Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-05
.Unsung Heroes OF the Sil0er Screen, the
Many Extras Eager to Double for the
Stars and Take ANNlauuer Of Chances in
Hazardous Exploits Just to Garner the
Glory Of Adventure and GAtterng Gold.


one who had used chute.
A girl came forward She said she had been
in q circus. She had often leaped from planes.
No, not from balloons but. Of course she could
do that. too If they'd just explain
Shed do 1t for $50
she was hurried into scarlet costume and
into . blonde wig duplicating the stars soft
locks made up and rushed to the balloon whose
husky guardians explained how to pull the
rope that collapsed the huge gas bag, how to
cut loose. how " open the chute.
Remember to pull the cords ofs your
chute in the exact opposite direction from the
way you want to GO
Yes I know. l know she repeated
With astonishing calm Sh. stepped into the
basket that hung below the balloon and stood
clinging to the side while the guy ropes were
loosed The thing went biuilde-ing up ike a
mammoth elephant suddenly aiIinuoed. wnen
a newSpapcrmar touched my elbow.
What do you know" he observed in a curl
ous,y fat voice. THAT kid up there never
saw parachute in her life. Shes taking
chance for $50. Her babys in the hospital"
We watched in horror. Up in the blue, where
even the air-mindcd elephant looked midget
sized a scarlet atom mace an invisible gesture.
The balloon crumpled up like so much gray
paper and blew away in q cloud. Something
that looked like bright pencil dropped through
space for what seemed a long time. The crowd
below stood in dead, terrified immobility until
the parachute opened fiowerlike, when every
body sighed with a relief that turned TO re-
newed alarm as the flower with its scarlet
center hoated dangerously near live electric
wires.
shes lost her headr She's pulling the wrong
way! She'll never come down alive" we
groaned.
But she did. landing beautifully right before
the cameras. where she remembered to pause
and bow before she tainted.
Bob Perry an extra whose years were well
above two score, stood on . balcony above
swimming pool depicting a guest at q country
club dance for one of Colleen Moore's happer
films He was wearing evening clothes and his
part in the affair was atmosphere" Action
centered in the pool, where Colleen was doing
q drowning scene.
Great acting! Great acting. Colleen!" APP
plauded her director who saw the little bubbles
come frothng up on the pool.
But Bob from above saw that 1t wasn't acting
at all Water was. running down the stars
throat and her wide eyes were staring.
He leaped feet first. evening clothes top hat
and all from the balcony into the pool, went
straight to the bottom, where he executed
kick that sent him flying upward. On the way
he grabbed Colleen and threw her on tn bank.
Man you're crazy" shouted the crew, and
would have mobbed him, but when they saw
that Colleen unconscious they applauded
instead.
1t is possible. however, for an extra to be too
heroic.
In one picture the script required horses and
wagons to cross q treacherouS stream. Cow
boys were stationed at points out Of camera
range to rescue any who might not make head
way against the torrent. Since these rescuers
were men who knew their business casualties
were reported.
Among the cowboys who joined the movies
IN Oregon for this sequence was chap dressed