Evening star., 1934-07-01

LUCE glarng lights forming large
square on high suspended parallels
underneath a studio stage,
covered with tropical scenery,
replica of a South Sea island
a palatial yacht at anchor in
a small bay . . hundreds of feet of wire
cables strewn the floor cameras
being placed at several vantage points
sound technicians testing microphones
. the chief electrician giving orders to
~gaffers" handling the lights on the high par
slels everything ready for shooting the
scene now save EN- this from the
chief electrician the huge glarmg lights
fade out . only couple burning to keep
the set from total darkness the director
rehearses his principals in their action and
dialogue they're ready hit EN-
the lights blaze again turn EN- over
the cameras start turning action
the scene is under way all eyes focused on
the principals and director
But are they the most interesting persons to
be found on a movie set? Of1hand one prob
ably would answer yes" At least they are
the ones in whom there is the most interest.
Almost the entire world eagerly awaits any
kind Of news regarding them-their romances,
what they eat for breakfast, how they play, and
SO on
CONSIDERABLE time spent around studios
~ reveals, however that the majority OF
really interesting persons are found IN the
ranks of the unknown extras.
The stars as a rule have travelled pretty
much in the same channels-stock companies,
vaudeville, Broadway and then the movies.
Extras, on the other hand, have been gathered
from all parts of the earth and from all walks
Of life.
few even are the stars OF yesterday, men
and women who played big part in creating
the picture industry when Hollywood was
small village and there really was romance in
making pictures.
young still in his early 3Os has
private income amounting to approximately
SIS 600 yearly from royalties on his inventions.
He is Leon Beaumon, son of John c. Beaumon,
an official of the United States Steel Corpora
tion. Young Beaumon holds the key patent on
neon lighting for moving vehicles, as well as
the patents ON several other articles in
use.
At the time of this interview he was decked
out in the garb of Egyptian guard in a mob
scene in Cleopatra Perhaps you wonder
why such a man should spend his time working
as a movie extra for IS Gay. To understand,
you must know Hollywood and know the faS-
cination of the picture business
There are persons in this world who find the
lure of the movies stronger than any other call.
They want to be part of the vast industry
even though their part is SO small as to bring
them no attention whatever.
smart young man with a good business head
and an inventive mind, he prefers the glamour
of the movies to sitting in business office or
toiling inventions. He doesn't expect to
be an extra always-in fact, he is quite sure
there are bigger things ahead. In the mean
time inventing simply is means OF passing
away idle hours
I'M THE same set, working as a Roman
~ general, was Col Nicholai Konovaloof, who
for several years was the representative of the
Russian volunteers of Gen. Deniken to the
British military forces.
His father Nicholai Konovaloof, ST., was
president of the supreme imperial court of Rus
sia before the revolution Young Konovaloof
was in the very midst of activities during the
revolution, as well in the World War.
Another of the Roman generals on that set
was Col Tim Lonergan, who served on Gen.
Pershings staff in France during the World
War.
eyes while sitting through Now I'll. Tell, by
Mrs Arnold Rothstein," you will see Alice CAL
houn at one time one of the best-known stars
in the business Miss Calhoun was one of the
stars with the old Vitagraph company, and as
such played an important part in making movie
history
Alice is married now and thought she had
given up trouping for good. In fact, she did
stay away from all studios for six years. but
the lure was too great. She finally succumbed.
And although she speaks only line or two
and is on the screen for only few seconds,
she was as nervous as debutante when she
stepped on the studio sound stage She even
had to learn how to apply makeup all over
again.
Although they weren't so well known, di-