Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-08
HOLLYWCOD.

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Let's gather around and listen to-
one OF the most conservative vet
Grams Hollywood has ever developed
- fellow who has photographed
virtually all the beauties Of movie
town over the past 40 years, and yet
can't set forth list Of the 10 most
beautiful women Of that period. All
he can muster are nine!
BY name this ultraconservative
is Tony Claudio. BY trade he's q
cameraman -one Of Hollywood's
finest. The reason we believe he
should make the headlines today is
that he'll shortly celebrate his 10th
anniversary as q top cameraman.
Tony started on November IL, 1904.
Ills current assignment, photograph
ing Hedy Lamar and Paul Lukas In
RKO's Experiment Perilous," is his
/ ,025th picture, Tony estimates.
Yet, In 40 years Of peering through
his finder at most of the women who
have formed Hollywood's great
glamour parade, Claudio Is unable to
name 10 stars he considers really
beautiful. Far too many of those
so-called glamour gals were really
|phonies, he hints. Asked to select
q list Of the 10 most beautiful of all
time, Tony pondered over his records
10 full evening and appeared the
next day shaking his head.
"Mebbe nine, I think" Tony said
But on that stuff I don't like stick
ing my neck out"
His Al -fiyme Tan Min.
With some trepidation, Claudio
herewith presents for the first time
his all-tisne all-American screen
beauty team, together with the par
ticular characteristic which, in his
estimation, renders the nominees
eligible:
/. Corinne Grifnth - Ethereal
beauty.
2. Norma Talmadge> = Classical
beauty.
8. Billie Dove-symmetry of fea-
lures.
4. Hedy Laparr-same as Billie
Dove.
5. Marion Davies-Loveliest skin.
6. Jean Harlow Voluptuous
beauty.
7. Ann Sheridan-Same as Jean
Harlow.
8. Joan LesEe-Vivacious beauty.
8. Merle Oberon-Exotic beauty.
You may differ with Tony on one
or all points, but it's tough to argue
with a fellow who's been photo
graphing the most beautiful of them
for as long as 40 years. His job was
to gild the lily II possible. He has
appraised them from every side
front and back and in the flesh and
on cenuloid.
Born in Rome in 1888, Tony be-
came a cameraman in Italy in 1904
came to America two years later anc
Immediately began making pictures
on Long Island. He came to Holly
wood in 1911, has since been rated
one Of the top men in his field. In
1896 he won the Academy Aware
for his camera work on Anthony
Adverse"
Il was photographing movie star,
before there were any stars" Ton,
states, reminding you that in thu
early days the film companies re.
fused to identify their leading play.
ers for fear Of arousing professional
jealousies and creating demands fol
bigger salaries.
He's an Artist in Light.
Nowadays the cameraman doesnr
even operate the movie camera. H,
"composes" the scene, works out tn,
mechanics of the shot, approves tn,
lighting, turns the camera over Il
an assistant and superintends tn,
whole business.
ut used to be-" Tony recalls, 'I't
get up early, check and load m,
camera, crank it all day, then TAXI
the film out and develop it at night
On the side, took pictures fol
theater lobby displays. was a very
busy guy"
When Gaudio started in movies
they were highly communal en-.
terprise. Everybody in the company
helped put up sets, paper the walls
move furniture, props and lights