Exhibitor's Trade Review (Aug-Nov 1925)

October 24, 1925 37 Theatres Highly Praise Buster Brown Series TT ROM all parts of the country testimonials are pouring in on the Century Comedy Corporation, whose Buster Brown comedies are released by Universal Pictures, as to the popularity of the new series. Mark Hanson, manager, the Larchmont Theatre, Los Angeles, Calif., writes: "I previewed the first of the Buster Brown series, 'Educating Buster,' starring Arthur Trimble, Wednesday night, at .he Larchmont Theatre and think it is a knockout. I predict this series will be a landslide for the box-office. Buster, Mary and T;ghe as well as the supporting cast are excellent." From Joe Buell, manager, the DeLuxe Theatre, of Los Angeles, comes word that: "We previewed Buster Brown last night I counted some 58 good hearty laughs in the picture. I don't hesitate in saying 'It is the best Century I have ever seen.' Congratulations on this picture. Will be a great boxoffice attraction." Howard Waugh, manager, the Alhambra Theatre, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, writes : "Will you give me release dates on tne Buster Brown comedies so that we can set them in as fast as possible. 'Educating Buster' was a big hit for me this week, and many patrons particularly mentioned it to us." From Manager Fahnley Bridges, of the Artcraft Theatre, Franklin, Indiana, comes a letter saying: "We have been playing >our Century comedies for quite a while and I am very pleased to say that in my opinion and that of my patrons I believe that Century comedies are the best on the market today. Keep up the good work." No Let Up on Fox Comedies As Halfway Mark is Passed As the halfway mark in the production of comedies was passed at Fox Films West Coast Studios a few days ago, the hum of activity, so to speak, became a veritable roar. George E. Marshall, general supervisor, and his directorial staff, including Robert Kerr, Daniel Keefe, Thomas Buckingham, Bryan Foy, Benjamin Stoloff, Lew Seiler, Al Ray and others, have never been quite so busy as since they swung into the second halt of the production calendar. Perhaps the most important tidings from the Fox fun factory is the announcement that Carroll Nye, who first attracted by his clever work with Corinne Griffith in "Classified," has been signed to play leads in the series of O. Henry comedies. Nye won recognition as a clever juvenile almost overnight, and his first Fox picture will be "Cupid a la Carte." Production is already under way, under the direction of Kerr. Daniel Keefe was originally assigned to pilot this O. Henry tale to the screen. Tom Buckingham is busily engaged on a new Helen and Warren comedy of married life, as yet untitled. Charles Sellon and Tiny Sanford have been added to the cast in character roles and the picture promises to have unusual sparkle. Earle Foxe is knee deep in a new Van Bibber, while, across the lot, Georgie Harris and Barbara Luddy are making their second in the Irish-Jewish series of comedies. The smashing success of productions already completed and released on this season's schedule seemingly has spurred the Fox comedy staff on to even greater endeavors. to settlement in 1893 (which "land rush" is thrillingly depicted in the opening chapter of "Wild West,") it became necessary for Col. Miller to establish a more permanent headquarters for his ranch, and this was done immediately by leasing tracts of land along the Salt Fork River, thus providing water facilities for his herds With the decease of Col. Miller a number of years ago, his three sons, Joseph C, Zack T. and George L., inherited the immense ranch, which they have continuously extended in area, until today it includes 110,000 acres, about half of which is owned by the Miller brothers and the other half still leased from the Ponca and Otoe Indians. While the 101 Ranch is the only place left in the southwest where the genuine old west Traditions of the Old West Still Live On 101 Ranch ^"T^TTLD WEST," the new Patheserial, with the great wild west and circus life as a \\ background, was staged on 101 Ranch near Ponca City, Oklahoma, the last remaining of the numerous big ranches that formerly were a feature of Western America. Jack Mulhall and Helen Ferguson are cast in the featured roles of the film, which was produced by C. W. Patton. 101 Ranch was established originally by Col. George W. Miller during the 70s, when cattle were being brought northward from Texas along the Chisholm trail and pastured in the Cherokee Strip. It was then government land, leased by the cowmen at 2 to 5 cents per acre per annum. With the opening of the Strip may be depicted, yet the importance of the ranch lies in the fact that it is one of the most extensive live stock and agricultural experimental farms in the world. While the Miller brothers maintain cowboys, cow ponies and long horned steers for putting on wild west shows, rodeos, round ups, and such other events, yet they also have the largest herd of pure bred registered Holstein and Shorthorn cattle in America, and the largest herd of pure bred registered Duroc-Jersey hogs in the world. So great, in fact, has been the work of the Millers all along such live stock, agricultural and horticultural lines that the Oklahoma State A. and M. College is planning, as a part of its agricultural course, to have some of its classes spend two weeks annually at the 101 Ranch in order to get a direct line on how new scientific experiments are actually being carried out. 101 Ranch also boasts of large herds of buffalo, ostriches and elk, together with cages of wild animals. It is one of the real show places of the entire west and is visited annually by thousands of people. Outside of the annual round-up crowds, the Miller brothers estimate that at least 100,000 persons visit the ranch every year. The vastness and greatness of this unusual ranch and its wild west and far east circus, the lure and the thrill and the adventure of the old and the new west, is crammed into every chapter of the new Patheserial, "Wild West." EDUCATIONAL STUDIO WORKERS DOING SOME FAST STEPS Norman Taurog has finished the comedy in which he has been directing Lloyd Hamilton, and is now spending a "vacation" in the Hollywood hospital. Taurog's throat has been bothering him for some months past and it was decided that an operation was necessary to remove the cause of the annoyance. Virginia Vance is putting in her time between pictures trying to master the art of fencing. She has engaged an instructor who makes visits to the studio to coach her in the serious business of thrust and parry. Lupino Lane has decided that boxing is too strenuous a form of exercise. He lost fourteen pounds in four days. The four rounds, in the picture he is making under the direction of William Goodrich, consumed four days in the making, and after boxing four days under the arcs, Lane's scales showed him to be fourteen pounds under par. * * * JOB WAS AN AMATEUR Job may have had his troubles with boils, etc. — ■ He was never a director of kid comedies, and so he must rank as an amateur sufferer. Charles Lamont, directing Juvenile Comedies for Educational, has returned from a ten days' sojourn on the deep as director and general caretaker of about a dozen kids, ranging in age from eighteen months to seven years. Between seasickness, lost children, false "Kid Overboard !" alarms, and the difficulty of making a comical comedy on the bounding main, Lamont is sure that Job knew absolutely nothing about troubles, and that his patience, comparatively speaking, never even suffered a strain. Alberta Vaughn, the amazing Mazie in F. B. O.'s "The Adventures of Mazie," Larry Kent plays the male lead. Water Polo Feature of Episode No. 7 "The Adventures of Mazie" A water polo game with high lights of comedy will be the feature episode No. 7 of F. B. O.'s new "Mazie" series, based on the Nell Martin magazine stories. Alberta Vaughn is being starred and Ralph Cedar is directing. Two famous west coast teams of swimmers will take part in the game, which will be staged in the big tank of one of the Los Angeles clubs. It will mark the first time that a water polo game has been put into a screen story and much is expected by F. B. O. executives in the way of novel and comedy treatment of this unusual sporting feature. Al Cooke and Kit Guard, F. B. O.'s comedians will, of course, cavort in the water with laughs the main idea.