Universal Weekly (1923-1925)

12 Universal Weekly December 8, 1923 "Merry Qo Round" Will Break All Records, Says Carl Laemmle TERRY GO ROUND' will break every record for popularity ever established in the film industry," is the confident prediction of Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Pictures Corporation. He ba.ses his opinion on the unusual booking of the big feature and on the fact it is being re-booked by many exhibitors, although it is still in the first twelve weeks of its run. Mr. Laemmle compared "Merry Go Round" with "The Storm," another Universal picture, which is boosted as Ihe most widely shovra ever released. Today more than 8,000 exhibitors have shown "The Storm" and Universal Exchanges report it is still being booked to an appreciable extent. "The Storm" is less than two years old. "Merry Go Round," in its twelfth week after release date, is far ahead of "The Storm" in its bookings and promises to go far beyond the former picture in the number and extent of its screenings. "I am satisfied that more exhibitors in the United States and Canada booked and played 'The Storm' than ever played any other picture," said the Universal chief. "But I am dead sure from present indications that even the amazing set-up by 'The Storm' wiW be shattered by 'Merry Go Round.' I never heard of such a universally well-liked picture in my life. I never heard of any pic Universal Chief Predicts More Bookings For That Picture Than Any Ever Made ture doing such a repeat business and turning away crowds even in great numbers than the original showing." The following repeat bookmgs on "Merry Go Round" were among those pointed out by Laemmle in substantiation of his statement: Proctor's Theatre, Mt. Vernon, N. Y.; Palace Theatre, New Britain, Conn.; Winter Garden Theatre, Jamestown, N. Y.; the Superba Theatre, San Diego, Calif.; the Paramount Empress Theatre, Salt Lake City, and the Osage Theatre, Shindler, Okla. C. S. Barrett, of the Palace Theatre, New Britain, Conn., after arranging for his return engagement, wrote to the Universal home office as follows: " 'Merry Go Round' is the greatest picture Universal ever produced, both as a business-getter and as an audience picture. Patrons thanked me for showing this picture and told their friends about it. We sold out every night. Have booked for return engagement." E. Weaver, of the Osage Theatre, Shindler, Okla., wrote to the Universal Exchange as follows: "Merry Go Round' is one of the greatest pictures I have ever had the opportunity of showing. We have had a number of requests from persons who failed to see it, asking if we could not secure a return date. I would be glad if I could secure this picture again." ■ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Cummings Guttiog "My Mamie Rose IRVING CUMMINGS and a coterie of scenario and title writers and film editors are now busily engaged with the final editing and titling of "My Mamie Rose," Mary Philbin's new starring feature, recently completed at Universal City under Cummings' direction. Harold McLemon is handling the cutting of the film. Those besides Cummings taking a hand in the titling of the Bowei-y epic are: Bernard McConville, supei-vising editor of all Jewel productions; Lenore Coffey and Harvey Gates, who made the adaptation from the novel by Owen Kildare; James 0. Spearing, of McConville's staff, and James McKay, film editor. The picture, recently shown to Universal executives in rough form, created a sensation and rumors have been broadcast it is one of the most human and colorful productions ever made. It is said to be another triumph for Miss Philbin, whose work created such a sensation in the Viennese spectacle, "Merry Go Round," also that it presents Pat O'Malley in the greatest role of his screen career. The picture will be released under the original title in multiple reel length. In the cast are Max Davidson, William "Buster" Collier, Kate Price, Charles Murray, Edwin J. Brady, Lincoln Plumer, Sherry Tansey, Steve Murphy and Tommy O'Brien. Kathleen Myers Appearing With Billy Sullivan KATHLEEN MYERS, pretty blonde actress, who recently returned from South America where she played leads in a series of pictures, is playing the romantic lead opposite Billy Sullivan in "Girls Will Be Giris," his newest "Leather Pushers" production now being filmed at Universal City under the direction of Edward Laemmle. Miss Myers has been in pictures a number of years, graduating from straight comedies to comedy drama and feature plays. "Giris Will Be Girls" is the third of a new series of prize ring classics starring Sullivan in the role of Kid Roberts, the hero of H. C. Witwer's famous magazine stories of the squared circle. One of the features of the picture is a "society" fight and The Kid is "seconded" by two staunch allies, Joe Murphy and "Ptomaine" Tommy played by Hayden Stevenson and Ed Kennedy, who have figured in all of the "Leather Pushers" series since their inception a couple of years ago, when Reginald Denny was cast for the original "Kid Roberts." Others in the cast are Mathew Betz, Henry Malcor, William Austin, Clarissa Selwynne and Roy Laidlaw. Denny Film In Final Cutting BYRON MORGAN, author of many famous racing stories, such as "The Roaring Road," "What's Your Hurry?" and others, is now assisting in the final editing of "Sporting Youth," which he wrote as an original story for Reginald Denny, Universal star. The story was filmed for Universal under the direction of Harry A. Pollard, the picture being completed just a couple of days before Denny was seriously injured in an automobile accident, from which he is convalescing. It will be released as a UniversalJew^el production in seven or eight reel length. It is said to offer the fastest action and the most remarkable picturization of a spectacular speedway accident of any Morgan story ever filmed. Denny's next picture, which will be made some time after the first of the year, will be a film version of "Love Insurance," a novel by Earl Derr Biggers. Laura La Plante, recently made a star by Carl Laemmle, president of the Universal Pictures Corporation, and now working in her first feature under her new contract with that company, played the romantic lead opposite Denny in the racing picture. Others in the cast are Hallam Cooley, Lucille Ward, Leo White, Frederick Vroom, Henry Barrows, Frederick Stanton, C .L. Sherwood and Malcolm Denny,