davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

aristocratie cousins.
Jones will not mind the following story:
One day a "quickie" producer called him up.
Got story?" he asked.
sure! What kind of story?"
Logging camp story
That's funny" said Jones. Il Just blocked
enc out"
What had In mind" went on the pro-
ducer, was this: The wealthy lumberman dies
and his son comes home from college to run
the business. That puts the foreman's nose O1t
Of joint and he becomes the villain
And the girl-the heroine-the foFemanS
daughter!"
Exactly" said the producer. What are you
laughing about?"
why, that's my story" said Jones.
How soon can you get it over?"
I'm an hour and a half" Jones hung up
the receiver and then called his wife sue"
said he, II just got an order to write story
Ideas count most in picture creation. have
spoken of the idea Matched by Messrs. Sehenck
and Berlin in a Turkish bath. That very same
day brother producer offered Schenck $780,
600 for play he owned. Schenck let the play
go at that price, but he would not have parted
with the idea. The other studio probably
wanted that play so badly because it fitted
star. Which brings up another point.
One of the main causes of strain between the
writing machine and the department of proouc-
ton is the effort to 1T vehicles to the stars and
cast The star system has been a matter OF
stormy argument since the halcyon days OF
Lillian Russell, and while it is killed of every
year IN solemn interviews, it goes merTily On
and seemingly viii flourish forever.
OF the 60 or more writer's on studio staff.
just a few DO most Of the work. There are
maryland some Of considerable renown-om
short options Of three and six months The
options are often patiently renewed It -
hoped they will ring the bell-some bell In the
mean time the wheel horses-the adaptable
abilities-earry the overload I know Of one
writer, two years IN Hollywood who has yet to
play his third game Of golf, and who considers
it an occasion to greet his family at dinner.
The finished and acceptable script of pic
tre story may be glimpsed in two ways
If adaptation of novel, it is a sort Of
mosaic, cIeverly constructed pattern of many
large and tiny bits In which the story and its
figures stand forth interviewer with many pieces
of color essential to the entire story
Again, as q whole, 1t is a sort of emotional
overtone Of the novel, short story play. OF
all the elements Of successful picture writing.
the ability to arouse emotion stands foremost;
and for the simple reason that most all people
want emotional appeaI Some want timeli-
ness, some youth, some grandeur-but all want
enotion-that - the main string on The
writer's bow; TO make II vibrate Is his real job.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

It would seem that most every writer IN the
world obeyed the clarion can Of Hollywood,
especially the recent one that went forth when
the ''talkies'' came, and which echoed to New
York and On to villas in Spain and fats in
London More Of these later recruits have gone
back than have stuck it out however. One
studio has retained but three Of its New York
imports
why did they give up?" I asked one who
had made good.
"SnootineSS, mostly" he replied. '"They
came out here with the idea, for some reason
or another, that pictures were beneath them.
The very fact that such large salaries were
offered them seemed to increase their disdain.
ITO me It IS ineomprehensible. A famous
novel viii sell, say, to 100000 people, a number
no larger than the weekly attendance at two
large picture theaterS IF that novel is skill
fully put into picture it will be shown to
$l5,Oo0,oO0. Which effort at expression, may
I ask, is the more inspiring?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

It have struggled to adopt some of theSa
famous novels. When I finished, 9o-odd Der
cent of the book was thrown aside and the re-
mainder was just an idea, not remarkable
one at that-not as good as many that jump
out of studio story conferences, or the one that
Irving Berlin and Joe Schenck fought out in
the hot room of Turkish bath and which
William Anthony Mcclure wrote out for DOUG
las Fairbanks Reaching for the Moon
I have done all kinds Of writing. approach
each specially with respect for its pecuiarities
and desire to master them Perhaps there Is
the answer-adaptabiity. But I wish to say
this: OF all the writing trades I've tackled, this
enc Of the pictures is imme asurably the hard
est, the most exacting-and yet the most en-
ticing."
But
L don't like it," says another fiction writer,
quite as well known in the magazine world
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

