Universal Weekly (1924-1936)

February 12, 1927. Universal Weekly 19 Five Outstanding Comedy Releases Scheduled by Stems for February "The Neivlyweds Build" with the above complications among others. This is the first Stem Brothers release for February. THE Stern Brothers announce a full schedule of outstanding releases for the month of February. Five two-reelers will be placed on the market this month, and it is pointed out that these comedies are unusually good. The list is topped by a widely i3rai-ed "Newlyweds and Their Baby" comedy, and by a particularly appropriate Buster Brown Junior Jewel. The first release for the month is "The Newlyweds Build." This is the latest of the Newlyweds two-reelers being made by the Sterns from the famous George McManus cartoon strips. The current release has been hailed by reviewers as the best by far of the series to date. It is a hilarious takeoff on the trials and tribulations of a young couple putting up a bungalow. The baby Snookums is played by the remarkable youngster. Sunny McKeen, recently signed to a long term contract by the Stern Brothers. Pretty Ethlyne Clair plays Mrs. Newlywed, and Jed Dooley is Mr. Newlywed. The picture was directed by Gus Meins and was released February 2nd. The next February release, set for the 7th of the month, is "Buster's Sleighride," a two-reel fun film which takes the famous Buster Brown kiddies and Tige up into the snow-clad mountains. This is one of the best produced comedies of the series and is filled with gags and humorous situations. The series is now being released as a Universal Junior Jewel series, in the same class as "The Collegians" and on the same entertainment level as the famous "Leather Pushers." Gus Meins is the director. Arthur Trimble plays Buster and Doreen Turner is Mary Jane. Tige is played as usual by Pete the dog comedian. On February 9th, Universal has slated "What's Your Hurry," the latest two-reeler of Stern Brothers' "Excuse Maker" series for release. Charles King is the star, with Constance Darling as his leading woman. The Sterns state that the many exhibitors and the public, which have found this series of exceptional entertainment value, will get great satisfaction out of this new two-reeler. It was made by Sam Newfield, and pre-release showings have stamped it as a good box-office offering. A new "What Happened to Jane" comedy will reach the screen February 16th. It is called "Thanks for the Boat Ride," most of the action taking place on one of the coastwise passenger steamers plying between San Francisco and southern California ports. Wanda Wiley is the star, with Art Rowlands, Al Alt and Betty Baker in the leading supporting roles. Charles Lamont directed it. The boat setting gives rise to many unusual situations which make for comedy and complex gags. "George Runs Wild," the newest "Let George Do It" comedy, will be released February 23rd, and it is outstanding in every way. This popular series will get new impetus as soon as this two-reeler reaches the screen, the Sterns are confident. Sid Saylor, who has the role of George in this adaptation of the George McManus cartoon strip, "Let George Do It," never has done .such clever work, those who have previewed the comedy report. As his chief support he has pretty Ethlyne Clair, who has become one of the most popular ingenues on the comedy screen. In addition Saylor is supported by a group of Hollywood beauties. The story concerns a garden party and a Greek dancing school in which George gets mixed in with all the diaphanous-clad girls for a wild thirty minutes. Scott Pembroke directed the comedy. 'The Collegians" Open New Big London House HEN London's newest first run house, the Astoria, was recently opened, "T h e Collegians," Carl Laemmle, Jr.'s, two-reel series, also made their first public bow to English picture patrons. They were uproariously received and the general opinion was that they surpass the "Leather Pushers" for clean, peppy entertainment. The Astoria was built on the site of the large Cross and Blackwell factory in the heart of the theatre district. The house has a seating capacity of 2,500 and a dance hall large enough to accommodate 400 couples. Universal pictures will appear regularly on the Astoria's program, reports the European Motion Picture Co. Universal Pictures Go With York on Tour WHEN the battleship Renown sailed from Portsmouth, England, last month bearing the Duke and Duchess of York on a tour of Australia and New Zealand, it also bore prints of "Les Miserables" and "Michael Strogoff" which will be screened for the royal tourists during the voyage, according to word from Universalis British distributors, the Eurooean Motion Picture Co. New "Jane" Comedies Put Into Production THE "What Happened to Jane" series of two-reelers, one of the outstanding Stern Brothers releases during the current season, has been resumed at the Hollywood studio of that comedy company. Number 8 of the series of thirteen two-reelers has just gone into production under the direction of Scott Pembroke. Thelma Daniels is the featured player, replacing Wanda Wiley, the former star.