The Moving Picture Weekly (1917-1918)

THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY 'S test Announced ER Y SHIF' ips to Boys and Girls of 15 Years of Age or Under, [ding to "THE MYSTERY SHIP" Serial. I province to discard any such sugges1 tions. There is no desire on the part I of the Universal to limit any contest, ant to one answer. As many answers as he or she care to send in will be considered, but it is understood that only one prize can be awarded to a participant. If several suggestions from one contestaTit are received, and are deemed worthy of a prize, that contestant will receive the highest prize to which any of his answers would entitle him. Another provision which will help those who desire to enter the contest, and are unable to see the film, is this: It isn't absolutely necessary to see the serial in order to participate in the contest. If "The Mystery Ship" is not being shown in a town, those who wish to participate can do so by sending for the herald which the Universal is publishing in connection with the contest. On the last page of this herald the entire story of "The Mystery Ship" may be obtained, up to and including the seventeenth, or next to the last episode. A very clear and KINGSLEY BENEDICT.. concise idea of the story and the characters, and the situation in which they are left at the end of the seventeenth episode, can be obtained from this herald, and answers can be made from this as well as though the participant had actually seen the film. Those who have to follow this suggestion may be able to see the serial at a neighboring town, and in this way they will doubtless get many ideas which will help them in framing the best possible ending for "The Mystery Ship." It doesn't cost any one a cent to participate in the contest, or to obtain any of the information or rules which govern it. On this page will be found a blank which is perfectly acceptable, but which doesn't have to be used. The same information which this blank covers can be used in any way that the participant desires, or by sending to the Best Ending Contest Department, Universal Film Manufacturing Company, 1600 Broadway, a blank will be returned which gives all of the answers which this blank contains. Every condition of the contest has been made as easy of fulfillment as possible in order that the very widest participation may be enjoyed. The exhibitor will be given every opportunity to encourage the contest among the school children in the district he draws from. "The Mystery Ship" will be extensively exploited with special advertising devices; the contest will be made as interesting as possible, and the printed stories of the advancing episodes will be available for wide distribution among school children. The ingenuity of Young America will be depended upon to give "The Mystery Ship" an ending that will be appropriate and effective. It is believed, by Universal, that the interest this contest will awaken may be properly considered an educational adjunct to exploiting and showing the serial. That the children will take a personal interest in the story as it advances, either in printed form or upon the screen, will vastly enhance the exhibiting value of "The Mystery Ship" is unquestioned. It is fair to assume that the boys and girls will not content themselves with simply reading about the adventures of the hero and heroine — they are sure to BEN WILSON see for themselves just how the exciting episodes are worked out upon the screen. To this end exhibitors will be given every possible help in making the contest known to the public, that "The Mystery Ship" may be given an appeal of unusual scope. The details have all been worked out, and the machinery of distribution and exploitation has been set in motion. The voyage of "The Mystery Ship" will be followed with keen interest by thousands of American boys and girls throughout the country. BICKERS WRITES UNIQUE BLUEBIRD. J^ECREATING the beginning of the world is the little job which took H. Sheridan Bickers, Miss Mae Murray's scenarioist, to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where this wellknown playwright is said to have broken all the mountaineer records for hiking. In twenty-one days Bickers tramped more than 400 miles — 412 to be exact — over the mountains around the great San Gabriel Canyon in search of locations and "atmosphere," returning with a full-grown military moustache, a coat of tan and a play — "The Eternal Columbine" — which is an absolutely unique departure in motion picture drama. Work was started last week on this, which is to be the first of the Bluebird superpictures that he has been engaged to write exclusively for Miss Murray. Bickers is the author of "Quicksands," "Lights Out," "The Unbidden Guest," and other London stage successes.