Film Follies (Jun 1922 - Jan 1924)

FILM FOLLIES Film Follies The CHRISTIE MAGAZINE of COMEDY Art Editor E. G. Klein Published By The CHRISTIE FILM COMPANY, 6101 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California Editor Pat Dowlinc INC. Photography By C. E. Day Vol. 4 JUNE, 1922 No. 3 EDUCATIONAL WILL HAVE CHRISTIE COMEDIES ANOTHER YEAR Calls for 20 Christie Comedies for 1922-23 CONTRACTS have been closed between the Christie Film Company and Educational Flm Exchanges covering the release of all Christie tworeel comedies for another year, including twenty pictures to be released from August, 1922, to July, 1923. This announcement is made following the return of C. H. Christie, general manager, to Los Angeles after conferences with E. W. Hammons, president of Educational in New York, covering the manner in which these comedies are to be booked for the next year period. This will be the third big year for Christie Comedies heading the Educational program. The series of 1920-21, covering twenty-four pictures and the 1921-22 series, production of which is now drawing to a close, was for a like number. The new series of Christie Comedies will, however, be only twenty in number. Regarding the new production, A1 Christie states: “The phrase ‘fewer and better pictures,’ sounds hackneyed and worn out, but this is nevertheless exactly what the new program calls for. “Our coming year with Educational enables us more than ever before to bring up the class of production to a still higher standard. Rapid strides in widespread distribution this year have made possible an improvement in quality and variety over the first year through these exchanges, and we anticipate going further in the year ahead. “We will feature such star comedy players as Neal Burns, Bobby Vernon, Dorothy Devore, Vera Steadman and Viora Daniel, and as our policy has always been, surround them with a variety of casts such as are seldom found in two-reel comedies. Four directors, including Scott Sidney, William Beaudine, Harold Beaudine and myself, will alternate in production.” C. H. Christie states that A1 Christie will return to the studios from Europe early in July to take active charge of all production. This means that Christie himself will pick all stories and casts and very often direct, in addition to supervising all pictures. BABY SHOW AT THE CHRISTIE STUDIOS Al Christie thinks it would be a good idea to have a regular Hollywood Baby Show. For a starter here are Vera Steadman and Bobby Vernon with their respective daughters. The former is Mrs. Jackie Taylor in private life, whose daughter is named for Marie Prevost — Marie Jackie Taylor. Bobby’s baby is Barbara Dorothy Vernon and the same age as young Miss Steadman-Taylor. Christie calls attention to the fact that the two-reel comedy has come into its own stronger than ever this year: “As one of the best motion picture critics recently said, ‘Comedies used to be the backbone of the film industry and programs were built around them. Exhibitors got away from that fundamental for a time and filled up their programs with all sorts of novelties, eliminating the comedy. Now they are getting back to this essential element, with the realization that the highest class of comedies are deserving of space on every bill, re gardless of what other novelties are shown.’ “The last lap of our present year’s product is winding up with a bang, with such pictures as “Oh Promise Me,” “ ’Tis the Bull,” “Fair Enough,” “Any Old Port,” “Cold Feet,” “A Hickory Hick,” “Bucking Broadway,” a big New York picture which has just been finished, and “Mile-a-Minute Mary,” a summer camping-out picture with Dorothy Devore. Dorothy Devore Gets Ovation in San Francisco — Christie Star Appears at Granada Theatre Dorothy Devore, Christie Comedy star, appeared in person at the Granada Theatre, San Francisco, the week of April 23rd, stopping the show at the opening performance on Sunday night for fifteen minutes and earning front-page notices in the Bay City papers, besides figuring in much additional exploitation arranged by the theatre under the management of J. A. Partington. Miss Devore's personal appearance was a record-breaking affair in connection with the showing of the Christie Comedy, “Fair Enough,” and the Goldwyn feature production, “Come On Over.” Musical director Paul Ash introduced Miss Devore, who put over several song specialties in connection with Ash’s “Synco-Symphonists,” who are earning huge popularity in San Francisco. For the personal appearance much additional publicity was gained for the week, showing by numerous stunts in which the Christie star figured prominently. Exploitation was arranged by Miss Genevieve Gross, house publicity representative, and included tie-ups with Market Week; modeling in San Francisco hats, in connection with the Emporium, San Francisco's largest store; co-operation on Pencil Day for the Homeless Children, besides front-page interviews by the leading San Francisco papers. The Granada Theatre, which is the largest and newest photoplay house in San Francisco, and the other Roth and Partington theatres have been playing all of the new Christie Comedies. Recent Christie’s at the Granada were “ ’Twas Ever Thus,” “Saving Sister Susie,” “One Stormy Knight,” “A Barnyard Cavalier,” and “Oh Promise Me." Page Three