Universal Weekly (1920, 1923-27)

VOL. 19, No. 3 Universal Weekly 27 Our Hat Is Off To Myron C. McLeod, A Real Showman POWELL River up British Columbia way isn’t as well provided with job printers as a lot of towns are. Therefore Myron C. McLeod, manager of the Patricia Theatre in that town, has to rely on his ingenuity rather than on the town facilitits to give his audience the lowdown on what he is going to show them next. But McLeod is a genius in his way. In addition to booking Universal pictures 100%, which shows that he is perfectly sane and business-like as well, he has developed a facility on the mimeoscope attachment for his mimeograph machine which enables him to put out a four page program of effective appearance as well as inexpensive composition. The titles of the pictures which he advertises, such as “The Eagle’s Talons”, “Merry Go Round”, “Take Me Back to Blighty,” and “Sporting Youth”, are very artistically drawn with a stylus and there is plenty of decorative display about his layouts. In fact, the same art work which Mr. McLeod has expended on this little folder with the cuts would have cost him in the neighborhood of $100, to say nothing of the printing. As it is, all it cost him was four stencils, a minimum amount of ink and time. Maybe $5 in all. You’ve got to be better to run a show profitably in a town like Powell River than you have to get by with a show in New York City. As one editor to another, will you permit us to congratulate you, Mr. McLeod, and wish you the very best of luck? uForty Horse Hawkins” Started by Hoot Qibson HOOT GIBSON has just started work at Universal City on a picture which Universal executives say will be the greatest comedy western ever made by that star. The working title of the picture is “Forty Horse Hawkins.” Gibson plays the role of a western stage driver who drifts to a big city and becomes in turn a taxi-driver, a waiter and finally a “super” in a great Civil War stage melodrama. The story was written by Edward Sedgwick and Raymond L. Schrock. Sedwick is Hoot’s director, having made the long string of Gibson successes including “Blinky,” “Out o’ Luck,” “The Ramblin’ Kid,” “The Thrill Chaser” and similar comedy westerns. Schrock is one of Universal’s scenario department executives. The story, of course, was written especially for Gibson. Anne Cornwall has been chosen for the leading feminine role. She plays an ingenue in a small road show company which visits the western town where Hoot holds forth as stage drivei’. He follows her to the city and after a series of adventures, ends up as her leading man, on stage and off. The cast also includes Helen Holmes, Richard Tucker, Jack Gordon Edwards, Ed Burns and George “Buck” Connors. The picture is said to promise a judicious combination of western action, and its fast and spirited riding and stage driving, with many comedy situations. The Gibson-Sedgwick production unit has become noted in the industry for the high class western farce-comedies turned out duringthe last six months. isisi3isJSiaMaiaiaMaM^iaaMaMsiMai2MaiaMaMaaaMaMajaM3M3 '"'’White Tiger” Conquers Bad Breaks in L.A DESPITE bad weather and other adverse conditions, “White Tiger,” the Universal-Jewel starring Priscilla Dean, did exceptional business at Miller’s Theatre in Los Angeles. Clever advertising and exploitation is responsible for carrying the picture over this bad period for exhibitors. One of the many clever stunts used in the campaign was arranged by Miller, who manages the theatre. He staged a raid and with the co-operation of the police department, had a patrol wagon and several patrolmen drive up to a house in the busy district and carry out, a straggling girl dressed as Priscilla Dean, and several other characters representing the principals in the production. The stunt created no end of curiosity and heralds were issued announcing the showing at Miller’s theatre of “White Tiger.” The run lasted four weeks and did a corking business throughout. Photos of this stunt were published some weeks ago, before the editor had received information as to what they were about. HE’S A MEMBER NOW! All the little shut-ins of the Orthopedic Hospital of Seattle were made members of the Baby Peggy Club after the showing of “ The Darling of New York ” at the hospital. "Stolen Secrets” Ready for Release HERBERT RAWLINSON’S latest Universal production, “Stolen Sweets,” has been completed and has arrived in the East to await release. It is a five-reel society drama in which the adventures of a high class “crook” are featured. Irving Cummings directed it. Those who have seen a preview of the photo-play say that he has done wonders in developing usual situations and in building up suspense. The pictures is said to give Rawlinson an excellent opportunity for character delineation and forceful action. The story was adapted to the screen by Raymond L. Schrock from two stories, one by Jack Boyle and the other by Richard Goodall. The working title of the picture was “The Virtuous Crook.” Harold McLeamon, the veteran Universal film cutter who recently won high praise for his work in cutting “Fools Highway,” also an Irving Cummings production, was chosen for the editing work on “Stolen Secrets.” The feminine lead opposite Rawlinson was taken by Kathleen Myers, who recently appeared opposite Billy Sullivan in one of the last of the “Leather Pushers.”