The Moving picture world (November 1925-December 1925)

450 MOVING PICTURE WORLD Dec V)2h Pathe Gets Behind "Laugh Month," Offering More Than Twenty Splendid Laughmakers P\ rHE is Retting behind "Laugh Month" with full force and announces a hst ol twcnty-tiiree sure-lire huighniakcrs on tlie January short feature release program, which is headed by a Harry Langdon svH'cial comedy, made by Mack Sennett, and inchules four two-reel comedies from the Sennett studio, five two-reelers and three single reelers from the Hal Roach lot. and five releases each of "Aesop's Film Fables" and "Topics of the Day." Popular comedy stars and featured players who will be seen in Pathe comedies during "l.angh Month" include such box-office magnets as Ralph Graves, "Our Gang," Alice Day, Clyde Cook, Harry Langdon, Charlie Chase, Billy Bevan. Glenn Tryon, Andv Clyde. Al. St. John, Lucien Littlefield, "Husky" Hanes. Jimmy Finlayson, Lige Conley. Martha Sleeper, Dot Farley, Kewpie Morgan, Madeline Hurlock, cissv Fitzgerald, Jack "Rube" Clifford, Thelma Parr, Marvin Lobach. Paul Parrott. Douglas Gerrard, William McCall, Ruth Hiatt. Pegg>Nfontgomery, \ ernon Dent, Sue O Xeil. and X'ivian Oakland. Titles of Pathe comedies listed for "Laugh Month" include the following: "Saturday Afternoon," three reel Harry l.angdon-Mack Sennett comedy special: "A Punch in the Nose." two-reel Hal Roach comedy : "The Gash Darn Mortgage." Sennett two-reeler: "Good Cheer," "Our Gang" comedy: "Soft Pedal." erne reel Roach comedy with Paul Parrot: "Don't Butt In." a one reel Roach tilm with Paul Parrott. and "Between Meals," a one reel Roach comedy with Paul Parrott. "Aesop's Film Fables. " to be released during "Laugh Month." include "The Gold Push." "Three Blind Mice."' " Lighter Than Air." 'The Little Brown Jug" and " A June Bride."" All of these subjects are packed full of fun devised by Paul Terry and his staff at the studios of Fables Pictures. Inc. Five releases of '"Topics of the Day."' the ever-popular reel of wit and humor clipped from the press of the world by the editorial staff of Timely Films. Inc., will be offered exhibitors. In presenting the next Harry Langdon comedy special tor release in "Laugh Month."" Pathe is giving exhibitors one of the funniest films ever enacted by Langdon, who is conceded to be one of the foremost comedy bets in the business today. Only recently Langdon's ""Lucky Stars" was featured for a week each at the Rialto and Rivoli on Broadway and is now playing 126 days on the Loew Circuit. In ""Saturday Afternoon.'" the Langdon release for January, the droll star has a vehicle with a real plot embellishevi v\"ith a generous number of positive laug;-.s. His supporting cast includes Vernon Dent, Rath Hiatt and Peggy Montgomery. Harr> Edwards, who has made the majority of the Langdon-Sennett comedy successes, directed "Saturday Afternoon." "Good Cheer." the ""Our Gang"' comedy produced by Hal Roach presents the famous Rascals in a holiday story with wide appeal to adults as well as the yotmgsters. The story concerns the efforts of the Gang to brighten the Christmas season for the less fortunate kiddies. They encounter a whole army of Santa Qauses and tmcover a big piot as well as providing a real Merry Christ mas for many children. All the "Gang" members including the latest addition, Jay Smith, contribute to the fun. Robert McGowan directed this holiday laughmaker. "Hot Cakes for Two"' is another rollicking, wholesome Alice Day comedy with the Mack Sennett comedienne at her very best. She plays a sweet maiden from the corn tields of Kansas who seeks screen fame and undergoes experiences which every film aspirant will want to see. And the fun of it all will convulse any audience. Her supporting cast includes Gus Runty, George A. Reranvror. Joseph "i'oung, ard Marvin Lobach. Alf Goulding directed. "Long Pants" offers Glenn Tryon in two reels of fun directed by Fred L. Guiol for Hal Roach. Tryon appears as a young "flipper" or male flapper who has acquired his first long pants. The said trousersare of the newest, widest and longest style but not mishrinkablc. Glenn Tryon is supported b> Cissy Fitzgerald, Vivian Oakland, Jack "Rube"" Cliiford and Sue O'Keil. ■'Whispering Whiskers'" is a typical MacK Sennett comedy of the brand bearing his name and was directed by Del Lord. Billy Hevan and An&y Clyde head the funsters which include Madeline Hurlock and