Universal Weekly (1914-1915)

f H K UNIVERSAL WEKKLY Unusually Realistic Scene from Otis Turner's "Changed Lives", Representing a Street in Antwerp During the Recent Siege. The Story Brings on the Screen Several European Cities, JOHN E. BRENNAN, THE FAMOUS FUNNY MAN. John E. Brennan, the famous comedian, has joined the onward marcn and is now a Universal star at their California studios. Mr. Brennan, who made his debut in pictures some time ago with the Kalem Company, has won many friends. "Nobody loves a fat man" but everybody loves John Brennan. For he is the funniest of funny men and radiates a brand of humor entirely his own. It is, perhaps, not to be wondered at that this genial comedian should have made the signal success in his new field which is accorded to him as he was a celebrated fun-maker on the stage for years, and has made more millions laugh both in America and abroad than any other living comedian. Mr. Brennan, who is of Irish parentage, was born in Springfield, Mass. When a very young boy he decided to commence his theatrical career as a dancer, for John never could stand still for a minute. Mr. Brennan believes in the old saying, "What's worth doing at all is worth doing well", and applying this thought to his work, it was not long before he won an enviable reputation as the greatest clog dancer in the world by winning the championship from Johnnie Williams, champion dancer of England. Then for several years he was leading comedian with notable minstrel organizations, one of his best-known engagements being that of end man with the Primrose and West organization. Later he accepted an engagement as stock comedian at Keith's, in Boston, playing the principal comedy roles in the plays which Mr. Keith presented as after pieces for Milton Aborn's comic operas. Then followed many successful seasons In which Mr. Brennan starred in his own company, presenting "The Ivy Leaf", "An Irishman's Love", "Dear Irish Boy", "True Irish Hearts", "Tim, the Tinker", and a Scotch play, "Bonnie Scotland". In every instance Mr. Brennan continued to add to his world-wide reputation as a comedian of genuine merit. Mr. Brennan then entered vaudeville, and his work attracted the attention of Wm. A. Brady, who engaged him to orginate the role of "Hi Holler" in "Way Down East". By a strange coincidence the scenes of this rural play are laid in the vicinity of Springfield, Mass., where Brennan lived as a boy. He drove the cows across the stage just as he did in his youth and played Hi Holler in such a realistic manner that he made the role famous from coast to coast and abroad. In England he is called "The American Dan Leno", after their favorite comedian. It is safe to say that theatregoers will never forget his Hi Holler and "Pickings from Puck". But this is not all. Mr. Brennan was the original "Foxy Grandpa" and played "Jimmy" in the Brady production of "Baby Mine" in Chicago. And then came the call of the movies. It was inevitable that such talent should eventually be captured for the millions who patronize the silent drama. The nicest part of it all is that jolly John Brennan is just as jolly off the stage as on and his friends are devoted to him. He's always happy and always in good humor. One cannot have the " bines" while within a mile of him. Perhaps it is for this reason that he has been so successful in his career. As for his pictures, he is in a class entirely of his own. He has been featured in hundreds of pictures and has a following of thousands of movie fans who love him as though they knew him well. In a recent interview he said : " 1 might as well admit that I have practically said farewell to the stage. I enjoy every minute of my work in pictures — even when I have to fall downstairs — and as my one aim in life has always been to make people laugh, the fact that hundreds of audiences throughout the world are seeing my performances simultaneously has spurred me to newer and greater things". "Innocent Dad" is the title of the first Sterling-Universal release featuring JohD Brennan, and movie fans can look for an unusual treat, as the story and funny situations are as funny as John Brennan can make them, and that is going some. BILLIE RITCHIE A SCREAM. Universal Film Co. Gentlemen : — Today I had my first L-Ko film, "Love and Surgery", two reels. It certainly is some scream and I can safely say that it has any Keystone eheated. Billie Ritchie is a scream, as well as the whole cast. Wishing the L-Ko the best of success, I remain, A UNIVERSAL BOOSTER, Atlantic City, N. J.