Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-01

THOUGH New York City was
n practically abandoned. two years
N ago. as a novie-producing CEN
ter. the current outhurst OF talk
ing films threatens TO increase
the celluloid output of Manhattan
Island to an enormous extent. Inoeeo
there Is q section Of the huge FOX
studio on 10th Avenue, which may
reasonably be called the most important
location in tn centre movie industry
1t is there that the Movietone news
reels are being assembled and the Movie
tone short subjects are being photo
zraphed and recorded: 1t is there, also
that experiments of incalculaole sig
nificance are being made.
went to the Fox studio the other
day to watch the pioneer talking movie
comedian, Robert Benchley, at work
II WAS an eye-opening experience.
Mr. Benchley. as you know. is lust
about the only dramatic critic III history
who ever found an effective answer TO
that devastating question. which is
directed by all injured actors at all
carping critics: IF you know so much
about acting, why don't you so on the
staSe?"
Mr.. Benchley did so on the stage. He
played for a season in one of irving
Berlins Music Box Revues and kept up
his work of reviewing the other shows
that OPENED In New York. He had his
nightly appearance st the Music Box
50 timed that he could see the first act
Of a new play. rush to the MUSIC Bon
during the intermission, do his act, ano
get back to the other theater in time
to see the second-act curtain SO up.
What with so much running back and
forth. Mr.. Bencnley's wind was ruined.
and he declined all subsequent offers
from unfortunate managers. He did
consent to make several appearances in
vaudeville, and when the astute Court
land Smith Of the Fox Movietone Cor
poration invited him TO make screen
test. Mr.. Bencrley cheerfully accepted.
"Iu try anything-once." was his
twinkline comment at the time.
As his first Movietone film, Mr..
Benchley rendered the "Treasurer's Re-
port" the same rlonologue he had given
in the Music Box Revue. 1t turned
out for some unknown reaSon 10 De
q success. and has established Mar.
Benchley as box once star OF the
talkies.
The Movietone pictures are produced
In sound proof vaults, each set being
shut of from the rest OF the studio
BY walls Of compo board. The prevail
inS atmosphere in these sets is that OF
a radio broadcasting studio, or under
taking parlor. Thick carpets deaden
the clatter of stage hands footsteps,
when the picture is being taken. no
commands or exhortations may be ut
tered by the director land what dill
ference that makes: no shouts or muir
naurs from invisible electricians are
to be heard: even the familiar whlrr OF
the camera is stilled.
How unlike the old-fashioned movie
studio, where a continual uproar is
maintained by all the outsiders, and
only the actors are dumb.
Mr. Benchley stood up on platform,
fiodled with his watch chain and talked
In a quiet manner In front OF him.
and Just above the camera lines, was a
suspended microphone, connected with
the complicated recording apparatus
behind the camera I asked Mr..
BenchIey how this apparatus worked.
and he replied, II don't know" so
shan't bother you with any technical
details.
The section Of Mr.. Benchley's speech
then being recorded lasted about two
minutes and when the time came to
cut, a whole battery of buzzers was
sounded. Then the director, Thomas
Chalmers. called Mr. Benchley aside and
told him what was wrong with his ex-