The Moving picture world (September 1926-October 1926)

242 MOVING PICTURE WORLD September 25, 1926 A talented line-up appears in Stern Brothers' "The Newly weds and Their Baby," as you see by gazing, left to rieht, at Etyire Clair (Mrs. Newlywed), Jed Dooley (Daddy), Snookums (the baby); and the same applies to the Buster Brown series. Arthur Trimble, Dnreen Turner and Pete being shown together; then there's Sid Saylor of "Let George Do It," Charles King, "The Excuse Maker," and Wanda Wiley, stunt comedienne. A Universal release. Stern Brothers Launch New Comedy Product THE long-heralded 1927-1928 comedy product of the Stern Film Corporation, promised by the Stern Brothers as an entirely new line-up of high grade two reelers, made and to be marketed in series, w'as launched this week, when all Universal Exchanges officially began the release of the several groups of pictures included in the new year's supply of Stern Brothers Comedies. Differing widely from past years, the new Stern Brothers product consists of four series of thirteen two-reelers each and one series of twelve. The latter is the new Buster Brown series, which has been elevated to the rank of a Junior Jewel series and which is being released by Universal on the same plane as such unusual box-office successes as "The Leather Pushers." The other four series, the comedies of which are to be alternated in their release, combine to give a total of 52 pictures for the year, or equivalent to one a week for the many exhibitors who have signed up for the entire array of Stern Brothers tworeelers. ALL NIGHT LONG. (Pathe Comedy). Star, Harry Langdon. A knockout comedy; will bring the laughs. The best Langdon we have played. Tone good. Mitchell Conery, Conoat Projection Service, Menands. New York. BEAR CATS. (Educational Juvenile). Can't give this one much, as it was similar to so many other kid comedies shown this season. Tone O.K. Weak appeal. Sunday, yes, H. H. Hedberg, Amuse-U Theatre, Melville, Louisiana. BRAVE AXD BAD ME.\. ( Vitagraph-Warner Bros. — comedy). Star, Larry Semon. This is an old, old Semon two-reeler. It hasn't quite the value of his final two-reelers, nevertheles.s the kids about yelled the roof off, as only Semon can seem to make them. Good tone and appeal and yes for Sunday. Draw village and rural class, town 400. E. L. Partridge, Pyam Theatre (250 seats. Kinsman, Ohio. CAT'S WHISKERS. ( F. B. O.) A good reel that the kiddies like. Play them occasionally, and they seem to be appreciated by both young and old. R. A. Preuss, Arvada Theatre, Arvada, Colorado. OHARLESTOX IN SIX LESSONS. It may be that it paid to run it six or eight months ago; at present a single-reel comedy will do as much. However, it will not hurt your program. Draw miners, town about 1,000. Admission 10-25. Arch Cata The four series of thirteen comedies each are "The Xewlyweds and Their Baby" series, the "L.et George Do It" series, thg 'What Happened to Jane" series and "The Excuse Maker" series All are being made with firstclass ,stars and players and under the direction of men who have made names for themselves in the comedy field. The new Stern Brothers series are the result of an entire change in producJtion policy by that concern during the past six months. Xot only was it decided to confine production to series of group comedies instead of a week-toweek output, but elaborate means were taken to turn out two-reelers of superior quality and unprecedented box-office value. As evidence of this, the following important acquisitions of screen material are cited: An extension of the Buster Brown rights, the motion picture rights to two of the popular newspaper carton strips of the noted comic artist George McManus. the two lano, Victory Theatre (150 seats), Rossiter, Pennsylvania. FELIX ON THE JOB. (Educational— cartoon). The youngsters are greeting these with applause when they see them on the screen. Everybody seems to enjoy the appearance of Felix the Cat on the screen. Good tone and appeal. Draw better class, town 4,500, Admission 1020. C. A. Anglemire, "Y" Theatre (400 seats). Nazareth. Pennsylvania. FIGHTING IIE.^RTS. (F B. O. Series). Have just finished this series, and while it is worth showing it is not as good here as some of the earlier F. B. O. series. There is too much sameness to the episodes. Tone O.K. Fair appeal. Sunday, .ves. H. H. Hedberg, Amuse-U Theatre. Melville, Louisiana. GREEN .