VOL. V, NO. 5
NOVEMBER 15, 1963
Chuck Wente Visits C. B. DeMille Estate
How would you like to be turned loose in the house of one of the most famous producer-directors Hollywood has ever known? Chuck Wente '64, had this privilege while on a trip last summer to Los Angeles, California.
Through a correspondence with Mrs. Florence Cole, who was Cecil B. DeMille's private secretary since 1929, Chuck was able to get permission to visit the famous DeMille estate. Because of his great interest in this great movie personality, Chuck can boast of being the first outsider to be admitted to the DeMille home since his death in 1959.
"Mr. DeMille's home was modest compared to his means, the typical Spanish type of stucco home in California, although palatial," said Chuck who viewed and handled Mr. DeMille's Academy awards. "One time," laughed Chuck, "I almost dropped the famed producer's Academy award trophy for the motion picture The Greatest Show on Earth. This movie was voted the best picture of 1952."
While in Mr. DeMille's private office, Chuck was privileged to handle the first motion picture camera used in a major Hollywood studio. He was also allowed to handle and view many other invaluable objects soon to be exhibited in a newly erected Hollywood historical museum.
How It Started
Chuck first became interested in films in 1956 just after he had seen DeMille's spectacular The Ten Commandments. Soon after he and a group of Maine West students made an effort to produce their own Ten Commandments.
Through a correspondence with Mrs. Florence Cole, who was Cecil B. DeMille's private secretary since 1929, Chuck was able to get permission to visit the famous DeMille estate. Because of his great interest in this great movie personality, Chuck can boast of being the first outsider to be admitted to the DeMille home since his death in 1959.
"Mr. DeMille's home was modest compared to his means, the typical Spanish type of stucco home in California, although palatial," said Chuck who viewed and handled Mr. DeMille's Academy awards. "One time," laughed Chuck, "I almost dropped the famed producer's Academy award trophy for the motion picture The Greatest Show on Earth. This movie was voted the best picture of 1952."
While in Mr. DeMille's private office, Chuck was privileged to handle the first motion picture camera used in a major Hollywood studio. He was also allowed to handle and view many other invaluable objects soon to be exhibited in a newly erected Hollywood historical museum.
How It Started
Chuck first became interested in films in 1956 just after he had seen DeMille's spectacular The Ten Commandments. Soon after he and a group of Maine West students made an effort to produce their own Ten Commandments.
This ambitious undertaking had to be dropped "because this was a sincere attempt at something far beyond our means," said Chuck. "The success of the project depended upon the support of interested organizations. We took a great chance and lost," sighed Chuck.
Chuck is a percussion enthusiast playing in the school musical organizations. "Percussion is more than just pounding a bunch of calf skins," Chuck said.
With an A‑B average in his school work, Chuck's ambitions are to attend the University of California and pursue the field of commercial art.
Chuck is a percussion enthusiast playing in the school musical organizations. "Percussion is more than just pounding a bunch of calf skins," Chuck said.
With an A‑B average in his school work, Chuck's ambitions are to attend the University of California and pursue the field of commercial art.