It is hess that picture-writing technique reaches
its fine point
All along the extensive paths OF novel writing
have been changed into the short cuts of pic
talre expression. For instance, the girl who has
married the hero finds herself wondering about
his past. There many whispers, in fact,
and much mystery.
Now the novel drop its thread and go
back abruptly and leisurely into story OF the
heros earlier life. But the modern picture must
snap into it and tell it all quickly and wildly
while it moves swiftly along its main path OF
action, Dialogue is rosorted to to do the trick.
The young wife's relatives are in room dis
cussfng the husband, who is away on mys-
terious trip She enters suddenly and confronts
them The duel of words begins
do you know tllis?" says one. And this?"
adds another. And thus, in minute or SO of
sharp tense words, accompanied by action and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29


book publishing field there is sharp elassihca-
ton Of product. We have tabloids and con-
sentative organs; dime novels and essays; mems
magazines and womens magazines; class and
trade publications; something for the lowbFow,
the highbrow and the intermediate brow; for
the country and the city, the home and the
train, the adult and the child.
But the $4,000 theaters of this country
with the exception Of a group Of newsreel
theaters recently established a very few that
show only foreign-made pictures and some
crossroads houses that want shoot-'em-up
westerns-run on the same 500 feature pic
lures produced yearly; and thus, all together,
they aim to please a weekly audience esti-
mated at 100000 900 people.
Most any experienced craftsman's idea of just
how to please the huge composite audience is
likely to deserve serious attention. Is it
to be wondered that a story conference SOUNDS,
from the outside, like genuine prizefght?
The film executive with his years pro-
gram firmly in mind sticks to this and to
past and proven standards; the supervisor
or associate producer knows-or should know
the selling values Of the box Office; the di-
rector thinks both are crazy. And looking
askanee at all three, and at each other, are
the writer's, inevitably specialists in some
branch Of the writing business noyelists,
short-stery writers, scenar1sts, dramatic critics.
playwTights, sports writer's, ace reporters, etc.
The writer group IN most any studio is, day
In and out in a state of seething revolution.
They are fighting, of course for mental indie
pendence; they just can't stand the diction of
"You must do this" and "You can't do that"
In planning the nice new building I have re-
ferred to, the studio executives probably felt
that the safest Office for writer would be a
padded CELL Failing this, they fen back upon
psychological treatment The fine Offices
obviously designed to be soothing. There are
soft chairs and pleasing pictures; hanging Stats
on the windows, with curtains delicate In hue
and texture to temper the California sunshine;
the rugs are thick and cool IN color. A radio
can dispense faint music.
Consider, too, the job Of organizing and
keeping organized IN one writing machine
these various, and generally temperamental,
writing specialists. It is not strange that
ridiculous things happen.
An accomplished playwright from New York
was working at one studio, without contract
but with acceptable salary Of $3.50 week.
He was paired of with a scenarist and the two
became studio pals. One morning the play
wright heard that his friend was to be let out,
and he hurried TO the front Office to plead for
him.
AS he argued feverishly the production execu-
tive acquired sick1y grin. "Mr. Smith," he
Interrupted. Pardon me-er-it isn't Mr..
Brown who is leaving US. It's you"
~oh," gasped the playwright, matching the
others grin. ut would seem, then. that have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

Inc salaries are hne-but
writer's gold I cab it. For
those who dig for it and ike
the digging-finel I don't.
To me it's like FOOLS gold
iron pyrites, which looks like
gold, but doesn't assay out.
I'd rather be my own boss,
write my own waY for peo-
pie who understand and &C.
cept my way, even though I
earn one dollar for every
i've they pay cut here. It's
. relief to get back to my
own"
A MONG the ace writer's
in Hollywood a colorful
team is the one of William
SIavens McNutt and Grover
Jones. McNutt, before he
went to Hollywood, had to
his credit several hundred
magazine stories; Jones,
who has yet to write q
magazine story, has done
the stories of several hun-
dred pictures. Between them
they know a good deal about
the pictures that please mil
lions.
Jones is wholly of the
studios. He doesn't hesitate
to ten you that when his
family moved West, about
the same time the movies
arrtved-they were from
Terre Haute, Ind.-his first
studio job was that Of paint
ing the outdoors on studio
canvas.
He had good training
like many another produce
ton executive-in Poverty
Row, a former section oG
Hollywood, where horse
operas" (cow-puncher pic
tures) and "quickies" in
general were turned cut in
an Incredibly short time at
a cost of under $4,000
Compare this with the pres-
eent-day average of $685.
000). And many a "quickie,@
It must be said was as good
a nict1lrR as some of IN
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

