Motion Picture News (Sep-Oct 1925)

1156 Motion Picture N ezvs Harry Langdon in scenes from "Lucky Stars," a two reel Mark Sennett production released by Pathe. F. B. O. Short Subjects Active Four Comedy Units Busy With Production at West and East Coast Studios SHORT subjects for the 1925-26 program are at the peak of their activity at the F.B.O. studio simultaneously with the arrival at the coast studios last week of vice-president J. I. Schnitzer and east coast scenario editor John Hrownell. The four comedy units at the F.B.O. studio are functioning at full speed, while Walter Lantz of the Bray Studios in New York is turning out two series of animated cartoons for the distributing company. Director Ralph Ceder has stai'ted work with Alberta Vaughn, Larry Kent, Kit Guard and Al Cook on the third episode of "The Adventures of Mazie". This episode is titled, "Or What Have You." There are twelve episodes in the series, which ran as short stories in Top Notch Magazine. Nell Martin is author of the stories and they are being eontinuitized by Doris Anderson. Work mi "Fighting' Hearts," another series, is also under way. These stories are VIEWS of the crowds entering the new Diversey Theatre, in Chicago, were shown on the screen at the opening performance of that house in a special film made in record time by Kinograms, Educational's news reel. Spectators were astonished to see Hashed on the screen pictures of themselves entering the theatre just an hour and live minutes previously, the reel having been photographed, developed, printed and titled in time for screening before the first performance had been completed. The remarkable feat, which is believed to set a record for fast developing and printing, was accomplished by Kinograms as part of its free service to Mr. Asher Levy, being written especially for the company by Sam Hellman, well known humorist. Larry Kent will play the male lead in these new comedies. Joe Bock units are producing two series of twenty-six comedies for F.B.O. The first two of the Standard Fat Men series, called "Tailoring" and "Three Wise Goofs" are already completed. They feature Fat Karr, Tiny Alexander and Kewpie Boss, three of the fattest men of the screen. The first of the Blue Bibbon comedies, "Lame Brains," another Joe Bock contribution, featuring Alice Ardell, a young Parisian girl, has also been completed. Walter Lantz of the Bray studios has finished two of the twenty-six cartoons he is scheduled to produce. The first of these a Dinky Doodle cartoon is called "The Bad Man," and the second is an Unnatural History cartoon called "How the Elephant Got His Trunk." manager of the Diversey Theatre, which is a unit of the Orpheum Circuit. Though several surprise events were prepared for the opening of the theatre, the Kinograms stunt created the greatest comment and applause. The special reel showed exterior views of the theatre with the crowds collecting on the sidewalks and filing into the lobby. As few of the patrons noticed tin' news cameraman taking the scenes, the pictures came as a great surprise to the bulk of the spectators, who, midway through the performance, witnessed the pictures of the formal opening. The following day Mr. Dave Lubin, of the Chicago Kducational Exchange, received the following letter from Mr. Levy: "We have only the highest praise to offer for your services at the opening of our new Diversey Theatre, Chicago, when the motion pictures showing the first audience enter the theatre were projected on the screen one hour and five minutes after being taken. It was a remarkable feat in service and workmanship." Great credit, it is declared, is also due to the Rothacker Laboratory staff, who aided the Kinograms men. Special developing, printing and drying crews were placed at the disposal of the cameramen and orders given to push the film through in record time. World Cartoonist Signed by Educational Education-Mermaid Comedies has signed Charles Gordon Saxton, formerly a cartoonist on the New York World, to a contract as gag man. He is now at the new Educational studios in Los Angeles. Saxton was attached to tin' World for two years and his cartoons attracted wide attention. Helen Foster Given Lead With Lupino Lane Helen Foster will play the leading feminine role opposite Lupino Lane in that star's next comedy for Educational. Miss Foster was formerly with Educational-Tuxedo comedies as leading lady with Johnny Arthur. Scenes from the Wanda Wiley starring vehicle "Gridiron Gertie a Century comedy reieasea through Universal. Kinograms Feat Stirs Chicago News Reel Shows Pictures of Crowds Entering Diversey at Opening Performance of New House