The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-20
RIRM|NGHAM MAN BECOMES EXPERT AS CAMERA 'LEAD'
Alfred Lathem, Former Court Clerk. Famous For Dar-
 ing Exploits

Movie actors have their ups and downs, thrills ard near thrtils, and are hailed as heroes for their stunts, and all the time the movie camera man has to be right with them, not only looking out for his own safety, like the actor, but nursing an ungain ly camera. Sometimes it is up in the rigging of q ship, over the edge of a bluff, on the framework of d sky Scraper in course of erection, but al ways practically the same stuff the actor or actors are doing. and not one bit of credit for the heroies, win, lose or draw
 Birmingham has delegated one of its sons to the art of cinema photog raphy, and to date he hasS'registered" a sprained ankle. a broken knee, a wrenched shoulder and dlslocated hip. and at the present moment is do- ing his work, when he can do any, on Grutches.
 Alfred Lathem, formerly chief clerk in Judge John Pugh's court. left Bir- mingham for Hollywood about six years ago. When he left Birmingham ne was solvent but nothing more. His financial success can be indicated briefly by the bald statement that he has recently completed a s30,000 home in Hollywood and that 1t is paid for. Got Job In 1918.
 "Al' got a job with the Universal people in 1918. developing films after some other chap had shot" them. and grew from that to be sure enough camera man with Photographed by Alfred Latham" often appearing now on the superfluous first 100 feet of the best films seen In the movies.
 MT. Lathem is a member of the fa- nous Allison family and has been for some time. hence his nickname. Al" for he married none other than the at tractive and successful Birmingham business woman, Maude Allison. sis ter of May Allison. the charming lit- tie artist whom the Magic City gave to the movies; Speaking about MT. l.athem's family. he has many rela tlves In Birmingham yet. He is a brother of w. T. Lathem, vice presi- dent of the Federated Bank and Trust company; John D. Lathem. chief of the division of sanitary serv ice for the city, and of pr. c. NJ. Lathem of Birmingham.
 Al Lathem got his camera in 1918 and one of his first assignments was to work with "Hoot" Gibson. His work was so satisfactory that "Hoot" gave him a handsome watch after the picture was made and shown.
 Gibson Chooses Lathem.
 Shortly after he took Gibson's third film that celebrity refused to pose for any other camera man. had MT Lathem's s name taken from the waiting list and assigned to special work with himself all the time; incl dentally each special call for his serv- ices means a S700 raise in salary per annum, and Gibson called for the Birmingham man several times be- fore he finally was assigned to Gib- son exclusively.
 Al Lathem has reputation for dar- ing equal only to his high position as camera man, his many injuries, all dating from last october. being mu te testimonials to his willingness to take any chances which were also as- signed to the leading man, and no few of "hoot" Gibson's pictures show tfat youngster aailing in motor cars that only touch the high spots and often turn fn their length without stonnlng to bother about the road.