soon to be re-
leased and were locked in the safe as
ten valuable reels.
The studio was on the top floor OF
a large factory building, and it was
there the Famous Players Company
had started its existence. taking up it's
quarters in this specious loft which
had formerly been an armory. Plans
were aboard for beautiful new studio.
but little did we dream we would be
driven out by such a tragic event.
The night of the fire, which started
about seven-thirty, Mr.. Zukor, our
president, was driving with his son
down Fifth avenue. When they passed
Twenty.sixth street, they saw great
volumes Of smoke rising from a burn.
ing building several blocks away.
1T looks like fire." and Mr.. Zukor
was startled. I'm case it is anywhere
near the studio. we shall go down
there" The machine edged as near
the fire as 1t could go, and Mr.. Zukor
got out, growing more and more
alarmed as he drew nearer to the
studio He hardly dared to ask, but
finally mustered up courage.
Its the Famous Players studio and
she's a goner," shouted a passerby;
floor falling through already"
Great flames burst from the roof
and the firemen were struggling with
the hose, dragging it upon the adj
Joining buildings, bending every feeble
effort to save the mint OF valuables
which were being hopelessly de-
stroyed.
"Was there any one in the studio at
the time of the fire." shouted Mr.. Zu-
kor through the din and noise of the
crowded streets. 1t was only for his
employees that he feared. When they
told him few of the workmen had
been there at the time. but had es-
capped, he voiced his thankfulness.
His next thought was for me. Lit
tie Mary must not hear of this to-
night" he said. "She is tired and she
needs her rest. 1t would break her
heart"
When they told him all our little
studio pets could not be saved. he
groaned aloud, but when the great
flames burrowed into the building, the
hope of saving any of our costly equip
ment, he said nothing, but watched
with the stoicism that has made Mr.
Zukor one of the most wonderful men
in New York
An Interrupted Feast.
We were dining at the Aston Hotel
when a friend entered, casually men
tioning that from distance he had
seen a great fire. Some studio or
Twenty-sixth street, I understand"
To his CONSERVATION, we jumped tt
our feet with a mad impulse to teal
out of the dining room into the street
Our hearts were beating like trip-ham
mers, and 1t was tense and unhappy
ride until we reached the corner near
est to the studio.
There we found Mr.. Zukor alone
silently watching the destruction o.
nearly million dollars worth of prop
critics.
I'm sorry you weren't spared this
until morning." were his first words
to me.
All night long we watched the life
of the flames, often ebbing away only
to burst skyward as the Goals fell up
on some Of the explosive chemicals OF
licked up countless reels Of negatives
the walls began 10 crumDle, we cOul(
see that the roof had fallen through
and clinging to one Of the walls will
the tenacity Of a burning thing wa.
the large safe in which were the mega
tives of nearly dozen completed
plays.
The fire pulsed around 1t and WI
watched, fascinated and fearful B.
four O'Clock the flames were unde
control, although the firemen wer,
fighting it until long after daylight.
The following afternoon, we all as
sembled and climbed upon the roof op
posite the studio to peek into thu
ruins. shall never forget my sensa
lions as looked upon the blackenet
walls and great yawning hollows o
rooms where we had been walkin,
about, in all security, only the day be
fore.