FIRE AT FILM STUDIO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRE AT FILM STUDIO.

actors dash to safety. MANY THRILLING ESCAPES. GAILY CLAD SPECTATORS. One of tiie fiercest and most spectacular fires seen in London for many years destroyed one of the Gainsborough Film studios in London a short while ago. The outbreak occurred while' the talking film, " The Valley of Death " —dealing with the Chargo of the Light Brigade at Balaclava—was being made, and actors and actresses, dressed in old-time costumes of soldiers and peasants, had to make a thrilling dash from the burning building. Within an hour the wholo premises wcrp destroyed. At (lie height of the fire a big chimney stack crashed through the roof into the interior of the studio. Three people were injured, including Mr. George Gunn, manager of (he studio, and an operator named Thomas Gobbett, who was badly burned.

•The destroyed promises were a largo block of buildings nearly 100 ft. in height. Within a very short time flames were /eaping to a height of 60ft. from the top of the building. Houses in Danger. ' The .fire obtained a complete hold of the building, and soon a wall containing thousands of bricks became in imminent danger of-crashing.. It swayed, dangerously—rfirst outwards, and then inwards—and only a stout water-pipe prevented it from falling. Opposite this wall stands a row of tiny houses,, and the inhabitants, although they had not been warned to leave, put all their belongings in readiness to take away at a moment's notice.

At the time of the outbreak the rehearsal of the new Balaclava film was in progress, and the artists, including several women, had great difficulty in making their way out of the building, because of the dense fumes and smoke. Clad in their costumes—some in Highland kilts and the women in Russian peasant dresses—they were afterwards among (he spectators of the blaze.

An urgent call was sent out, aikl a largo number of fire engines were soon on the scene. Motor ambulances were also present, and the police linked their arms ,in order to keep back the people from the building. spectators numbered several thousands. The firemen attacked the flames from adjoining streets, hoses being carried over the roofs of other buildings. Fainting Women Carried Out. E.\-Legionaire Watcrhouse, one of (he aciors, who was rehearsing for (he film, told how members of the company escaped from 1110 building. "We were downstairs," lie said, " when someone rushed in to say that the place was ok i fire. We started to make our way out and did so with great difficulty, because of the smoke and fumes. There were half-a-dozen women upstairs, and we bad hard work to get them out. Some of them were carried into the street in a fainting condition by the firemen." Wearing a borrowcred coat over her studio costume, Miss Jeannie Blondin, a member of the cast, stood in the street ' with cither actresses watching the burning building. " It all happened very suddenly," she said. "Wc heard a buzzer sound, but did not realise that the place was on fire. >Some of us walked out, and then, as it was cold, turned back for our coats, but we were unable to get them, the smoke being too dense. The building was full of it. Valuable Jewellery Lost. " People who,were then rushing out hnd great difficulty in breathing. Personally 1 have lost, some valuable jewellery, and two fur coats which were inside must have been destroyed. Most of the girls left behind jewellery and changes of clothing, which doubtless have been burned. It will, too, mean unemployment for many of the artists."

"I have never seen flames spread so rapidly," .said Miss Anne Berlin, another member of the company, " and had the alarm been delayed many of us probably would have been cut off."

Another actress, who was taking the part, of a nurse in the scene of the "Charge of the Light Brigade," said: "I heard a shout of 'Fire!' and immediately afterwards there was a blinding flash. Everyone was cool, and we got. outside safelv."

• Tho tenant of a house which faces the studio, said that when the fire occurred he happened to be looking across the street. He saw a flash and immediately afterwards thick smoke poured out of every window of the studio.

It was only after two and a half hours' strenuous work that the firemen got the outbreak under control. Eire escapes were, run up from the centre of several streets and from the top of them water was poured on to the building.