The Moving picture world (May 1926-June 1926)

&hort feature cMagazine CA Ttloqazine within a magazine, devoted exclusively to the Bttle 9ictures with the $>iq 9unch 6dited bij Charles SdwariJiastinqs Pathe News Announces Exclusive Pictures of Byrd's Polar Flight Authentic Film Story Now Speeding to America SPEEDING across the Arctic Ocean from King's Bay, Spitzbergen to New York are some of the most valuable cans of film that the motion picture industry has ever laid claim to, for therein is recorded the thrilling and authentic story of the flight of Lieutenant-Commander Richard E. Byrd, U.S.N., to the North Pole, clinching America's claim to the top of the world. This film, to which sole ownership rests with Pathe, the organization which ha<| the exclusive motion picture rights of the expedition, was rushed to the Trawler "Hobby," soon after LieutenantCommander Byrd had landed at King's Bay amid a scene of rejoicing. The trawler, chartered by Pathe in conjunction with The New York Times, is the boat Amundsen and Ellsworth used when returning from Spitzbergen to Norway after the flight in which they landed within 150 miles of the Pole in two planes. It put out for a Norwegian port while Lt.Com. Byrd and his companions were being welcomed by Amundsen and Ellsworth, awaiting with the dirigible Norge to fly across the Polar regions to Alaska. Connections were to be made at a Norway port with a fast trans-Atlantic steamer. The flight was favored by sunlight and the absence of fog and the pictures of the journey are expected to be a Universal Plans to Make 52 One-Reel Comedies For Coming Season A PRODUCTION SCHEDULE for comedies which include 52 one-reel pictures during the next twelve months has been adopted by Universal, according to announcement by Carl Laemmle. The pictures Will be made under the supervision of Scott Darling, head of the comedy production units at Universal City, and to care for the increased production, Darling has engaged a staff of "gag-men" and directors. Arthur Lake will continue to star in "Sweet Sixteen" comedies. He will make 13 of the 52 comedies, under the direction of George Summerville. Charles Puffy will do 13 more two-reelers with Dick Smith directing, and Neely Edwards will return to the studio to make 13 pictures. No director has been chosen for him as yet. A series of 13 novelty comedies featuring "Slim" Summerville and "Fanny" the educated mule, is also on the schedule. It will be Summerville's first appearance on the screen in several years. A staff of four motion picture comedy "gag-men" have been engaged under contract by Darling to write and assist in the production of the stories. They are Eugene De Rue, who has directed some of the most revelation from a scientific standpoint and of intense interest to all the civilized world. This will be the first time in the history of mankind that a camera has been cranked at the North Pole, one of the greatest scoops ever made by a motion picture organization. While no direct word has been received by Emanuel Cohen, of Pathe, from the two cinematographers of his staff who joined the expedition when it sailed from New York, it is believed that a complete story of the flight into the great uncharted wastes will be graphically presented when the film reaches the Pathe headquarters and is screened for the first time. Credit for this master stroke in news photography goes to Emanuel Cohen. Mr. Cohen carried on lengthy negotiations for the sole rights of filming Lt.-Com. Byrd's flight over the North Pole in a Fokker plane, the second attempt to circle the polar regions in a plane Mr. Cohen took no chances on the failure of one cameraman to get the authentic story of the expedition, and despatched two of his most expert cinematographers to go with Lt.-Com. Byrd. Cameramen Vanderveer and Donahue, both with a record of successful accomplishments in news photography in many lands, made the journey overseas. Byrd's Fokker was equipped with three engines. A reserve airplane, similarly equipped, was taken along. The crews were largely composed of volunteers from the commissioned and enlisted men of the Naval Reserve. The U. S. Shipping Board Steamship "Cantier" was placed at the disposal of this expedition, financed by John D. Rockfeller, Jr., Thomas F. Ryan, Edsel Ford and Vincent Astor. Blind Man Qets Kick Out of Pictures One of the letters of commendation which Max Fleischer, head of Red Seal Pictures and the Inkwell Studios, prizes most is the simple request from a blind man for one of Max's autographed Ko-Ko cards after Max's most recent New York radio talk. The request reads: "Kindly send me an autographed Ko-Ko as per your tonight's broadcasting. I am blind but get a kick out of the pictures from the description of my little girl. Sincerely Yours, (signed) Jack Lockett, 125 E. 126th" St., N. Y. City." popular comedy stars of the screen, Marcel Perez, formerly with Joe Rock productions, Frederick Spencer and Charles Diltz. The Arthur Lake unit has already started work on the first of the thirteen, and Puffy will begin work next week.