eD1OtHOU, tic lillllJt GdLlG AdC6S
of the husbands past are
covered without slowing up
the picture, which is one
thing audiences win not for
give.
A minor incident is the
arrival of wallpaper in the
little frontier town. 1t gets
much and creditable space
in the leisurely moving
novel. On the headlong
screen, however, it is just a
fash of action and words.
But it is adequately reg
istered.
The picture writer's nefn-
esis is film foOtage. He has
50 much and no more. Into
it he must pack all the
color, action, emotion, by
play and Characterization Of
the story, which II he be-
heves in it, must not lose
one drop of its red blood.
Furthermore, if he is wise,
he viii keep some of that
footage up his sleeve for the
always unforeseen happen
ings in production.
All picture-story jobs do
not progress with the def
mite routine of "CimarrOn.
For one thing, it is of the
class known as special pic
lures, and is given perqui-
sites of time and care not
granted to ordinary pictures.
Again, "Cimarron' was a
one-man writing job, which
permits of more orderliness
than the collaboration sys-
tenn in vogue in some Of the
studios.
At its best, however, story
preparation is hectic work.
It could not well be other
wise.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

Tor one-and the main
thing, pictures are
Straining to do the SEEM
tngIy impoSsible-to meet
the tastes Of all people. In
the newspaper. magazine and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29

don't like it," says another fiction writer,
quite as well known in the magazine world,
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
Congo Young Folks
Organised Society
Will Hold Weekly Meetings-Rev.
Morgan to Start Series of
Weekly Lectures

Last Sunday evening the young
people Of the Congregational
Church organized themselves into a
Young Peoples League. The follow
ing officers were elected:
President-Miss Alto LeSuer.
Vice President - Miss Dorothy
Walker.
Sec.-Treas.-Clark Barry.
The League will meet every Sun
day evening in the social rooms OF
the church for a discussion Of the
problems confronting modern
youth. Young people of High
School age are eligible for member
ship.
Among some of the projects un-
dertaken by the League will be the
sponsoring of series of popular
Sunday evening lectures by Rev. c.
j. Morgan on "The Message of Main
Street" Mr.. Morgan will deliver his
first lecture Of the series next Sun
day evening on the topic 1.-THE
Church on Main Street." The young
people will take charge of the SER
vice.
Next Sunday during the regular
morning service the first monthly
youth service will be held in the
church auditorium. These youth
services will be a union of the
church and Sunday School services
where the youth Of the church will
conduct the service and where par
ents and children will attend church
in family groups.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
Osavald Sieben Takes
Involuntary Ice Bath
Thrown Into Sank Lake by Ice
Saving Rig Friday-Back
on Job

Last Friday afternoon Oswald
Sieben was one of crew of men
assisting H. F. Bastien get his win
ter crop of ice for the Peoples Ice
Co., out Of Sank Lake.
Oswald was operating the ice saw,
the motive power for which is a
Ford tractor. While backing the
saw up, the rig became momentar-
lily clogged and the leg of Oswald's
trousers caught on the side Of the
saw and he was pulled into the lake
with the rig. With severe jerk he
succeeded in extricating himself
from the machine and began hun
ting for way out.
He said he had always been told
that when under water a white
space would indicate that there
was the way out. Practically all of
the space he could see was white.
He discovered black space, stuck
his hand up and was pulled out
without serious damage.
It took the wrecker from the
Chevrolet Garage to bring the saw
ing rig to the surface. 1t landed in
about nine feet Of water.
Oswald was back on the job
again the next day. Mr.. Bastien has
his ice house about filled. The ice
this year is % inches thick, and of
very good quality, Mr.. Bastien says.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
Men Arrested, Charged
With Passing Bad Checks
Claim Is Made In Minneapolis That
Sank Centre Residents were
Among Victims.

