Imperial Valley press., 1929-10-24
SEVERE
DAMAGE
IN FIRE
Hollywood Film Company
Loss Will Reach Several
Millions.
ONE MAN KILLED
Companies Checking Over
Losses Which Are AS Yet
Indefinite.

HOLD1 NOOD, 1alIl., W..
With the Consolidated Film Indus
tries. Inc, one of the largest film
developing laboratories IN the world
almost completely destroyed IN q
spectacular early morning flre,
HOLLYWOOD studio officials were con-
templa-Ing what may be stagger-
ing financial loss to the industry.
Damage to the developing plant,
in which one employee was killed
and several injured, will reach ST.
600 600. In addition, there was
possibility that number of un-
duplicated motion picture negatives
may have been destroyed.
Such elaborate productions as
"The Tanning of The Shrew," "Rlo
Rita" "HelPs Angels" and "The
Untamed," were in the development
process in the laboratory at the
time of the fire, it was said. In case
these products were destroyed, the
loss may reach so, 100000. Some
person connected with the industry
even ventured to estimate the total
loss at $25,O00,000 counting such
elements as the time of hundreds or
workers and the salaries of many
actors.
at may be several days before
we know Just what we lost in "The
Tanning of The Shrew," c. E. Erick-
son, business manager of the Pick
ford-Fairbanks corporation, said.
Erickson said that officials were
checking to see how much of the neg
ative may have been lost. 1T was
pointed out that some of the film
NAV have been in the vault of the
developing concern and possibly es-
capped damage.
Many Require Retake
"The Tanning of The Shrew" CO.
starred Douglas Fairbanks and Mary
Pickford. In case the original mega
tive, or vital parts, were lost 1t VIII
be necessary for the two stars to re-
take scenes which were laid in ex-
pensive sets and which called for
many extra and small part players.
"Rio Rita" is a feature film of
the r. X. O. company and starred
Bebe Daniels r. X. o. officials also
said they were checking to see what
was lost
"Hells Angels" wartime avia-
tion picture, was under production
by Howard Hughes, young million
aire and head of Caddo productions.
The film was under production and
the incompleted part reported in the
development laboratory represented
an investment of approximately S6o,-
900, it was said.
"The Untamed" was produced by
Metro Goldwyn- Mayer.
The Consolidated Film Industries,
Inc, was located in the center of
the film colony and handled the pro-
duets of a number of the largest
studios.
The fire was fatal to Albert Lund,
an employee of the cutting room,
who was asphyxiated by the dense
clouds of choking smoke. Firemen
were forced to wear gas masks be-
fore they could fight the blaze with
success.
Score of Women Escape
The injured are Mrs. Irene Boards.
lee, 40, Glendale, seriously burned;
Albert Walker, cuts and bruises;
Mrs. Ada w llSon, race scofcheu, ana
Mrs. Ada Blatcher, cuts. In addi-
tion three unidentified employees
were overcome by smoke but re-
covered rapidly.
The Hollywood fire department.
report said it was believed that the
fire started at polishing machine
operated by Annette Anderson.
Twenty women working nearby es-
capped safely.
The flames spread rapidly and
soon were leaping high into the sky.
The heat became so intense that an
oil station so feet away was scoreh-
ed.
1t was feared that several ether
workers in the laboratory had died,
but search of the ruins today had
revealed no bodies, firemen said.