Universal Weekly (1922)

24 Universal Weekly December 16, 1922 Universal Announces Strong Schedule of Year 'End Short Features for Joy Week TO meet the midwinter demands and to provide a strong program for the week of December 24 to 30, which Universal has characterized as Universal Joy Week, that film company has arranged an unusually strong selection of short subjects for release during the present month. In addition to the especially chosen features for the regular release schedule, several important additions have been prepared for distribution to the trade. Outstanding among these are two "New Leather Pushers" and two new editions of "The Mirror." The month's output from Universal Exchanges will include four high-class Universal comedies of one reel each and four new Century Comedies of two reels each. The Universal comedies will consist of two featuring Lewis Sargent, the boy comedian, and two featuring Neely Edwards, tramp comedian, who has made his Nervy Ned Series popular in the short subjects field. The Sargent Comedies are: "A Rip-Snoring Night," released December 4th, and "A Dog Gone Day," released December 18th. Both are from the "Messenger Boy Series," which Sargent is making for Universal. The Neely Edwards comedies are: "Rail Birds," for December 11th, and "Where's the Parade?" for Christmas Day. The four Century Comedies for the month, in the order of their release, are: "Women First," "A Small Town Derby," "Me and My Mule" and "The Tattle Tail." These comedies are released each Wednesday. The two "New Leather Pushers" to be released in December mark the beginning of a new series of six of the popular two-reelers made from H. C. Witwer's funny prize ring stories, picturized by Harry Pollard, Universal director, with Reginald Denny in the leading role. The new series of six is said to be even better than the original series of six. The same director, the same star and in many instances the same cast have been used. The first of the new series is called "Young King Cole," and was released December 4th. The succeeding units of the series are to be released at fortnightly intervals, so the second one, "He Raised Kane," will be released December 18th. Universal reports many advance bookings on their series, almost every theatre which played the first series having requested early dates on the new series. So popular have the first two issues of "The Mirror" been that International News Reel Corporation is placing two new ones at the disposal of the exhibitor for Yuletide. "Mirror" IN HEADLIGHTS The Way Ascher's Merrill Theatre (Milwaukee), Ralph Weitstein, Manager, Features "The Leather Pushers" Nos. 3 and 4 both are being released this month, No. 3 on the 4th, and No. 4 on the 18th. "Mirror" No. 3 is titled "The Birth of Aviation," and shows the Wrights and other aeronautical pioneers making the first birdhops of history. These are contrasted with the latest models in military and commercial planes. "Mirror" No. 4 will deal with the world-stirring pomp and ceremonies attending the death and burial of King Edward VII of Great Britain, and the crowning of his successor, the present King George V, and the investiture of the present Prince of Wales. The reel includes unusual shots of the popular Prince. The Universal short subjects for December also includes "The Siege of the Lancashire Queen," a two-reel Fish Patrol picture, starring Jack Mulhall and taken from one of Jack London's famous stories. "Kings of the Forest," a two-reeler starring Roy Stewart, will be put on the market December 18th. It is another of the stirring Lumberjack stories Universal has made detailing the life, loves and adventures of the logging camp. Added to these two short dramas, Universal has re-edited and re-titled two of Harry Carey's most popular pictures of several years ago. They are: "The Texas Sphinx" and "The Golden Bullet," originally three-reel Westerns which have been quickened to two reels. They will be released on December 9th and 30th respectively. Other subjects scheduled for December by Universal are issues 97 to 102 (1922) and issues Nos. 1 and 2 (1923) of the International News reel; chapters 13 to 16 inclusive of "In the Days of Buffalo Bill," and chapters 6 to 9 inclusive of "The Radio King," starring Roy Stewart. Universal Finishes McCutcheon Romance Starring Rawlinson THE latest production of importance to go into the editorial department at Universal City is "The Prisoner," starring Herbert Rawlinson. "The Prisoner" was adapted from George Barr McCutcheon's novel, "Castle Craneycrow," by E. T. Lowe, Jr. Jack Conway, Rawlinson's director in many previous successes, guided the filming of the famous romantic novel. An imaginary kingdom in Europe is the locale of the principal action and the production included [many picturesque scenes not within the scope of an ordinary motion picture. The cast is unusually strong. Eileen Percy, star in her own right and one of the leading women of "The Flirt," played opposite Rawlinson. Principal figures in the colorful story were portrayed before the camera by Rawlinson, Miss Percy, Bertram Grassby, June Elvidge, George Cowle, Lincoln Stedman, Gertrude Short, Lillian Langdon, Bert Sprotte, Boris Karloff, Esther Ralston, Hayford Hobbs and Mario Carillo. The atmosphere of "The Prisoner" is in line with current tendencies of the theatregoing public, which seems to enjoy romantic stories. Universal Weeks Successful in Experiment in Yonkers THE Strand Theatre, playing two weeks of Universal pictures, report having enjoyed unusual business for the first half of the first week. Sunday, December 3rd, the Strand opened with "The Jilt" and "The Lavender Bath Lady" for a double feature to have a three days' run. Wednesday the program was changed and Frank Mayo in "The Altar Stairs," with a Fish Patrol story, "Lord of the Sea," opened for two days. Jack Staub, Big "U" Exploiteer, is assisting Manager Graves in the exploitation.