Universal Weekly (1933-1935)

Sept. 28, 1935 ■ UNIVERSAL WEEKLY ' = o »; Charles Bickford Bitten By Lion In "EAST OF JAVA" A QUICK turn of his head while working In a closeup scene with a 400 pound Nubian lion nearly cost Charles Bickford, screen star, his life Monday at Universal City studios. Appearing in a scene for "East of Java," a jungle feature, Bickford was working with "Tarzan," a lion employed in the films for the past four weeks, when the actor suddenly twisted his head. With a growl the lion bit Bickford in the neck with teeth entering about an inch below the base of the brain. As Bickford fell forward, stunned, the lion clawed the wound adding lacerations to tooth marks. Director George Melford and Animal Trainer Charles W. Murphy quickly pulled the lion away while assistants helped Bickford to his feet and rushed him to the Universal studio hospital where his wounds were cauterized. Dr. Paul R. Magill attending Bickford, ordered his immediate removal to Hollywood Hospital for further examination fearing that in spite of the quick cauterization of the lion bites that the jungle cat's poisonous teeth might have had worse effect than at first believed. Bickford, rugged, athletic six footer laughed at the danger of further complications but accepted his physician's orders to remain at the hospital until pain from the wounds completely stopped. Work on "East of Java" will not be completed until after Bickford's wounds are healed. The actor was clawed by a black leopard three weeks ago in earlier scenes from the picfure which has provided constant thrills and dangers to all members of the cast and technical staff because of the dramatic nature of the story and the fact that wild animals have been employed in rain storms, shipwrecks and unusual jungle situations. Universal Product To Warner Theatres Last Unit of Far Flung Deal Completes Big Booking Deal . THE closing of the big Warner Bros, circuit in Philadelphia for the 1935-36 Universal products, as announced today by J. R. Grainger, general manager of distribution for Universal, which covers all the Warner theatres in the Philadelphia district, as well as in the city, was the final link in the Warner deal which sets U product in Warner theatres from coast to coast. This contract provides major releases throughout Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Albany, Buffalo, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Fresno, Aberdeen, Portland and Chicago districts and the whole state of New Jersey. This completes one of the most far reaching and important deals yet closed by Mr. Grainger. + + + Praises Newsreel Cameraman Columnist SPEAKING OF PHOTOGRAPHERS . . . The navy, actually if not officially, set up a new rank yesterday for Mervin ("The Bandit') Freeman, Universal Newsreel cameraman. Freeman was designated to speak for all the newsreel men aboard the Zane. So in yesterday's navy he was PlusAdmiral Freeman. The battle line came down the coast doing 12 knots, and the Zane whooped along at 23, leaving a wake like a colicky snake at the behest of Plus-Admiral Freeman and overhauling ship after ship. SHE NEVER ZIGGED WHEN SHE SHOULDA ZAGGED "A little closer, please," SuperAdmiral Freeman would murmur. "Mr. Freeman would like to be a little closer," would be the word over the telephone to the bridge, and the Zane would heel over and close up another 50 yards. Bill Wright in San Diego Union Has the Following to Say of One of Universal’s Crack Cameramen, Mervin Freeman. As close as you can across the bow of the Pennsy," Super-Admiral Freeman murmured twice, and each time the Zane slashed across in front of the monstrous parade. An admiral probably couldn't get away with that. But when you have a super-admiral aboard, you're lucky. The rest of us just sat back and enjoyed the fruits of Super-Admiral Freeman's strategy as the Zane did everything but loop the loop. Next Week's Universal Weekly Will Feature YOU'LL NEVER FORGET IT!