Minneapolis, Jan. 20-A systema-
tic looting of Minnesota and North
Dakota stores through the passing
of bogus checks drawn on a nom
existent Minneapolis bank was
revealed here today with the ar
rest Of two men by deputy sher-
ifs.
The two were held in the county
Jail.
One Is youth of Is, the other is
"a years old. The youth said he
was from Lincoln, Neb., and his
companion gave a Pittsburgh,
Kan. address.
Stores in more than a score Of
towns have been victimized. John
Mcclure head Of the sheriffs
crime division, and Jack Kilt
ridge, his assistant, announced.
The pair was arrested when the
suspicious Of resident near Rob
binsdale were aroused. The two
men had stopped a high powered
car on the highway and were
changing license plates.
Just as they ripped of a pair of
Iowa plates, the deputies, appraised
of their action, drove up and arrest
ed them.
Search of the car revealed four
books Of printed check forms.
They were ostensibly checks Of a
hide and fur company and drawn
on the Central Bank Of Mime
apolis.
The captives said they had driven
down from Devils Lake, N. D. A
number Of checks were passed In
Devils Lake, Fargo and Wahpeton;
N. D., and in Graceville, Wheaton,
Herman, Morris, Benson, st. Cloud,
Sank Centre, Fergus Falls, Wa
dena, Little Falls, Elbow Lake, An
Okla and Hawley, Mimi.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
The District Standings
WHIST TOURNEY

A Whist tournament, American
Legion VS.. Community Club MEM
bers, will be held in the Commun-
ity Club rooms Monday evening,
Jan. 26. The players on the losing
side will be required to pay for the
lunch. All those who play whist
and are members Of the above
mentioned organizations are urged
to come whether they have had an
invitation or not.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
S. c. Farmers Shipping
Assn. to Meet Saturday
Leasing, Purchase or Discarding
Mill Will Be Discussed-Elect
Two Directors

Saturday afternoon at 100 o'clock
the annual meeting Of the Sank
Centre Shipping Association will
be held at the Sank Centre Com
m.unity Club rooms.
The terms Of Frank Minette and
Adam Orth expire. These gentle
men have given the organization
splendid service in the past and
should be reelected.
For some months the Shipping
Association has been operating the
plant Of the Central MINI. Power
& Milling Co AT Saturdays meet
ing the stockholders viii discuss
and decide whether they shall pur-
chase the property, continue leas-
ing or abandon the project entire.
ly.
Mr.. Edgerly, Of the Farmers
Union Live Stock Commission Com
pany, and DR.. j. A. Dubois, pioneer
friend of the cooperative move
ment will speak.
Every stakeholder should make 1t
a point to attend this meeting.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
Parents Urged to Yarn
Riddles ofLake Danger

It has been brought to the at
tentiOn of the Herald that sew
eral men, who have fish houses
on Sank Lake, are not giving
proper attention to the cover
ing of holes left In the ice,
when moving their fish houses
to a new location. It Is under
stood that a law is in force
stating that every fisherman
must see that the hole left
when he Is through fishing Is
properly closed up or warn
ing sign be put up.
Several fish houses have been
located at the park and this
brings a new danger to the
Riddles, who cross the lake to
get to the skating rink. Al
though the men, who have
houses at the park, are giving
proper attention to the covering
Of the holes, yet there is con-
siderable danger and parents
should warn the children to
keep a sharp lookout for the
holes while skating or crossing
the lake. a
Every means of precauti0n
should be taken to protect the
kids on the lake and the men
who have fish houses at the
park are urged to use greater
care than ordinarily in closing
or fixing the holes left In the
ice.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
SHIPSTEAD, KVALE
ARE THE KEY MEN
With Parties in Congress
Equally Divided They Are
COgs in Organization
STAND Is NOT KNOWN
Are in Position to Land Some
Very Fine Committee APP
pOintmnts

