Evening star., 1944-08-27
Former Dentist
Cinema
Real Medium
By Harold Hefernox

.Keal Medium
By Harold He0ernax.
HOLLYWOOD.
They've sprung from the penny
arcades. the tailor shops, ladies'
ready -to-wear and even the Junk
yards, these colorful tycoons who Sit
at the controls In Hollywood today,
but Producer Edward A. (Doc)
Golden Is the first to forswear dem
tistry for film making.
Doc Golden is news because he
ran . shoestring investment into
one Of the biggest profit -making
pictures Hollywood has known in
several years, and because he's about
to venture forth with another cell
luloid capsule with the same tyne of
appeal.
Golden is the man who sold RKO
on the idea Of letting him produce
"Hitler's Children" after every stu
dio btgwig in town had laughed him
OF. It was made at q cost of
slightly more than 31eO 900 (the
average feature film now runs q
budget Of at least three-quarters
OF . million) and RKO is still tab
bing up the returns, which, to date.
are exceeding 5000 900. For dol
lars invested, no picture in screen
history has ever returned such a
mighty profit.
Doc Golden's second message
will be on the screens soon. It is
THE Master Race" the story of
the problems of the people Of a lit
tie Belgian town in the postwar
world and Of the plans of the Prus-
sian Junkers caste to 60 under
ground in defeat and prepare for
World War III, which they do not
intend to lose. He is confident 1t
will be a timely subject and that
1t will equal the attendance marks
set by "Hitler's Children"
Even Uses Own Money.
I'm so sure Of It," he says, that
I've put my own money into it
And when a fellow does that in
Hollywood he must be confident
Usually q producer likes to use
other peoples money to make pic
lures"
In little less than a year, Golden
has become one of the most dis
cussed behind the e-scenes figures ir
the film capital. He's become al.
most legendary character in eco.
nomics, astonishing a town where
extravaganza Is the rule. Any nit.
wit producer can make profit or
a movie, but too often his cost sheet
runs very close to the gross figures
For instance, the head of a big stu.
dio bought costly stage property
several years ago and spent more
than two millions turning 1t into 8
film. Criticized in some quarters
for his profuse spending, he boastec
that the picture had made a profit
This was true. The auditors report
showed it had cleaned up a net
Of exactly $143.28.
But getting back to Doc, as hi
is known to his intimates. Colder
is a rotund, jolly fellow with 9
f1orid face and tousled gray hair
what there is of it. People wh<
see him on sets are positive he i!
comedian they have seen on thu
screen.
Doc had had his ups and downs
has been rich and poor during hi
30 years in the Aim business. H,
was at particularly low ebb wher
he made "Hitler's Children" Fol
weeks he had to scratch hard t.
meet office expenses.
Several deals to finance the pic.
ture fell through at the last min.
ute" Golden said. Finally, / wa.
all set-or thought so at least
Everybody was ready for a start tn,
following morning. In less than
hours that deal fell through also.
RKO Child Came to Aid.
II was desperate. went t,
Charlie Koerner, who had just beer
made general manager of RKO, ant
told him my troubles. He studiet
my script and went over the Who'll,
project. He patted me on the shoul.
der and asked me how much
wanted at the moment. told him
SIS 900 would put me through thu
start and he personally saw to il
that I got that sum. Then I made
a quick trip to New York and or
the strength of Koerner's recon-.
mendation was able to borrow
enough to completely finance tn.
picture"
Golden occupies suite on the tor
floor of the highest building on thu
RKO lot, where he can look ovel
at Paramount and check up or
what's going on If he so desires. HI
wasn't in when we entered so w
sat down and looked around at hi!
modest furnishings. Its barren sim.
plicity reminded us of the Dairy
Zanuck and Louis B. Mayer Offices
by contrast. Presently Doc opened
door at one side and entered dry
ing his hands on a towel.
I'm for the capitalistic system
he said with a grin, "as long a.
capitalists can have bathrooms in
their office suites. It wasn't like
that when was a dentist"
That's why Golden is known A
DOC" today. He graduated from
Tufts College in 1909 and started
practicing dentistry in an ONCE on
fremont street in Boston.
Dentistry in those days" Golden