Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-10
In Capitol Hi Operation
In CoptoI Hi Operation
Child Star Of Early Movies Nov Helps
Conqressmen Record Radio, TV Talks
By Betty Miles

Oy OStty WINES
The first child movie star in
the days when screens were si-
lent helps legislators report to
their constituents by radio. and
television today.
Helen Coar and her husband.
Robert. run the Joint Senate and
House Recording Facility, where
Congressman make tape record
ings for radio. and moving pic
lures for televiSion. From a small
beginning, it has grown in pop
ularity until it now occupies
several rooms on the House and
Senate sides of the Capitol, in
Guiding quarters for Aim devel-
oping.
First established by the Coars
on a private basis. it was taken
over by Congress in 1947 at
their request. The operation
pays for itself. Money is ap-
propriated for staff salaries-as
a matter of fact, a joint resolu-
ton of the House and Senate is
required for every new person
added to the staff-but the
legislators buy the tapes and
films. Often, more than one
copy is purchased for the various
stations in their home area.
The daughter of Gerald j.
Badgley, a pioneer in photo
graphic engineering, Mrs. Coar.
then Helen Badgley, began her
screen career at the age of 9
months, when a baby scheduled
to appear did not, and young
Miss Badgley was pressed into
service. She became the first
recognized child star in movies.
the Shirley Temple of her day.
She stayed in pictures. work.
ing steadily, until she was 9
years old.
I'm the days I was in motion
pictures there was no such thing
as a child labor law" Mrs. Coar
pointed out. The only time
children had to study was while
adults were rehearsing scenes.
This wasn't enough. When my
contract expired, my father
initiated the idea that I would
only do 2 pictures a year. This
was unheard Of. and the COM
pany wouldn't do it. So that
was the end of my career"
Mrs. Coar worked for the
Thanhauser Co. in New Rochelle.
N. Y. (she was known as the
''Thanhauser Kidlet"D, not far
from D. w. Grifith's operation
at Mamaroneck.
Silent films weren't as easy
as they look today" she said.
You had to learn the lines, at
least you did in the good COM
panies, because the audience
could read your lips"
Altogether, she appeared in
over 800 pictures, including the
first serial. Million Dollar Mys-
terry"
Old Films on N
All her activity isn't behind
the scenes on TV these days. in
cidentally. They're showing her
old pictures on television.
She found this out when Rep
resentative Howard H. Baker of
Tennessee called on her the
other day with newspaperman
from Knoxville. When the Con-
gresham mentioned that Mrs.
Coar had been in pictures, his
friend exclaimed, why, we saw
an old movie of yours, The MIL
lion Dollar Baby on our local
station the other night"
His children, he reported, had
been entranced, particularly his
2-year-old, and he requested
and got Mrs. Coar's signature to
take back to them.
So far her own children have
not seen any of her old films.
The COarS live at Coardial Acres,
at Fairfax Court House. Their
eight acres allow plenty of room
to play for their four children.
Bobby. 10; Helen, 9; Gail, 8. and
Jacqueline, S.
AS to the lawmakers movie
making. which is fairly new,
they're taking it in stride, Mrs.
Coar reports. AS a matter of
fact, they are more at home
before a camera than a mike
after two or three times.
i was amazed at that myself"
she said. But it's q funny thing
about TV. People are surprised
when they hear their voices for
the first time in recording, but
as a rule they're not startled by
their appearance, which they
have seen in a mirror many
times"
A room is set up where the
hlms are run of on a small
screen for the legislators, to
approximate the way they will
appear on televiSion screens.
Then, too. "all of them have
q natural ability to begin with
at this kind Of thing" she added,
cas- well as experience on the
platform. Some use notes or
teleprompters. but many prefer
20 speak extemporaneously."
Trumons Were Regulars
Many legislators have weekly
shows which they prepare here.
During his days in the Senate.
former President Truman often
had his daughter Margaret as a
partner on his show.
Forty-f1ve to so TV shows are
being filmed now, which are used