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Behind the Closed Doors of Hollywood Some of its Secrets.Exposed. What lies behind the closed doors rf Hollywood ? What mystery and romance is behind those doors, un suspected by even the most observant studio visitor? " Strangers may 'see the great sets, the stars at work, lavish productions in the making. They may even get intimate glimpses of their favorites. . But what "the yisitorsr see-,cinstitutes only about ten per cent. of the vital functions of a major studio. The rest, mys terious and unknown, takes place be hind barred doors, either for reasons of secrecy, precaution or safety. At the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer stu dios alone, locked behind concrete tombs or in burglar-proof vaults, are guns and ammunition sufficient to armnt a regiment, sketches of new fashions, celluloid negatives, great bars of pure silver, priceless jewel lery, and rare old manuscripts. In a low steel-lined arsenal, crouched behind the buzzing activ ity of studio sound stages,- carefully indexed and accounted for, are fire arms, sabres, knives and daggers from the four corners of the earth-. every kind of weapon known to nlan. As. properties, these are in constant demand. The studio arsenal is of vital importance in picture making, but because of the obvious danger it must be securely' locked to all stran gers. Any studio visitor fortunate en ough to penetrate the luxurious de signing rooms where Adrian works might see, if he peeked behind a screen, a squat, heavy-looking object painted an innocent blue. Yet in this safe are hundreds of sketches of gowns which wil he worn by Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow and many other stars in their new productions. As novelty and originality in styles are an important part of the screen's stock in trade, these sketches are most carefully guarded. The .dressmakers who make them.in cloth. and fur work behind closed doors and are sworn to secrecy. Even "still" pictures .of the gowns, photo graphed on the star during produc tion of the picture, are locked away until shortly before release date. Only. in this way can "style pirates" bhe forestalled. A great bank vault with a gleanm ing time-lock insures the safe-keep ing of dozens of long bars of solid silver. Sold periodically to the II.S.A. mint, the silver is sifted bit by bit from the dark tanks in the film developing room. The silver hars, dully gleaming in their velvet covered table, represent the passage of thous ands of feet of celluloid film through the developing tanks, where the pre cious siftings are washed off front the exposed celluloid. The laboratory as well as the at tendant vault is closely sealed. No one is allowed admittance as the film runs through, and it is a delicately adjusted and entirely mechanical process. A door left slightly ajar or an inadvertently snapped light switch could ruin photographed nega tives of scenes which are very expen sive. Not far from 'these barred doors are long double rows of cement and steel vaults, like crypts, about nine feet square. Locked inside is the master print of every motion pic ture ever made by M.G.M. These doors are opened only when extra prints must be made from the orig inal negative. In the case of such great successes as "The Big Parade," "Beon Hur," "Min and Bill," "Trader Horn," and others, prints are still requested for returnl engagements from time to time. Thus damage to an original negative would represent a stagger ing and Irreparable loss. That is

tditi.eason for the massive lock on da door. The jewellery 'chests are kept bo hind securely locked doors in an up stairs corner of M.G.M.'s wardrobe department.. Here are kept the gems, brooches and metals worn by the stars in their various' pictures. Oni? the department head has a.key to e ter here. In; the research department, sel idom seen by studio visitors, is another spfei In this are stored rare liter stWy treasures, stacks of them. A Pow visitors- suspect the activity .behind the great closed doors of,the dynamo house, covering. turrbines powerful enough toilluminate an on tire city. The doors are closed here, however, for protection. An uninformed. person, wandering through the steel and copper sanc tum,; could easily become burned to it cinder in a flash of man-made light ning., The powerful dynamos are liecessary to run the myriad. studio lnmps, which must not deviate in in tensity at the expense of costly .scenes on each sound stage. These, then, are the closed doors of Hollywood ; andl behind them are mystery andt romance, all combininig and contributing to the strange busi ness of manufacturing shadows. Host Holbrook says: Holbrook's Pure Malt Vinegar is clear, brilliant and mellow. Ah I It is a wonder ful brew.

Digitisation generously supported by
State Library of Victoria
Digitisation generously supported by

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