Baldwin & Ben

Big Ben and other "Ben" alarm clocks are all namesakes of the 13 1/2-ton bell in the clock tower of Britain's Houses of Parliament. The big bell was named "Ben" after Sir Benjamin Hall, in 1856 London's Commissioner of Works. Of all clock bells in the Empire none are more storied, more beloved. Therefore last week it seemed a splendid idea to take a movietone of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin listening, in his garden to "Big Ben" clang noon over the housetops.

As noon approached, good Squire Baldwin took his stance, puffing the most often caricatured pipe in England. He listened intently, visibly. "Clang . . . clang . . . clang . . . clang!" began Big Ben--but at the fifth stroke a pigeon descended with whirring wings and spoiled everything.

Next noon the Prime Minister consented to another trial, and started to read a short greeting, timed to end just as Big Ben commenced to strike. All went well until Mr. Baldwin lost his place in reading, paused awkwardly, and upon resuming did not get to the end of his remarks before Big Ben's 132-tons began to reverberate.

On the third noon, a gust of wind blew away the Prime Minister's manuscript, and he not only chased after it but was stooping with his back to the camera when "Big Ben" began again, "Clang . . . clang . . . clang! . . ."

Perseverance and a fourth attempt produced a movietone considered excellent for electioneering purposes, though most people would rather hear-see one of the others.