The Moving Picture Weekly (1916-1917)

THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY 21 Forty Drafted From Universal City Scene at Universal City when draft numbers were read. "BEHIND THE MAP" By W. W. BEAUDINE. JOKER Comedy concerninj: a school teacher, a love affair and a Uutch courage that failed. CAST. Bill William Franey May Lillian Peacock Jed _ Eddie Baker Teacher Zasu Pitts Mayor Milburn Moranti (Copyright 1917, Universal Film Manufacturing Co.) "Paste her one, Ned." "Put chewing gum over the blackboard, Bill — now for a real fire of spit balls, ready — aim, fire! Thus whisper the pupils. Easily the woman teacher at HoIcum Center could not handle her unruly pupils. When the Mayor of the town is attracted by the commotion he fires her on the spot and sends at once to the city for a man teacher. Imitating the new teacher^. Bill, the new teacher, arrives and receives a warm reception by the pupils. His arm becomes so tired spanking them that next day he opens school with a new fangled spanking machine installed. This does the business and the pupils decide that the new teacher had best be let alone. May, the belle of the village, is very fond of Jed, who considers himself too big to go to school. However, when he learns that the new teacher is paying particular court to his May, he decides to go. Bill at first thinks that Jed is a little fellow, because he is slumped away down in the seat, but is amazed to discover Jed's size. He realizes that if Jed continues to be a pupil his reign as master of the school will soon come to an end. For just such an emergency he has provided a bottle of "Courage," which he keeps behind the map, and of this he imbibes at frequent intervals, much to the mystification of all. The Mayor pays the school a visit to see how his new "man" teacher is getting along and finds everything fine. Bill decides that he is now brave enough to thrash the unruly Jed. He makes an attempt, but fails and seeks safety in flight. I^ORE than forty men of Universal City will answer "Here!" when the government makes its first call on the manhood of the country. There is a marked amount of enthusiasm on the part of the boys of the film capital who are "out in front" on the draft list — not one voiced a complaint when he learned that his number had been drawn from Uncle Sam's starred and striped hat. Among the leading actors who come within the scope of the first call are William Franey and Milton Sims, Joker comedians; Francis MacDonald, who plays a prominent part in "The Gray Ghost" serial, and Lloyd Whitlock and J. Webster Dill of Ruth Stonehouse's feature company. Two of the directing staff probably will be called soon — George Marshall, who has been staging the Neal Hart features, and Mancelia De Grasse, assistant to Joseph De Grasse, who is producing "The Maverick" with Franklyn Farnum as the star actor. Cameramen Jack Mackenzie of Director De Grasse's company; J. Kull, who has been shooting the Max Asher comedies, and E. R. Meeker, who has assisted in the photographing of Jacques Jaccard's new serial, were among those whose numbers were selected early in the drawing. Robert A. Dillon, of the scenario staff and Harold Hoadley, of the Publicity Department, are listed among the first names in their respective districts, as are Fred Datig and Leslie Irwin of the employment office, C. F. Keister and John Shea of the Accounting Department and H. L. Mohr and Grant Whytock of the cutting room. Employees from the laboratory, carpenter shop and mills, property room and general stage hands swell Universal City's first contribution to America's fighting forces to more than two-score men.