The Moving picture world (November 1926-December 1926)

508 MOVING PICTURE WORLD December 18, 1926 Christie Comedy Week Lures 7,000 Theatres Showmen Throughout Coimtry Participate In Sweeping Tribute To Producers Of Short Comedy Pictures TABULATION of the final results of Christie Anniversary Week, now being prepared by Elducational Film Exchanges and the Christie Studio, indicates that Christie Comedies were given one of the most sweeping tributes ever tendered a motion picture producing company. More than 7,000 theatres testified to their high regard for Christie product by showing one or more of the two-reel comedies from the Christie Studios during the week of November 14. Practically every exchange and key city in the country was included with one or more first run bookings of the current releases. Forty-five Christie two-reelers played first run in the exchange cities alone. No attempt was made to have the same comedies play simultaneously all over the continent, but the bookings were set for the newest comedies available in the Educational Exchanges to the various accounts. Specially prepared Christie anniversary onesheets were featured bj' thousands of exhibitors with the flames of the comedies with which they were celebrating the occasion. Visits 400 Theatre* As a foreruner of this fifteenth anniversary observance of Christies' establishment in 1911 of the first motion picture studio in Hollywood, Pat Dowling, publicity and sales director at the Christie Studios, invaded tne field and visited more then 400 theatres from New York to San Francisco. The diminutive foreign automobile used by Dowling in making the transcontinental trek attracted attention to the ■booking drive by its unique appearance and excellent performance. Educational Exchanges participated not only in the territory visited but also in all other sections of the country. Dowling visited every city on or near the Lincoln Highway in r.jaking the trip from August 31 to October 21. Nearly every Educational Exchange was divested of working prints on Christie subjects durinithe Christie Week celebration Reports show that the largest number of bookings were of "Uppercuts," featuring Jiick Duffy; "Dummy Love" and Wii\Shy," starring Bobby Vernon; "Beauty A La Mud" and "Shell Socked," starring Jimmie Adams ; and "A Dippy Tar" and "A Briny Boob," starring Billy Dooley. The press, including motion picture trade journals and tele■graphic services to newspapers throughout :hf* world, joined the exhibitors m recognizing the establishment by the Christies of screen production in Hollywood, and the subsequent growth of split-reel entertainment into the present high grade of two-reel Short Features. Bruce Scenic Marvelous cloud effects features the current Bruce Scenic Novelty subject which is entitled "Sunbeams" — "The Rainbow" "Moonlight." Weird, yet beautiful views are produced in shots showing the sun shining at odd angles through variously formed clouds. "Howdy Duke" Lupino Lane's second new comedy for Educational, which will be ready for showing during Laugh Month, has been completed. It has been titled, "Howdy Duke" and presents the versatile screen funster in his funniest role, according to preview critics. Lucille Hutton peep* out from behind her paraiol. She's one of the charming Educational mermaids. Monty Banks Picks Gem In Leading Lady When the Pathe feature comedy, "Atta Boy" was filmed, Monty Banks, the star of the picture, insisted that a certain type of appealing young woman be given the leading feminine role. After consideration of a score or more Hollywood screen beauties, Monty and the others responsible for the success of the picture, selected Virginia Bradford, a daughter of the South, who hails from Tennessee. As a result, Banks and the young woman brings to the screen a comedy that in every detail is a story of youth. Those who have seen the young actress declare her work in "Atta Boy" is a pleasant relief from the gencTally accepted type of comedy. Star Praises Roach-Pathe Gown Creator Priscilla Dean, who has been associated as a stellar player with several producing organizations, is one of the strongest boosters today for the policy of the Hal Roach studios regarding costuming, settings, photography and other technical quaUties in the making of their new type Pathe comedies. Particularly does she praise the character of the gowns created for her by Will Lambert, designer at Roach's, whose work is without a parallel in comedy studios. "In no feature productioi>-have I ever found more clever ideas or more beautiful designs in clothes," said Miss Dean. "Lambert is one of the most original designers of women's clothes today. I have never worn screen clothes which I liked better." t s Cold World, But — Hamilton's Next Lloyd Hamilton proves just exactly how much comedy can result from a series |Of gags built around a Ford in "One Sunday Morning," the latest Educational-Hamilton Comedy in which he is starred. This comedy has been prepared for December showing. Virtually every scene uses the Ford as the basis for the fun-making. * Jack Duffy Loaned Jack Dufify, featured player in Educational Christie Comedies, has been loaned to another company to furnish some of the comedy relief in "No Control." It appears to be an empty sto Pathe, fills it to overflowing eking, but Artist Michelson, of n one of Aesop's Film Fables. Showmen Plan For Laugh Month Features (Continued from page 507) any eflfort he cares to employ to make the audience laugh. -This is a great gag, especially if you can get a good announcer and if, in your house, the mention of local names means anything to you. The foregoing are only a few ideas that the showman can start working on NOW. If he desires, he can divide Laugh Month into four big weeks — "Comedy Week," "Sunshine Week," "Fun Week," "Happiness Week" — and he can adapt individual stunts and angles to each different week. Other labels he can tack on the Laugh Month idea are "Great Laugh Carnival," "Monster Joy Jubilee," "Big Fun Frolic," "Laugh and Grow Fat Celebration" and many others. There are scores of good exploitation angles to Laugh Month.