Kewpie Morg.Tn. The plot involves stolen rubies, clairvoyants and mysterious disguises which aid in making the fun fast and furious. Those named are typical of the high standard of comedies which Fsthe has linedup for "Laugh Month." In addition to providing a big array of funfilms. Pathe is also lining-up complete fxhibitor-help-; to put over the comedy subjects in the many theatres that are sure to cash-in on the wide publicity and fine programs being offered because of "Laugh Month."" In the selection of stills and posters special care has been paid to choose the funniest scenes for display in the lobby frames and show the "customers" that a real comedy is being shown inside. To emphasize tiie punch scenes in forthcoming comedies. Pathe !S issuing special art posters on the short feature comedits. Such artists as Gustav Michelson. George Kerr and Merle Johnson are drawing an On a "Still" Hunt Arouiui tt motion picture studio, photogr&pbs taken with a regular camera are known as "ttill*," to distinguish them from "moTies." as tile motion picture negatives are called. Now go on with the story. The location man for the William Goo<lrich-Lupino Lane Company, out scouting for suitable locations for Lane's next comedy, was examining the grounds of a railway station near Los Angeles, when he was approached by the station agent. "What are you looking for," aaked tke agent, suspiciously. "I'm trying to take a stSL" said tke location man. "Callaping tarantulas !" exclaimed tbe •gent, "How'd you know we bad oae?" unusual line of posters which Pathe exhibitors will find ready-made for advertising their "Laugh Month" attraction. Press books are issued on all Pathe two-reel comedies and these books will include stories and cuts which will aid the exhibitor in supplying the local papers with stories about comedies of the moment. Music cue sheets are another new-exhibitor aid being issued by Pathe on the short feature comedy product produced by Hal Roach and Mack Sennett. Undoubtedly exhibitors will pay particular attention to the accompaniment given their comedy subjecti during "Laugh Month," and the Pathe cue sheets will prove invaluable. Pathe is particularly well equipped to provide exhibitors with all-comedy programs in great diversity as to stars and length of subjects. Such three-reel comedies as Harry Langdon in "There He Goes"' or "Saturday Xight,"' and Charlie Chaplin in ""A Dog's Life" are just the type of attraction to form an all-comedy bill around. .\ Mack Sennett and Hal Roach two-reel subject added to the three-reeler and one of the ".\esop's Film Fables" and a release of "Topics of the Day" affords one of the best comedy programs available. The success of all-comedy programs is well known, and the continued use of this type of bill by Ma.x Graf at the Eg^yptian and Aztec Theatres in San Francisco with big results at the box-oflice has proved the money-making possibilities of such programs. One of the highlights of "Laugh Month" will be the many all-comedy programs offered by wide-awake exhibitors, and the house of Pathe is ready to do its part in giving the exhibitor every cooperative aid in making January, 1926, a month of real joy for audiences with resultant benefits for the exhibitor. Larry Semon in New York Confers With Pathe Officials Regarding Next Vehicle — "Stop, Look and Listen," His Latest Larry Semon, who recently completed "Stop, Look and Listen," his first Pathe feature comedy, and Dorothy Dwan, his wife, who appeared opposite the popular comedian in this picturization of the Broadway musical comedy success, are now in New York where Mr. Semon is conferring with the Pathe officials regarding his next vehicle. John .\dams, business manager for Semon, who came East with the star, has returned to the West Coast to make ready for the second production. "Stop, Look and Listen" is a t>-pical Larry Semon vehicle affording plenty of scope for thrills as well as laughs. It will be recalled that Charles Dillingham produced this musical comedy on Broadway with Gaby Deslys as the star. Miss Dwan plays this part in the screen-play and Mr. Semon essays the role that brought fame to T. Roy Barnes. Semon. himself, directed "Stop, Look and Listen" and included in bis cast stich farorite players as Mar> Carr. Lionel Belmore, Babe Hardy. Bull Montana, William Gillespie, Josef Swickard. B. F. Blinn, Frederic Kovert and Curtis McHenry.