CANADIAN QUINTUPLETS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 1 February 1936, Page 4

CANADIAN QUINTUPLETS

PAID £SO A MINUTE

TJIEIR FORTUNE NOW £50,000

CALANDER (Ontario), sth December

r ['h e Dionne quintuplets, who art need IS months, made their debut as screen stars to-day when they appeared "oil location” at 'the Dafoe Hospital here, converted temporarily into a modern pi, lure studio. After Dr A. R. Dafoe, their physician nail satisfied himself that none of the visitors was suffering from colds or was otherwise capable of passing on infection to the priceless infants, Henry Khun the Hollywood, director, with players, technicians, and cameramen, was introduced to the quintuplets in the playroom, where they passed the morning in getting acquainted with the children preparatory to filming the opening scene.

STRICT RIT!ULA'ITONS Tin. quintuplets thus worked for their living for the first time to-day at the rate of something like £SO a minute between them. First, shots were taken of an “altgurgiing” film to he called “'the Country Doctor.wliich deals with the upbringing of the “quins.” under Dr Dafoe. 'there was deep snow round the hospital when Jean Hersholt, the Hollywood actor, and Dorothy Peterson, who plays the part of a nurse in the film, arrived with other members of the company. 'the Quins’ salary of £IO,OOO £2OOO for each, was deposited before the cameras Were set up. The liltn party was*-obliged to listen attentively to Dr Dafoe’s recital of the strict regulations, under which the filming of the babies is permitted, one hour being the outside limit of the Quins’ working day. The doctor issued a warning that he would call a halt if he thought the babies were becoming too tired. JTe arranged a blue gelatine filter to protect their eyes from the blinding light and before the party was permitted to enter the room a nurse sprayed the noses of all visitors. CAMERAMEN WEAR MASKS Dr Dafoe insisted that the cameramen should wear masks. The first scene of the film shows Miss Peterson dressing the babies. The “doctor” (Mr Hersholt) arrives and decides to help her and provides an amusing spectacle as the babies resist his attempt's to ' put in their clof lies.

A brief second scene shows the “doctor” seated on the flooi playing with the babies, who have added to other distinctions that of being the world's youngest screen actresses. Their joint fortune with the £IO,OOO is now approximately £50,000.

N.S.W. Orchestra May Tour N.Z-

There seems every possibilty of New Zealand being visited by the New South Wales State Orchestra, according to a statement made by Mr H. Gladstone Hill, of Christchurch, and formerly of Hamilton. Mr Hill was the organiser and manager for the tour of the New South Wales State Orchestra in 1920, under the direction of Henri Verbugghen. During last- week three representatives of the Sydney Conservatorium were in Christchurch and Professor Frank Hutchens and Professor Roland Foster discussed the prospect of another tour with Mr Hill, who then spent Saturday morning in consulta-1 lion with the ‘director of the Conser- | vatorium, Dr E. Bainton. Dr Bainton will conduct the summer school for j music teachers at Wellington. Commenting on his conversation with Dr Bainton, Mr Hill said that the director considered the time opportune I for another visit, and as the orchestra 1 was playing very well and had re-es-tablished itself in the public interest. there should he no reason why another tour should not lie arranged. The tour was likely to take place in the September vacation of this year.