Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1924 - Feb 1925)

February 14, 1925 Page 81 All ready for a plunge. This is a scene from the Educational-Mermaid comedy "Low Tide" in which Ned Sparks and Peggy O'Neill have the leading roles. made with three of Century's quartet of comedy stars, Wanda Wiley, Edna Marian and Al Alt. The fourth is a Buddy Messinger comedy. Wanda Wiley the young comedienne who had her iirst showing on Broadway in the •Rialto Theatre last week, starts off the month of February tor Century. On February 4th, her latest picture, "Nobody's Sweetheart" will be released. It was directed by William Watson. Harry McCoy plays the leading role opposite Miss Wiley. The second Century release in February will be "My Baby Doll," a novelty comedy starring Miss Marian. She is supported by Arthur Lake, Larry Richardson and Jane Shirley. Edward L Luddy directed this tworeeler, which, according to reports from a number of theatres which have shown it prerelease, is an unusually good comedy, and gets many laughs. The following Century release will be "Dangerous Peach," starring Al Alt. This is a bright and snappy two-reeler directed by Jess Robbins, long noted as a comedy director. It is one of the best comedies ever turned out by Alt, who long has been a favorite in houses booking Century Comedies The iinal Century of the month will be a Buddy Messinger picture entitled "Sailing Along," which takes place aboard ship showing Buddy, as a sailor, trying to make love to a pretty passenger, with one of the ship's officers as a rival. Harry McCoy is the rival and Stella Doyle the girl. The locale admits of many very funny situations. Charles Lamont directed. Not All Comedy A scries of near disasters, two of which almost resulted in fatalities, has attended tlic making of "Groat Guns," Bobbv Vernon's latest tworeel Comedy for Educational distribution. The picture was filmed at a power schooner, with director Haro'd BeauCatalina Island and the company embarked in dine following in a runabout. During a fog he became separated from the larger vessel and became lest at sea, wandering about for twelve hours, in the vicinity of the island before he recovced his bearings. Just enough gasoline remained in the tank to enable him to make a beach on ;he opposite side of the island from his destination. During the actual filming of the picture, the barge upon which the company was working sprang a leak and sank during the night, rejulting in the loss of several valuable props and delaymg the work of production until the barge could be raised. Part of the picture called for scenes on 1he target range of the navy. Beaudine and his staff checked up carefully with the ordinance officers of the fleet to make sure that the Navy would not actually fi.e at the target on which they were working. However, they were within range of the coast defense guns and a '.ug, towing the red target for the guns crossed the range while the guns of the land forts fired at it repeatedly. While sexeral of the big shells flew uncomfortably close to the movie company, no one was hurt. New Production Manager Changes in the personnel of the Christie Studios have taken place, chief of which is that of Fred L. Porter, who, in addition to his duties as vice-president of the corporation, assumes charge of the production department, taking over the affairs formerly handled by Harry D. Edwards, who has gone with Warner Brothers as production manager. Mr. Porter has just completed nine years of service with the Christie corporation, having been in the organization since its inception Jan. 6, 1916. He has finished ten years in the studio itself, since he was at that location as studio manager before Al Christie took it over and organized his own company nine years ago this month. In his new and enlarged duties, Mr. Porter will be assisted by Miss Ethel La Blanche, who has been with the organization for six years and who is now made assistant production manager. * * * "Her Daily Dozen" Released The Century Film Corporation has just released "Her Daily Dozen," a new Edna Marian two-reel comedy. This is Miss Marian's first release in 1925, and is the first Century Comedy starring her to be put out under the new 4-Star-Series plan of that company. Supporting Miss Marian in "Her Daily Neal Burns and Vera Steadman are all packed up and rarin' to go. A scene from "Sea Legs," an Educational-Christie laugh-provoker. Billy Engle must have been lookout on a battleship judging from his advantageous position. He is appearing in Century comedies released through Universal. Dozen" is Eddie Gordon, who, since the completion of this picture, has been elevated to stardom by Cen'.ury and now is making 12 comedies of his own for 1925 Century release. Others in the cast of the Marian comedy are Hilliard Karr, Century's fat comedian, and the Century Follies girls. Edward I. Luddy directed the two-reeler and is said to have made a laughable and snappy picture. Much of it takes place in a girl's gymnasium with the Century Follies girls and their trick gym and swimming suits much in evidence. Wanda Wiley Comedy Released A new Wanda Wiley comedy is being released this week by the Century Film Corporation through all L'niversal Exchanges. It is "Nobody's Sweetheart" and was directed by William Watson, long-known as a comedy director. This is reported to be the best Wiley comedy to date. It forms an important unit in the series of Wanda Wilej' comedies projected this year by the Century company. Harry ^IcCoy is Aliss X^'iley's chief support in "Nobody's Sweetheart." Alany others are in the cast, an unusual'y large aggregation of players having been necessary ior the restaurant and cabaret scenes of the picture. It is reported as a fastmoving comedy in which Wanda jumps from one predicament into another. Comedy Girl Steps Up One more well-known girl of the two-reel comedies is pbont to step out into the fo.iture films. She is \'era ."^tcadman, for several years a familiar figure in the Christie two-reelers, who has been assigned to a part in the next .Al. Christie feature prodiic lion "Stop FHrtiiig."