Universal Weekly (1923-1925)

Vol. 20, No. 13 Universal Weekly 25 SALES MANAQER APPOINTED FOR CENTURY COMEDIES H. M. Herbel, Formerly Universal Sales Executive, Gets New Post Mr. Stei'n believes that with the product now in work, Century will do, next year, the greatest business in the history of two-reel comedy production. ABE STERN, vice-president of Century Comedies, announced yesterday that H. M. Herbel, former Universal sales executive, and recently busy in the production end of the business, has been appointed sales manager for Century Comedies. Herbel has already left New York, where he will have his headquarters, for a tour of several of the Universal exchanges, through which Century product is distributed. He will concentrate his efforts on the three Jewel productions featuring Baby Peggy and made jointly by Universal and Century; on the special two-reelers starring Baby Peggy and on Century Comedies. The three Jewel productions in which Herbel will be especially interested are "The Darling of New York," "The Law Forbids" and "The Family Secret." These three Jewels are already proving themselves big box-office successes. Until six months ago, when he resigned to enter the producing field, Herbel was one of Universal's keenest sales executives. He started with the big film company as a salesman of their Indianapolis exchange and later was put in charge of fourteen CENTURY ANNOUNCES FOUR FOR NOVEMBER CENTURY COMEDIES announce four two reelers for release through Universal exchanges for November. There will be one Wanda Wiley, one Buddy Messinger, one Century Follies Girls and one Century Kids. Al Alt will also be featured with the Century Follies Girls. The Wanda Wiley release is "Sweet Dreams," scheduled for the fifth. The story is said to give Miss Wiley unusual opportunities for displaying her extraordinary talent as a comedienne. Edward I. Luddy directed. "Don't Fall" is the Buddy Messinger comedy scheduled for release on the nineteenth. In it Buddy is supported by "Bubbles," the five-year-old ccflored comedian, and "Spec" O'Donnell. Arvid Gilstrom directed. The release for the twelfth is "Speed Boys," featuring the famous Century Kids, under the direction of Al Herman, veteran comedy director and responsible for many Century successes. The twenty-sixth will see the release of another of those popular Century Comedies featuring Al Alt and the well-known Century Follies Girls. It is called "Dancing Daisies" and in addition to being extremely funny, boasts a bevy of beauties unequaled in any two-reel production. different exchanges and finally made division manager. As division manager he had charge first of the West Canada division ' and later of the division made up of the Denver, Salt Lake, Spokane and Butte exchanges. When he resigned frOtn Universal, Herbel was Eastern Division Sales Manager. Herbel's present trip will take three weeks to complete and will take in the Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Des Moines, St. Louis, Kansas City and Pittsburgh exchanges. SOME TOMBOY Scenes from "Some Tomboy," current Century Comedy starring Wanda Wiley. CENTURY BUSINESS TAKES BIG JUMP REPORTS received by Abe Stern, vice-president of Century Comedies, at his New York office from Universal exchanges, indicate that exhibitors are realizing more and more every day the business-getting qualities of Century product. In most of the exchanges exhibitors are signing up for the entire yearly output of 52 two-reel comedies and in many cases for the five special tworeelers starring Baby Peggy also. With these reports as an indication, PRODUCTION ACTIVITY BOOMS AT CENTURY COMEDY STUDIOS WITH the arrival on the West Coast of Julius Stern, president of Century Film Corporation, production activities at the Hollywood studios of that company have been speeded up and there are How four units at work. Jess Robbins has started production on the first of the new Wanda Wiley series of two-reel comedies, with Ben White, brother of Jack White, assisting. Edward I. Luddy has started work on "Broadway Beauties," a tworeeler featuring the famous Century Follies Girls and Hilliard Karr. Also in the cast are Joe Moore, Edna Marian and Cameo, the famous dog star. Charles Lamont, recently returned to the Century lot after a short absence, is making a picture, as yet untitled, in which Buddy Messinger is starred and Harry McCoy featured. "SPEED BOYS" NEW CENTURY RELEASE CENTURY FILM CORPORATION'S current release through Universal exchanges, is "Speed Boys," featuring Buddy Messinger and an all-star supporting cast which includes "Bubbles," the five-year-old colored comedian, "Spec" O'Donnell and Arthur Trimble. The story is of a gang of boys who are railroaded to the hospital after playing a joke by painting their faces as though they had chicken-pox. They just about raise the roof off the hospital and finally manage to get out by tieing a bed to a motorcycle and driving out and down the street. Reports from those who have seen this new two-reeler indicate that it is the most hilarious comedy Messinger has yet made for Century. Al Herman, veteran comedy director and producer of many of Century's most successful two-reelers, directed "Speed Boys." EDNA MARIAN WITH HILLIARD KARR HILLIARD KARR, Century's star comedian, has a new leading lady in Edna Marian, a dainty little blonde miss of seventeen. She is now playing with him in "Broadway Beauties," a two-reel comedy, starring KaiT and featuring the famous Century Follies Girls. Miss Marian left Gus Edwards' revue about a year ago and went to Hollywood, where she made an immediate hit. Her latest work before coming to the Century lot was in "Seven Chances." Previous to this she was Gordon White's leading lady.