Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-24
S50,0DO,OlO FIRE
DESTROYS FILMS
One Man Loses Life When
Blast Wrecks Hollywood
Laboratory.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated PreSS.
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, october "a
An explosion and fire destroyed the lab
oratory of the Consolidated Film In
dustries here early today, causing a
loss estimated as high as S50,000,00O.
Fifty persons in the building fled to
safety during intervals between detona-
tions which wrecked the place. One
man was killed.
The laboratory was being used by
about rs per cent of the motion picture
producers. Losses included the master
films of several new screen produc-
tionS.
Fire Department officials said the
loss estimates were only tentative, how
ever, and that an accurate list of the
expensive master films would have to
be obtained before better figure could
be given.
Only One Life Lost.
The only death was that of Albert
Lund, who was found unconscious near
a m-polishing machine after firemen
had quenched the blaze. He died while
being taken to hospital.
Two woman workers, who ran as the
first flash of flame spread through the
building, said they saw the first ex-
ploSion occur in a pile of chemicals
near one of the polishing machines in
an assembly room. Lund was believed
to have been knocked unconscious by
the blast and to have lain helpless as
the fire swept over him.
G. M. Lockwood, film company eX-
ecutive working in a projection room,
said 35 women and Is men we're in the
structure when the first explosion oc-
Cured and that he had accounted for
them all except Lund.
Ben GetZ, president of the Consoli-
dated Film Industries, declined to make
any statement regarding the loss of
films pending complete investigation.
In the confusion Immediately follow
ing the explosion several persons known
to have been in the building could not
be located, giving rise to fears that they
had perished. Firemen later searched
the ruins for possible victims.
Master Films Destroyed.
Among the master films known to
have been in the building were "Helrs
Angels" valued at 100000; THE Tam
ing of the Shrew," produced by Doug
las Fairbanks value not given; Tres
passers," an all-talking production, and
Rio Rita" a talking-Singing film.
William Lebarron, vice president and
general manager of Radio-Keith-Or-
pheum productions, said he believed the
first few days filming of one of his
companys most costly productions had
been in the building. The structure it
self was valued at 100000.
That first estimates of the loss might
be considerably reduced was indicated
when employees of the laboratory and
flremen reported that much of the film
had been stored in bottles and possibly
was undamaged. Closing of several fire
doors in the building also may have
saved some of the productions.
Film cutters told of many feet OF
film lying loose on the floors of cutting
rooms, which they had not time 10
gather up.
The fire spread through the structure
rapidly. Five minutes after the initial
explosion had warned workers of dan
ger, a second occurred, which shot
names through windows and ignited
several automobiles parked in front OF
the laboratory.
The interior of the building was
wrecked, partitions were blown down
and some sections of the outer portion
of the structure fell away, but the four
main walls remained standing. Fire
| fighters succeeded in keeping the flames
away from the Famous Players-Lasky
| Studio on one side and the studio of
Radio-Keith- Orpheum Productions nm
the otheGs