The Moving Picture Weekly (1920-1921)

THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY •11 Special Publicity ADVENTURES OF CITY WAIF LEAD TO STRANGE PLACES AS long as there are fathers and mothers, children and sweethearts in the world, just so long will stories of the type of "The Big Adventure" be popular. "The Big Adventure" is a Universal photoplay just released, featuring the cleverest youngster on the screen, four-year-old "Breezy" Eason, and announced for appearance at the Theatre on As tiie story unfolds "Breezy" is seen as a little city waif, kicked and cuffed by a brutal step-father and happy only in the companionship of his dog, Mickey. He bears up under his own abuse, but when his canine friend is attacked, he takes French leave and starts to explore the world about him. The little fellow and his dog meet with many adventures, some thrilling, others amusing, and all interesting. His association with a gang of hoboes, his incarceration in a small town bastille, his adoption by a kindhearted lawyer, his role as Cupid in a pastoral romance and a chain of other appealing incidents comprise a screen play that holds the interest from opening scene to final fade-out. Gertrude Olmstead and Lee Shumway share the adult honors in the story, and other important roles are played by Fred Herzog and Mollie Shafer. The production was directed by the young star's gifted father. Reeves Eason, who guided him in all his earlier screen triumphs. QUEEN OF THE ELKS PLAYS ORPHAN ROLE jyjEMBERS of the Lodge of Elks throughout America will be interested to know that Gertrude Olmstead, who was elected the queen of the fraternal order at their convention in Chicago last Summer, is now playing the leading feminine role in the Universal photodrama "The Big Adventure," which is to be seen at the , Theatre on A little over a year ago Gertrude Olmstead, sixteen years old and unconscious of her unusual beauty, was attending high school at LaSalle, Illi ^Mttr School "Breezy" Eason, Jr., in "The Big Adventure " Universal. nois. Then the Elks, looking forward to their convention in the Illinois metropolis, delegated a leading newspaper of Chicago to hold a beauty contest to select the best looking young woman in the Middle West, the winner to be crowned Gueen of the Elks. Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, happened to be in Chicago at the time, and to add zest to the contest offered the winner of the contest a contract to appear in pictures at Universal City. After 20,000 photographs of beautiful young women had been submitted, that of Gertrude Olmstead was selected as the prize winner. She was accordingly made Queen of the Elks and enjoyed the honors bestowed upon her by the antlered herd during their week of festivity in Chicago. Universal made good its promise and Miss Olmstead and her mother were brought to the film capital of the world. Here Gertrude was put through a course of training for several months, then given small parts. She proved as talented as she is beautiful, and her first leading role is that of the young orphan girl in "The Big Adventure," an appealing story of youth in which "Breezy" Eason, the wonder-child of the films, plays the stellar role. 'BREEZY EASON" STARS IN UNIVERSAL FILM LITTLE "Breezy Eason, the fouryear-old wonder child of the screen, will be the principal attraction at the Theatre on when "The Big Adventure," his latest Universal photodrama has its first local showing. In this picture, filmed under the direction of Reeves Eason from the original story by James Edward Hungerford, little "Breezy" appears as a Big Adventure KIDDIE STAR OF SCREEN PLAYS IN BOYHOOD STORY I^ANY a parental heart beat faster at the Theatre last night. Many a youngster snuggled close to the arm of father or mother and was thankful for a good home and doting loved ones. Such was the effect of "The Big Adventure," the story of childhood, which had its first showing here and which served to bring back that wonder-kiddie of the films, "Breezy" Eason, in the title role. This youthful actor, not yet five years of age, gives a more intelligent performance of his role than would be expected of many players many times his age. The story of "The Big Adventure," which was written especially for "Breezy" by James Edward Hungerford, shows the ti-ansition of an abused street waif from the slums of the city to the open country and the beauties of nature. With his dog, Mickey, as his only friend and companion, he runs away from his brutal step-father, falls in with a gang of tramps, is rescued and adopted into the home of a kindly lawyer, and the little fellow at once starts to repay the kindness by his sunny disposition and by acting the role of Cupid. A shattered romance is renewed, a bai^d of outlaws is captured and happiness comes to all concerned as the result of the youngster's ingenious efforts. waif of the city streets who leaves a brutal father and goes to the country on a freight train, accompanied only by his faithful dog, Mickey. He captures a gang of bandits, unites lovers and grins his way through five reels of snappy drama to a finish that will strike a particularly happy chord on the heart-strings of those who see it. "Breezy" Eason is the son of Reeves Eason, the widely known Universal director, and he made his first important screen appearance in "Pink Tights" with Gladys Walton. His work was so appealing that he was selected by Carl Laemmle for a featured role in "Two Kinds of Love." "The Big Adventure," the story which James Edward Hungerford drew with such subtle power of heart interest, was selected as his latest vehicle. malts ^PaV