The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-02-08
A WESTERN SCREEN CON-
NG-THE COVERED WAGON

1.-THE Covered Wagon" Is the title
of book written by that dean Of
western writer's, Emerson Hough
who weaves romance and history to-
gether until the reader can go and
pick out the spots where events hap
pened. The old timer can pick out
his friends In the story, and he lives
over again his own connections with
it or the locality affected.
The book is just out recently, and
the Lasky picture corporation has
staged 1t for the movies. 1t deals
with a large emigrant party travel
ing from the Missouri river to
Oregon in 1848, via FIT. Laramie,
Soda Springs and Fl. Hall and the
Shoshone and Bannock Indians en-
gagged them in battle, with other
tribesmen, at the crossing of Green
river In August.
| Last September and October the
Shoshones and Bannocks Joined in
making the movie pictures, under
agreement that the show should be
put on the screen first at Fl. Hall or
one of their home towns, and now
that promise is about to be realized.
The Telephone Monitor has the fol-
lowing to say about the filming:
In an effort to protray as accur-
ately as possible the events as they
were supposed to have happened In
the days of the early settlers of the
west, great care was given to the
selection of the location on which to
reproduce these events.
AS the buffalo played quite a
prominent part in the settlement of
this vast western empire, the film
story would not be complete without
scenes of buffalo hunts, stampedes,
etc. Antelope Island, in Great Salt
Lake, often referred to as Buffalo
Island, was chosen for these scenes.
After a series of thrilling events, this
part of the story was successfully
recorded on the film. Eleven buffalo
were killed and the story Is told that
one of these was a monster bull that
was shot by one of the cowboys as
1t was charging one of the camera
men. The bull fell dead with its
nose against the tripod. All OF the
buffalo on the island, numbering
about 200, were used in making the
picture.
The location chosen for the bal
ance of the picture Is in the vicinity
Of the Meek ranch, near Baker, New.
In order to eliminate all possible
sign of modern times, 1t was neces-
sary to stage the scenes in a country
free from fences, telephone
or telegraph lines, well-beaten high
ways, railroads, etc. This location
was declared by all concerned to be
the ideal spot for the picture.
Camp Cruze, as 1t Is known, was
established eighty miles west of Mil
lord, Utah. Milford, being the near
est point on the railroad, was due
Tor considerable activity during the
line this part Of the picture was in
he making
1t is declared by those interested
hat this picture is without exception
he greatest thing undertaken in the
notion picture business. Some
dea of the size of the undertaking
nay be gained by checking over a
ew figures. In the. picture LOG
wagons, 500 horses and 70 head of
.attle were used. The cattle were
brought in off the range and then
broke" to work at pulling the
Three hundred Indians
ecruited from the Navajos of
arizona, Arapahoes from Wyoming,
nd Bannocks from Idaho took part
n the scenes. These Indians had to
e transported from their reserva-
ions and back again. At one time
t Camp Cruze there were 725
7hites and 800 Indians. Fifty-five
arloads of supplies, consisting of
amping equipment and supplies
yere sent from Milford to Camp
,ruze The picture was finished
bout December l.
To date over $4,000 has been
pent for transportation alone. The
ost per day Of making the picture
vas $4,000, and when completed
he cost had been close to 81, $780,
90.
Three power plants, consisting of
wo 1900 ampere generators and one
90 ampere generator, driven by
asOline motors and mounted on
rotor trucks, supplied the electricity
ecessary for the camp and making
he right scenes. The two large
over plants were mounted on two
pecial-built White trucks. These
'ucks with their load, weighed
welve tons each and are valued at
10000 each.
All the quarters in camp were sup
lied with electric lights and the
reefs were also lighted.
Four cameras were used, operated
I'd cared for by eleven camera men.
The personnel Of the company in
uded such stars as Jack Warren
errigan, Lois Wilson, Allen Hale,
rnest Terrence and Tully Marshall.
lso, James Cruze, director; Vernon
Gays, assistant director; Tom
'htiem, business manager; and
arl Brown, chief cameraman.
For the part of the picture made
Camp Cruze, the directors defy
" one to find even hint at camou-
ge.
The Milford telephone exchange
ndled thousands of toll calls and
rmed very necessary part in the
eat movie.
Without exception those connected
tn the picture and having occasion
use the telephone in the transac-
IN Of their business, expressed ap-
eciatiOn of the service renderd.
The indiana DIavod a varv frnnorf-