Gobo (1930)

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   ProQuest digitization update:  No CHICAGO TRIBUNE.  No update of APS ONLINE.  LOS ANGELES TIMES to 1932, but still no "cheeseburger" or corndog" or "taco."



      LINGUISTIC CONFUSIONS OF STUDIOS DECIPHERED
              Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File).       Los Angeles, Calif.: Jun 22, 1930.                   p. B7 (1 page):
   Action--A commodity which the production office prays for.
   Alibi--A form of buck-passing; see buckle, light valve.
   Amplifier--An electrical device for making a tenor sound like a basso.
   Art--A form of alibi when box-office returns are low.
   Author--A person who sells magazine stories with one eye on the movie producers.
OVERSIZE REFRIGERATOR
   Booth==An overgrown refrigerator used to keep cameramen in a ripened condition.
   Breakaway--A trick device that always works in rehearsals, but never in scenes.
   Broad--A lighting device used to heat the back of  player's neck.
   Buckle--Mysterious camera ailment.  See alibi.
   Bungalow--Form of camera booth for Singer's Midgets.
   Cameraman--Any individual who connects the motor with the camera and lets the motor do the work.
   Cutter--A film editor in the process of hatching out.
   Cutting Room--A padded cubicle furnished with trash bins and several pairs of scissors.
   Daily Room--A small dark room where the bad news comes to light.
BEFORE AND AFTER
   Dialogue--Perfectly intelligent speech before passing through microphone.
   Dubbing--Process used to making two sounds grow where one grew before.
   Electrician--Individual who enlivens an otherwise dull scene by throwing down pieces of (illegible word--ed.) from the light platform.
   Fade-out--Device for cutting footage without shock to natives.
   Focus--Game played by cameramen with lenses and pieces of old lace curtains.
   Frameline--A dividing line over which unidentified noses, ears and microphones appear.
   Gaffer--A socially eligible electrician.
   Gamma--A Greek letter used by sound technicians to confuse the listener.
CLOTH HIDES SET
   Gobo--A black cloth hung over the set to prevent the visitors from seeing anything.
   Grip--A general utility man who enlivens rehearsals by vigorous hammering.
   Horn--The device by means of which the sound department's efforts reach the cash customers.
   Hot--a reference to temperature.  (2) A term of admiration.
   Huddle--Story conference.
   Interlock--A plaintive wail used promiscuously as a form of lung exercise.
   Lines--What actors are supposed to remember.
   Lyricist--A high-ahtted song writer.
   Make--A highly technical term.
   Mike--Excuse for a lot of easterners to come west.
   Mixer--A form of overhead.
   Option--Prelude to a one-way rail journey.
   Pan--To rotate a camera about the center; (2) to enthuse about a coworker.
   Parallel--An elevated platform for the afternoon siesta.
   Playback--Device used to find out whether the recording crew is really working.
   Practical--Any device that really works.  (Does not include cast.)
HOW TO SAVE MONEY
   Preview--A swell way to save 65 cents.
   Projection Room--An attractive form of hideaway.
   Press Agent--Semiretired publicity man.
   Props--Small knick-knacks to be taken home to furnish the living-room.
   Release Date--A date always four days prior to the time humanly possible to have a picture finished.
   Retake--Outcome of huddle.
   Schedule--Eighteen days' work in ten days.
   Spot--A hypothetical mark where an actor is supposed to stop in order to be in focus.
   Stage Control--A young man who counts loudly into the microphone for no good reason.
   Synchronization--A contributory cause to an outburst of profanity.