Moving Picture World (Jan-Feb 1927)

February 12, 1927 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 499 Revolt Scenes At Nicaragua In Pathe News Five Outstanding February Releases From Stern Bros . Exclusive scenes of the revolution in Nicaragua are being shown in Pathe News No. 12, now current. The executives of the pioneer newsreel sensed that there was going to be some exciting action down in Nicaragua. Pathe News sent Robert Donohue, veteran cameraman, on a fast train to New Orleans, from where he caught the first boat leaving for the scene of action. Donohue will be remembered as a member of Lieut. Byrd’s party which established a base at Spitzbergen, from where the North Pole was conquered by air. Rodney, Former Keystone ‘Kop,’ With Sennett Earl Rodney, director, is back on Mack Sennett lot, after an absence of five years, to direct Pathe comedies. Rodney was one of the first comedians to be employed by Sennett. He spent most of his time in the early comedies as the juvenile leading man in the Keystone Kop pictures. His specialty was hopping on and off the fast moving Keystone patrol — in the days when doubles and dummies were not known. Rodney left Sennett to direct for A1 Christie about five years ago. He returned to his former “boss” two months ago as a director. Lovely Anne Cornwall, a star among the gems in Educational Bobby Vernon Comedy pictures. A New “Newlyweds and Their Baby” Comedy and a “Buster Brown” Junior Jewel Head List of Two-Reelers Snookums, of Stem Brothers Newlywed Comedies, plays Valentine. Winning Title Harold Beaudine, a director at the Christie Studios, won the cash prize for the best title to the latest Educational-Christie Comedy featuring Anne Cornwall. He suggested the title “Chicken Feathers” for his unusually comical picture, which was directed by Walter Graham. West Coast Theatres Play Up Educational Harmonica Contest np HE WEST COAST THEAr TRES, following the completion of their remarkably successful series of EducationalJuvenile Comedies-Harmonica Playing contests staged in leading cities of the Pacific coast, are cashing in now on the vast amount of publicity and good will resulting from these contests. One of the outstanding “follow up” campaigns is the engagement of Arthur Turelly, leading harmonica player on the West Coast, to play in no less than twentyfive theatres under the direction of Fanchon & Marco. Turelly’s extended engagement opened on January 21. During the appearance of Turelly in each theatre, the house orchestra members will receive special instruction in harmonica playing. This means that a selected group of musicians from each theatre will be available, without additional cost, in the future, as a special attraction in the presentation of special motion picture features. Interest in harmonica playing is now becoming nation-wide, and it is estimated conservatively that there are twice as many either THE STERN BROTHERS announce a full schedule of outstanding releases for the month of February. Five tworeelers will be placed on the market this month and it is pointed out that these comedies are unusually good. The list is topped by a widely praised “Newlyweds and Their Baby” comedy, and by a particularly appropriate Buster Brown Junior Jewel by an appropriate Buster Brown Junior Jewel Comedy. The first release for the month is “The Newlyweds Build.” The baby Snookums is played by the remarkable youngster Sunny McKeen. Pretty Ethlyne Clair plays Mrs. Newlywed and Jed Dooley is Mr. Newlywed. The picture was directed by Gus Meins and was released February 2nd. The next February release, set for the 7th, is “Buster’s Sleighride,” a two-reel fun film which takes the famous Buster Brown kiddies and Tige up into the snowclad mountains. Arthur Trimble plays Buster and Doreen Turner is Mary Jane. On February 9th, Universal has slated “What’s Your Hurry,” the latest two-reelers of Stern Brothers’ “Excuse Maker” series for release. Charles King is the star, with Constance Darling as his leading woman. A new “What Happened to Jane” comedy will reach the screen February 16th. It is called “Thanks for the Boat Ride.” Wanda Wiley is the star, with Art Rowlands, A1 Alt and Betty Baker in the leading supporting roles. “George Runs Wild,” newest “Let George Do It” comedy, will be released February 23rd. Sid Saylor has the role of George. As his chief support he has pretty Ethlyne Clair, who has become one of the most popular ingenues on the comedy screen. Christie Girls’ Beauty Squad Several members of the Christie Beauty Squad are given an opportunity to shine in “Chicken Feathers,” the latest Educational Christie Comedy, featuring Anne Cornwall, to be completed at the Christie Studios. The group which is given a chance to be seen prominently in this comedy includes Ann Christy, Gail Floyd, Evelyn Egan, Ann Carter, Florence Allan, Marie Francis and Jean Woodbury, This Beauty Squad, which is being continually added to, will continue to be seen in Christie Comedies. So famous have Christie girls become that aspirants for screen honors from all sections of the world are constantly seeking membership. playing or learning how to play the harmonica as at this time last year. Borrah Minnevitch and his “kid” symphony orchestra have been scoring a hit nightly in the new Ziegfield show, “Betsy,” at the Amsterdam theatre, New York City, with their harmonica playing. Minnevitch, classified as the greatest of all the experts in playing the instrument, has trained these youthful musicians until they perform marvels with the harmonica. Station WEAF and its associate stations are broadcasting harmonica music regularly each week that is bringing in thousands of “reply cards.” And to top off this publicity, Educational Film Exchange, Inc., in its tie-up with the Hohner Company, now has elaborated the exploitation publicity feature so that in the future, theatres playing Educational Juvenile Comedies will receive a quantity of miniature “Big Boy” harmonicas for free give-away purposes. These are as perfect in every detail as the larger harmonicas, besides being excellent souvenirs for theatre patrons. Helen Foster, one of the Educational Lupin o Lane beauties.