Motion Picture News (Jan - Feb 1926)

January 23, 1926 477 Jack Duffy is Featured in Christie Comedy Jack Duffy is to be featured in a new Christie Comedy which has just started under the direction of Hai'old Beaudine and wdl be released by Educational. Vera Steadman plays opposite Duffy and Natalie Joyce has the other chief girl role. Gene Morgan, Blanche Payson and Bill Blaisdell complete the cast. Henry Fox Starts New O. Two-Reeler Fox has started a new (). Henry two-reeler under the title of "From the Cabby's Seat." Gladys McConneli is playing the 0. Henry girl and Gene Cameron has the leading male role. Others in the cast are Art Rowlands and Ernie Shields. Benjamin Stoloff' is directing. Buster Brown Dog Signed to Long Contract Stem Brothel's, producers of Buster Brown Comedies for Universal release, have signed Pete, the dog to a long term contract. He is now playing the role of Tige in the Buster Brown series. Pete is said by some reviewers to have a real sense of humor. Scenes from "Weak But Willing, an Educational release. Stern Bros. Adopt Ncav Policy Announce Only Series of High Class Comedies Will be Produced — Century Name is Dropped Highlights from "Mazie's Married," No. 12 of "The Adventures of Mazie," an F. B. O. production. ANEW production policy under which only series of high class comedies will be made by the cvimpany has been announced by the Stem Brothers, producers for the Universal release schedule. Hereafter the pictures will be known as the Stern ]^>rothers Comedies, the former output — Century Comedies — is to be discontinued. There will be at least five series of firstclass comedies on the 1926-1927 release schedule of the Stem Brothers Comedies. An extension of the present Buster Brown Productions will foi'm the nucleus of the new schedule. Another new series of two-reelers, already in the making for next season's release by the Stern Brothers, is "What Happened to Jane," a high-class situation comedy series starring Wanda Wiley. The stories are being written by Roy Evans. Al Ford has been engaged to appear opposite Miss Wiley in this new series. The remainder of the supporting cast is of unusual strength, including Hilliard Karr, the fat comedian, Eleanor Leslie, well known character actress and others of equal prominence. The Stern Brothers are now considering several story series of national importance as vehicles for their stars. "Our unprecedented success with the Buster Brown Comedies convinced us that the market is ripe for more high-class comedies," say the Sterns, discussing their change in production policy. "A close analysis of the comedy market has also proven to us that series pictures are more in demand than week in and week out releases, however good those releases may be. "The foregoing two phases of the comedy situation were the determining factors in our decision to confine our production activities from now on, to series comedies. "We have reorganized our production facilities, and increased our studio personnel, as well as adding a number of higher grade technicians and writers to our staff. We are now in a position to turn out comedies without equal in the industry. That is our goal." Pathe Presented Programs for Poor Kiddies Co-operating with the New York Evening Graphic, Pathe presented screen programs for poor kiddies in New York and Brooklyn during the holidays. Harold Lloyd, "Our Gang" and other Pathe comedies were fuz'nished gratis for the entertainment of thousands of youngsters at Keeney's Bedfort Theatre, Brooklyn, on December 29th, and at the Gotham Theatre, New York, on the same date. Gillespie Cast for Role in Theda Bara Comedy William Gillespie, has been added to the cast supporting Theda Bara in her Hal Roach comedv, now in production under the direction of Richard Wallace and the supervision of F. Richard Jones. Tyler Brooke, Jimmie Finlayson, Fred Malatesta and Joe Madeson are other supporting players.