A short tale related by Harry Birch back in 1930 about Fred Geise and Tony Caputo of Pathe News.
“Fred Geise of Camion Crew No. 202, of Pathe Sound News force operating out of Chicago, looks like a sheriff when he wears that iron hat. And Tony Caputo, of the same crew, looks like the picture herewith when he is dressed for an Italian wedding and otherwise. The other day Geise and the camera crew boarded a train down in Indiana to return to Chicago. Giese held the tickets for the crew. They took secluded seats in the smoking compartment.
Caputo was in a black sweater and ragged pants while Ralph Saunders, recordist and sound engineer, covered his General Electric education with a two day beard and some machine grease off the camion.
The conductor took the tickets from Geise and regarded his companions with a slanting eye.
“Criminals, eh?” he remarked to Geise.
Geise’s reply to the conductor is still unknown, but it has been learned that Caputo’s right eye is on Geise at all times and is waiting for a comeback — watch your step Fred.”
Fred Geise would end up at WGN in the early 50s and Caputo went to shoot for WLS for the latter half of his career. No word has been found yet as to if Tony ever got even with Fred for whatever comment was made in the train compartment.