The Washington times., 1929-01-23
Mr.. FOX GETS
HIS $4,000
BACK

At the Fox Theater next week is
a talking film called "In Old Ari.
IONA. 1t was inspired by o.
Henry's story. The Caballero's
Way the actual screen play and
the dialogue having been written
by Tom Barry. The tragic hap
penings that attended the making
OF this production In the beginning
are a testimonial to the grit and
determination of w. n. Sheehan,
general production manager OF the
Fox Film Corporation. Possibly
no other picture has ever been
made with such an suspicious
start and now, according to re-
ports II isa feature that is worth
at least all the worry and bother
and the early losses.
Zion Canyon, not tar from Salt
Lake City. Mr.. Sheehan was en-
tllusiastic about the narrative and
the company, with Mr.. Barry and
RaouI Walsh, went forth to make
the picture. After work had been
going on for 4 week, Mr.. Sheehan
wired to Mr.. Walsh TO send on by
airplane an the negative he had
taken.
When 1t had been developed
land 1t should be remembered that
this WAS q talxiag picture with
the sound waves made by light on
the edge De the fiInll everybody
went to 4 projection room TO look
and listen to the work Of Messrs
walsh aIad Barry. Incidentally.
Mr. Walsh was not only cfficiat-
ing A. director. bat also as the
impersonator Of the leading role.
The first flashes came 10 the
screen. Thers was q gentle sound
like distant putting Of steam
locomotive. At fret Mr.. Sheehan
and his associates II ilepght that 1t
was something that was either on
the positive or only on few hun
Ired fee Of the film. But 1T con.
tinued throughout. Every positive
made from the negative gave the
same 'puff-puff The negative
could not be used and therefore
word was sent to Zion City. and
after an iavesriga fion 1t was de-
cided that some noise. had come
to the naicrophones that had not
been heard through the techni.
clans ear.pieces.
The scenes were made in the
open and there was no telling what
the strange noise could have been.
However, the scenes had 10 be re.
made. and despite the fact that 1t
meant p0cketing asloss Of $90.000,
Sheehan and Walsh kept up their
enthusiasm.
Walsh and Barry started again.
Everything was going swimmingly
until after about 10 days. Mr..
Walsh, when driving his car over
the crude. wild roads, had tragic
accident. The headlights startled
a jaekrabbit and the animal leaped
up and crashed through the wind
shield OF the fast speeding car.
The next telegram that Mr..
Sheehan received was that Mr.,
Walsh had been badly injured.
The message went 80 far as to
state that the accident might re-
suit fatally. Mr.. Walsh was taken
to hospital In Salt Lake City and
eventually he recovered sufficiently
to return to Los Angeles; but the
sight OF one eve was despaired OF
and for some weeks ii was feared
that he might lose both eyes.
Meanwhile. Mr.. Sheehan. having
dropped something like SITS 900 on
the talking film on which ne had
set his heart, picked Irving Cum.
n1ings. producer Of Dressed to
KiIl'' and Romance Of the Under.
world to replace Mr.. Walsh as
the director Of In Old Arizona. .
Mr. Barry was grief-stricken over
his pals tragedy. bur he was en-
couraged to 80 out again to Zion
Canyon. Then an actor had to be
selected to take the part Mr.. Walsh
had been PLAYING on the screen. It
was eventually decided is try war
ner Baxter in this role.
Weeks afterward Mr.. Sheehan
once again sat in projection room
to look at the takes, on this audi.
BILE film. Apparently, judging bv
his enthusiasm, Warner Baxter
proved to be ideal for the part ana
the dialogue effects sent everybody
away In high praise.
And Mr.. Barry. faithful to- his
friend, the Imaginative. and able
Mr., Walsh. was overioyed To see
0nSthe screen. Directed by Raoul
w : fab 3 nd FIvty,.s f,t.v,,,,,t..s.. !,