Evening star., 1937-06-20

man to the floor and handcuffed him.
Then Mcdowell took deep breath,
went back to his desk and told a good
looking and sirenish young woman
that he was very sorry but he could
not permit her to 60 through the
studios. He smiled. She left. Nc
Dowell tainted.
Every few days, an incident some
thing like that occurs at the gates OF
some Hollywood studio If it isn't q
wild man with knife or gun, it's a
girl with Mysteries and an overpower-
ing movie ambition.
Hollywood's studios have built a
Frankenstein. They have made the
public intensely movie-conscious-
much, in fact, that thousands lose
their hearts and their heads when they
approach a studio or star. Many q
male star can recall with a shudder a
time or two when his clothes have
been torn from his body because the
fans became too wild in their fan
mania. Ask Clark Gable and Robert
Taylor!
Visitors by the hundreds of thou
sands swarm into Hollywood each
Summer. Some are wealthy, the ma
Jority are average citizens, but all
seem to be ardent movie fans. And
with each drove come the chiselers,
those who seek something for nothing
or have something to sell the stars;
their talents, shirts, ties, or desire to
crash the studios.
That's why they film pictures be-
hind great walls; that's why, behind
these walls, uniformed police. num-
bering 2,500 and trained in the gentle
art OF chisel-chasing, jiu jitsu, marks
manship, belligerency and diplomacy,
maintin a 24-hour vigil.
According to Mcdowell, every
studios No. l rule for gatemen is
insult nobody: remember, he's q
movie fan or he wouldn't be here"
So, to the meek visitor, the gateman
Is pleasant, but to the fighting guest,
the pompous lady or gent, he be-
comes bit hard. Mcdowell says he
can spot crasher yards away, just
by his walk or the gleam in his eve.
Some OF the boys behind the re-
ception desks are former chiefs of
police, detectives or sheriffs. Others
were officers in the A. E. F. All are
duly sworn members of the Los An
| geies, Burbank or Culver City Police
Departments and undergo the same
training as the radio policemen.
CAPT. TAYLOR e. DUNCAN Of Co.
lumbia Pictures says his worst
encounters were with an insane man.
and. three days later, with a man 50
intoxicated he wanted to kill all people
engaged In film-making. Edward DON
nelly OF R.-K.-O. was literally walked
over by another man. But the visitor
strolled into a clenched fist. Out at
Warner Bros A. S. Leduc was intimi-
dated by man with q ferocious-
looking English bulldog. This chap
started to walk past Leduc and when
the latter tried to stop him threatened
to "sic" the animal on him.
Il haven't been a dog fancier 10
years for nothing" said Leduc Eng
lish bulls are the most gentle OF all
breeds"
When a psychopathic case ap-
preached Mcdowell at his Paramount
desk one day this Spring he was re-
fused admittance. He became violent.
Mac left his seat for half an hour
and talked gently to the man. He
went away thoroughly calmed.
You can't get away with gate
crashing in Hollywood, these officers
emphatically assert. Some have tried
it once, but only once. These police
know every alibi there is to know.
In response to the question, What
would be the easiest way for a person
to crash the studios?" the gatemen
gave the following replies:
Henry Keating, Metro Goldwyn-
Mayer. If were trying to get into a
studio Id phone an executive, tell him
what I wanted and ask him to leave
an okay at the desk. Sometimes this
| works"
Capt. Taylor Duncan, Columbia
Maybe by climbing over back fence
If you can stand barbed wire. But
that's something I wouldn't try. Not
these days. Fifteen years ago it was
easy"
Chief E. w. Carey, Universal: "Some
have tried to get In by talking to a
director or star outside and then walk
ing In with him. The best stunt
think would be to hire a fire engine
get load Of friends and chug up tc
the gate with siren screaming. But
that's lot Of bother. Not worth the
effort and money"
Edward D0nnellu R.K.O. NWall ]