Washington, Jan. 19-The Farm
er-Labor party in congress both
members-is sitting in the anxious
corner these days.
It's not so pleasant as it might
appear to hold potential balance
of power between two powerful
political parties which will be so
evenly divided in the next congress
that they will be maneuvering con-
tinually forever for little advantage.
That little advantage may be in
the two six-foot Norwegians who
make up the Farn:er-Labor party
Senator Henrik Shipstead, who
talks with an Irish brogue and
used to be a dentist and the
strapping, handsome Paul John
Kvale, who has done nearly every
thing during his "a years.
Though Republicans, at the
present count, have hairline ma
jority in both house and senate, it
may be that something will happen
to make the vote Of the two Min
nesotans, one in the house and
the other in the senate, the decid-
ing ones as to which party shall
organize and control each body.
In that event, the Farmer-Labor
party might be said to be organic
ing congressman that's a respon-
sible, delicate and somewhat diff
cult job.
Neither Shipstead nor Kvale will
tell yet what they will do-if they
know, themselves.
They say it will depend on cir
cumstances which they cannot pre-
dict and over which they have no
control. Beyond the question Of
issues and general party policy
there Is the personal element.
Both have many friends in the
other two parties.
Kvale, despite his youth, is a
veteran around congress, having
served for a long time as secretary
to his father, the late Representa-
tive o. ]. Kvale, a Lutheran min
lister.
cit would be hard for me, with
so many friends on both sides of
ShC diSiS, hVdIc Sttlu.
The young Minnesota represen-
tative thinks too much Importance
is attached to his position. Mod
estly he says he does not think he
should be as important as he is
represented to be. But there is
no avoiding the conclusion he may
become very important, with the
lineup for the next congress stand
ing now at 218 Republicans; 214
Democrats and himself.
Shipstead is the elder in the
Farmer-Labor party. He is so. His
previous political experience was
as mayor of his home town of
Glenwood and term in the state
legislature. He disposed Of the
question Of what he would do
soon after the returns came in
last November.
That Is a partisan question" he
said. II have never been ruled by
partisanship. cannot state now
what I will do in a matter which
may be radically different in a few
months from what it is today"
He Is more likely to be a decisive
factor than the branch Of the par
>ty in the house, as the senate line
up now stands 48 Republicans, Al
Democrats and himself.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
VIM. ARNDTss FATHER DIES

Charles Arndt, father Of VIM. p
Arndt, well known Sank Centre res.
ident, was found dead in bed at his
home in Pine Island, Goodhue
County, Mimi, the morning Of Jan.
z. The gentleman was 76 years of
age and was one Of the pioneer res
idents Of Goodhue county. He had
visited in this city on several occa-
sions, the last time being when he
went deer hunting with his son,
w. p. Arndt. He was buried in Pine
Island. His son, Of this city, attend
ed the funeral.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
MelrOse andLOcaLs
Tangle IN Fast Game

Friday evening the Sank Centre
High School basketball quint tang
led with their tradional rivals, Mel
rose, district champions for 1880.
Neither team had made an inn
pressive showing SO far this season
and both were out to score a vic
tory.
From every angle it was the most
thrilling played on the Melrose floor
this season. The contest although
hard fought, was clean and splen-
did craftsmanship was evident on
every play.
Sank Centre lead at the end of
the first quarter, g to 2; at the half
they had an 8 to. 6 advantage. Mel
rose scored 6 points to the locals
2 in the third period, securing a II
to 10 lead. The final quarter was
fast and furious, the Main Street
ers piling up six points to Melrose
four. This tied the score at the
end Of the regular playing period
16 all.
Neither team was able to score
In the first overtime period. Early
in the last overtime period, Hamii-
ton, Sank CenSre's,5 star forward
was forced to leave the game be-
cause he had four personal fouls
This appeared to take the neart out
Of the locals. Melrose was quick
to take advantage Of the condition
and scored two baskets and a free
throw, the final score being q to
II in favor of Melrose.
The high scorer in the game was
Kennedy, new forward who re-
Gently became eligible and was
playing his first game for Melrose,
He scored four, one-half Of his
teams total baskets.
For Sank Centre Hamilton, Eek
berg and Borgmann each looped a
brace Of baskets. Borgmann was
high scorer for the locals, annexing
a free throw for a total of five
points. Guard Domke helped the
locals along by scoring two free
throws.
Both teams played their best
game Of the season and there was
little to choose between them. Sank
Centre was outnumbered in the
rooters section, Of course, but the
loyal gang from this city made
their presence felt in a vigorous
manner.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
REELECTED DIRECTOR

Ben r. Otte. vice president Of the
Agricultural Society, was reelected
director Of the Minnesota Fedora
ton Of County Fairs, representing
the Sixth Congressional district, at
the meeting held in st. Paul last
week. Mr.. Otte is one Of the live
wire members Of the state organize
ton and his ability is recognized
by his conferees.