Universal Weekly (1925-1933)

Vol. 23, No. 16. Universal Weekly 39 Universal Is O. K. With These Showmen "U" Service Gives Universal Product Patrons Ask for Entire Satisfaction All Great, He says Dennys and Hoots TODAY we complete the screening on serial "Fighting Ranger," and with two (2) features within next two weeks we will have completed the Universal contract. "I cannot hesitate to express at this time my appreciation of this service which also covers two other serials, and about 50 features with comedies, the past year, which have all given us entire satisfaction and at a liveand-let-live rate. "Within the past thirty days the writer has withheld buying from a number of Distributers, and we want you to appreciate this fact to the extent that we await Mr. Shulman's visit here in the near future, for further service." — W. S. Hattwick, Mgr., Blue Bird Theatre, Mill Hall, Pa. These Two Swear By Universal TWO of the best known and liked faces in the motion picture business in the Northwest are those of Fred Mercy and L. J. Schlaifer. Both are pioneers, Fred Mercy of motion picture presentation in the land of Shookum Apples, North Yakima, Wash., where he has been known as the movie magnet for thirteen years, controlling at one time three theatres in that city, the bill posting plants, etc. A few years ago he sold his interests out to Jensen and Von Herberg of Seattle, and was retained as general manager of their chain of houses in Eastern Washington. L. J. Schlaifer, now Western Division assistant sales manager for Universal with headquarters in San Francisco, was branch manager for Universal in Seattle about the same time that Fred was first in the market for films. Both have grown and prospered in the motion picture business, both are with, for and by Universal. A wonderful friendship between exhibitor and film man. Two of the squarest shooters in the business, and that has made both successful. The photograph at the right was taken in front of the Universal Film Exchange in Seattle on a bright sunny day. H ERE'S a good Universal exhibitor who is smiling the Universal Smile. He is W. A. Smith and is just finishing up the 1925-26 service and he says he has a pretty good reason for smiling. "Your product is all great," reports Mr. Smith. "I sure am glad I signed up 100 per cent. You have produced some of the finest pictures on the market during the past year. I am looking forward to even greater things from Universal next year." Mr. Smith is manager of the Majestic Theatre, Akron, 0. W. A. Smith Majestic Theatre Akron, O. "Outside the Law" Breaks Record "'O [WIRE] UTSIDE the Law' has broken house record for Saturday. Business exceeded all expectations. Whoever suggested reissue of picture ought to be taken care of on your payroll." — Edwin G. Hitchcock, Manager, Criterion Theatre, Los Angeles, Calif. «<T WISH to thank you for the past I services I have been receiving from you. The prints have all been brand new. Out of the fourteen shows in our last contract, we have never had a break or stop in any of the reels. "If an exhibitor can't please his audience with 'California Straight Ahead,' 'Where Was I?', and 'What Happened to Jones,' they are sure hard to please, for I think from the box office and reports on these shows they have sure been satisfactory with us. "Don't pass up 'Chip of Flying U,' 'Arizona Sweepstakes,' 'Calgary Stampede' and 'Spook Ranch' with Hoot Gibson, as the star, if you want comedy westerns, because I got the darndest hardest show crowd to please and they are all asking how many more Hoot and Denny shows I have under contract. "Universal didn't take all the profits either when they sold me these." — J. A. Peacock, Wonderland Theatre, Burchard, Nebr, "Cohens and Kellys" Sure-Fire Box-Office tf THERMIT the writer to write a \~ congratulatory letter on the entertainment value of 'The Cohens and the Kellys,' which recently played the National Theatre, Richmond, Virginia, to an excellent week's business. "This is one of the outstanding comedies of the season and in our opinion, is sure fire box office. "I would suggest that every Exhibitor in this country play the picture." — Harry Bernstein, Colonial Theatre, Richmond, Va. Fred Mercy, general manager of J. Sc V. Theatres, North Yakima, Wash., and L. J. Schlaifer, Universal sales manager, in front of the Universal Exchange in Seattle, Denny Film Best of Year ((IT7 HAT Happened to YY Jones' enjoyed capacity three days. Should head list for best audience picture for year. —Samuel Torgran, Dir. Mgr., Strand Theatre, Lowell, Mass.