Motion Picture News (May-Jun 1923)

June 50. 1923 3187 Universal Directors: Tod Browning, Hobart Henley. King Baggot, Harry Pollard, Wallace Worsley. Lois Weber and Rupert Julian. Extensive Short Subject Program M appedOut CARRYING out Carl Laemmle's recently announced policy for Universal Short Subjects, that they must be of sufficiently high quality-to make them suitable for showing in any first run house, the Short Subjects department at Universal City has mapped out its program for the year 1923-24. Mr. Laemmle has completely reorganized this department of his organization, it is announced. He has engaged new stars, acquired bigger stories, signed up better directors and given a freer rein to production. Universale new short subject releases will be divided into four classes. They will be tworeel Westerns; special two-reel series, such as the Leather Pushers ; two-reel comedies and onereel comedies. In addition to these there will be the usual two issues of the International News Reel and a special program of Universal Super Chapter Plays. Heading the short subject releases will be a fourth series of the "Leather Pushers," starring Reginald Denny. Harry Pollard who directed the other three series will direct. Universal reports that the Leather Pushers have played in every section of the country and have had first runs on Broadway for each series. — The first at the Central, the second at the Rialto and the third, recently, at the Rivoli. A special series of high class two-reel comedies from the newspaper comic strip by Sidney Smith called "The Gumps," is in production with Koe Murphy as " Andy " and Fay Tincher as "Min." For the special series of two-reel westerns, the Universal company reports that they have engaged Jack Dougherty, Jay Morley, Pete Morrison and Edmund Cobb. These it is understood will be directed by William Craft, Frank Grandon and Jay Marchant. Esther Ralston, Elinor Field and Laura LaPlange will play the feminine leads. Neely Edwards and Bert Roach will star in their own one-reel comedies. Edwards will continue as "the gentieman of the road." Roach will be seen in a new special character for his comedies. He became very popular while playing with Edwards in one-reel comedies depicting the adventures of "Nervy Ned" and his valet. In addition to these two comedians the Universal office announces that they have signed Chuck Reisner for a special series of one-reel comedies to be known as "The Reporter Series." He will be sent out on various assignments which will take him to different parts of the country. Risner played in most of the Chaplin comedies as well as being their co-director and co-author. He also played in the Bull Montana comedies. Universal will continue to release two issues of International News reels each week and a series of Century Comedies. Universal Serial Stars: Jack Mower, Edith Johnson, Eileen Sedgwick, Fred Thorns on, Ann Little and William Duncan. Seven Serials to Be Released by Universal CONFIDENT in the future of the super chapter play, Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Pictures Corporation, has authorized the inauguration of a serial program that calls for the production of seven big super seria's of fifteen chapters each for release during the 1923-24 season The serial department at Universal City has undergone the greatest change in its history. In addition to acquiring a group of new stars and writers the company has greatly enlarged its studio force and equipment and will produce nothing but the very highest class chapter play, ic is announced. The schedule calls for another historical serial of the same standard as "In the Days of Buffalo Bill," "The Oregon Trail" and "In The Days Of Daniel Boone." There will also be two stunt serials, three westerns and one South Sea Island chapter play. In selecting the stars for these chapter plays, Mr. Laemmle has secured William Duncan, Edith Johnson, Ann Little, Fred Thomson, Al Wilson, Jack Mower and Eileen Sedgwick. In addition to these stars, Fred McConnel, serial manager for the company, has been given a free rein in selecting the strongest possible cast for each of these chapter plays. Additional scenario experts have been engaged and the directorial and technical staffs greatly augmented. The first of the new super serials, scheduled for release on August 27th, will be " The Steel Trail," starring William Duncan and Edith Johnson. Duncan will also direct. It is the story of a successful construction engineer who goes to the assistance of a railroad builder and defeats the efforts of an unscrupulous gang to delay operations. The second is "Beasts of Paradise," starring Fred Thomson and Ann Little. It is an adventure story of the South Seas, said to be particularly fitted to Thomson's prowess as an athlete. The story was written by Ewart Adamson who spent five years in the locale and is said to know his subject better than any writer since Robert Louis Stevenson. It is scheduled for release October first. Others scheduled are "The Ghost City" with Jack Mower and Eileen Sedgwick, "' The Fast Express," "The Last Submarine," "By Right of Conquest," an historical serial from the story by G. A. Henty, and "The Arm of the Law."