\RCHER. (Pathe Serial). Stars, Allene Ray, Roy Miller. Probably as good as — If not the best — serial on the market. Draw town and farm class, town 600. Admission 1025. H. P. McFadden, Reel Theatre (200 seats). Natoma, Kansas. strips being "The .N'ewlyweds and Their Baby" and "Let George Do It," which hive appeared in newspapers all over the world, and the special writing of first class stories for "The Excuse Maker" Series and the "'What Happened to Jane" series, "The Newlyweds and Their Bab.v" Series deals with the three comedy characters, Mr. and Mrs. Newlywed and their baby, Snookums, known to children and grown-ups all over the world through the McManus cartoons. The baby is played by an impish litle rascal, new to the screen, selected after more than 1,000 children were brought to the Stern Brothers studios following a radio appeal for a cliild to play Snookums, The "Let George Do It" series is based on the McManus cartoons which depict a boobish fall-guy always getting the rough end of the deal and used as a cats-paw by everyone. This part is taken in the Stern Brothers comedies by Sid Saylor, already popular as a screen HERE COMBS CHARLIE. (Educational Comedy), Star. Lloyd Hamilton, The people here did not take to this comedy at all in spite of the fact that Educational Comedies as a whole are considered the best on the market by my bunch. The picture is not funny — it ,is just silly. Draw all classes, town 3,000. M. W. Larmour. National Theatre (430 seats), Graham. Texas. HOME CURED. (Educational — comedy). Star, Johnny Arthur. By the number of laughs received while showing. I judge it a good comedy. Virginia was in this one and that helped. Tone and appeal good. Draw better class, town 4,500. C. A. Anglemire, "Y" Theatre (400 seats). Nazareth, Pennsylvania. KINOGR.%MS. (EducationalMagazine). Always interesting to our crowds. They only carr.v news, and not propaganda. Draw better class, town 4.500. .\dmission 10-20. C. A. .Xnglemire. "Y" Theatre (400 seats), Nazareth. Pennsylvania. PAT'S PATENT. (Producers Comedy). Star, Charley Murray. If you haven't played this comedian. His worK Is said tofit the role like a glove. "The Excuse Maker" series has to do wifh a young man of the soda-water sheik type whose Lothario tendencies continually get him into trouble with his sweetheart's mother or father, and later the series, with his fatherin-law. The "What Happened to Jane" series was built up around the theme of a young girl and her escapades and love affairs under the nose of an irascible father. Wanda Wiley has been featured as the girl in most of those already made for this series. The Stern Brothers, Julius and Abe, president and vice-president respectively of the Stern Film Corporation, did not stop with the purchase of high powered material and the engagement of popular stars and players, in their plan to turn out a product second to none. They also went far afield in the acquisition of comedy directors. In addition to Gus Meins, v/ho directed the first series of Buster Brown comedies and who has smce created a distinct niche for Tiimself in th* comedy hall of fame by his work with the new Buster Browns and "The Newlyweds and Their Ba")y" comedies, the Sterns obtained the ser%-ice of such wellknown and reputed comedy directors as Francis Corby, Charles Lamont, Scott Pembroke and Sam Newfield. series of twelve All-Star comedies that Producers have, gret them right no%v. They star Charley Murray, who is some box office bet after his last fewfeature pictures. The comedies will please Murray fans and bring more laughs than most two-reel comedies being released today. Mitchell Conery. Conoat Projection Service. Menands, New York. PLANE JANE. (F. B. O. Series). Star, Alberta Vaughn. This is number three of the "Fighting Hearts." This is the best number so far. Gotul appeal. Yes for Sunday. Robert W. Hines, Hines Theatre (250 seats). Loyalton, South Dakota. SHORE SHY. (Educational Comedy). Some laughed, others yawned. Not much of a comedy. In fact, none of Dooley's tworeelers have been successful here. H. H. Hedberg. Amuse-U Theatre, Melville, Louisiana, YOIR HI SBAND'S PAST. (Pathe Comedy), An excellent sleep producer sold to us as a comedy Not a single gigle was heard. Tone O.K., hut no appeal, Sunday, yes, H, H. Hedl)erg. Amuse-I' Theatre. Melville. Louisiana. For last-minute news of the exhibitors, turn to the color sections "up front." Straight From the Shoulder, Jr» Edited by Van Reports on Short Subject* from Exhibitors