This shot gives us a glimpse into what it was like to film one of those new-fangled talkie pictures. Back then, cameras were so noisy that the microphones needed to record dialogue would pick up the racket they made (which was a non-issue when movies were silent) so they were housed in those booths. This photo was taken during the production of “Showgirl in Hollywood” which was a First National movie shot between early Nov and late Dec 1929 and released April 1930. So it’s safe to place this photograph late 1929 on the Burbank studio lot, by which time the purchase of First National by Warner Bros had gone through.

David G. says: “The early sound-reducing enclosures were called “blimps”, and “blimping” a camera is a term than remains to this day.” You can read more HERE.