Film Follies (Jun 1922 - Jan 1924)

Critics All Agree on Christie’s Blackface Film All of the trade paper reviewers, as well as the newspaper critics who have seen Christie’s novelty offering in blackface, “Roll Along,” have agreed on the fact that A1 Christie has succeeded in once more adding variety in a “different” way in his new series of comedies. When “Roll Along” was made it was produced with the intention of picking the best type of story to bring out the possibilities of negro comedy, something which has so far only been touched in moving pictures by way of small bits in feature productions. That the Christie organization has succeeded in making this an excellent basis for one of the outstanding two-reel subjects of the year is evidenced by the following extracts from the reviews so far published : The Film Daily said — “This entire idea is novel and entertaining to a degree. This is a first-rate number that gets far away from the average.” The Motion Picture News said — “Here is a comedy which is decidedly above the average. The finish is a whirlwind with an O. Henry twist. An out-of-the-ordinary comedy.” The Moving Picture World said — “A splendid comedy that will be a worthwhile addition to any program. There is something entertaining every minute.” The Morning Telegraph said — “A comedy with the commendable attribute of novelty is well worked out in this picture.” Consuls Visit Studio South American diplomatic representatives who attended the Motion Picture Exposition were entertained in the huge cafe set at the Christie Studio, where Charles and A1 Christie, with the aid of the Christie players, acted as hosts. Dinner courses were interspersed with varied entertainment and before the evening had passed it was obvious that the bonds of friendship between our distinguished guests and the “picture people” had undergone a delightful process of cementation. Several hundred feet of movies were taken during the course of the evening’s entertainment, each foreign representative being the victim of a “close up !” This film was rushed through the laboratory ready to be exhibited on the morning train which carried the interesting visitors away from Los Angeles. Christie players who helped entertain the visitors were: Dorothy Devore, Vera Steadman, Natalie Joyce, Molly McGowan, Isabel Bryant, Bobby Vernon, Jimmie Adams, and Neal Burns. Consular representatives of the following countries were present: Argentine, Brazil, Chili, Colombia, Cuba, Dominigan Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and the Pan American Union. A1 Christie, Stanley N. Chambers, of the Miller Theatre circuit, and Vera Steadman. Lab Man Juggles Christie Titles When William Horsley, who makes the release prints of all Christie Comedies, “muffed one” by sending the wrong reprint to Oklahoma, he apologized in a unique manner. Here’s “Bill’s” letter. N. P. Eberley, Manager, Educational Film Exchanges of Texas, 106 South Hudson Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dear Sir: Your letter of July 14th has just reached me, and the minute I read it I knew that I was “IN DUTCH,” and I felt like a “HICKORY HICK.” In fact, for a minute or two I thought I had entered my “SECOND CHILDHOOD.” After thinking the situation over, however, I said this “SON OF A SHEIK” from Oklahoma has got you in the place where the sign says “NO PARKING,” so Bill, you might as well “BE YOURSELF.” There is no use “BUCKING BROADWAY” so “ROLL ALONG” and “CHOOSE YOUR WEAPONS” for a “HULA HONEYMOON” and then its “BACK TO THE WOODS” for vi hi. “OH, PRMISE ME” not to act like a “BARNYARD CAVALIER” and I will introduce you to “HAZEL FROM PIOLLYWOOD” if you ever become “A RAMBLING ROMEO” come out to see the “OCEAN SWELLS,” but don’t get “COLD FEET.” If you will “PARDON MY GLOVE” I will close, as I have a date with “MILE A MINUTE MARY” and it looks now like it was going to be “ONE STORMY KNIGHT,” and I may have to “LET ’ER RUN” and duck into “ANY OLD PORT.” Yours, “FAIR ENOUGH,” BILL HORSLEY. Christie Girls Back in Fold Dorothy Devore, who was loaned to play the lead with Bill Russell in a Fox picture, is back at the Christie studios, and so is Charlotte Merriam who had been loaned for a lead with Bill Desmond. Miss Merriam previously played the feminine lead in the Maurice Tourneur production of ‘“The Brass Bottle.” Her next work with Christie will be opposite Jimmie Adams in an oil-well comedy. Cameraman Inherits Fortune The entire Christie Comedy Company was in a state of violent eAitement recently when Alex Phillips, for four years a cameraman with Christ^ received a letter which apprised him of the fact that he had inherited a six hundred-acre estate and ten million Leu from his uncle, the late Ivan Saviuc, of Vascaut, Roumania. Phillips is a native of Canada and holds the distinction of having been one of the youngest soldiers with the Canadian forces. When only fourteen years of age he saw service with the Fortyeighth Highlanders with whom he fought until severely wounded, two years later. Mr. Phillips was confined to a hospitai for two years, following which he journeyed to California to recuperate, starting in the motion picture business as an assistant cameraman. Christie Plans for Coming Year Following the reputation acquired during the past year, when Christie Comedies were much commented on throughout the trade for their variety of subjects, plans are under way to continue this policy in the production of another series of twenty comedies, all to be released through Educational Film Exchanges. The series will be arranged so that Bobby Vernon will be starred in six pictures; Jimmie Adams starred in five; Neal Burns in five; and Dorothy Devore in four pictures. The newer and greater series will start with Dorothy Devore in “Navy Blues,” a ridiculous farce-comedy filmed mainly on the U. S. S. California, flagship of the Pacific Fleet. Supporting Dorothy Devore will be Jimmie Harrison, Ogden Crane, Bill Irving, Ward Caulfield, George French and hundreds of sailors and marines. Bobby Vernon stars in the second release which will be a “Hokum” comedy Believe it or not Jimmie Adams painted teeth marks on his forehead and came limping into the first-aid department at the Christie Studio and notified the attendant that he had been bitten by a wild sea gull. After making a near-sighted examination of the horrible wound the bright little attendant exclaimed: “Gosh, I didn’t know a sea gull’s teeth were so big. This is a horrible injury, I’d better phone a doctor.” “A doctor?” queried Jimmie, “nothing doing ! Phone the newspapers, I’m an actor.”