Universal Weekly (1920, 1923-27)

Vol. 26, No. 6 Universal Weekly 19 Stanley-Crandall Circuit to Be 100% Universal in 1927-1928 Ariel Varges, famous International Newsreel cameraman, is shown making a close-up view of military activities on the Honan battle front. With the renewal of fighting in China, Va-rges has been in the thick of it and has been securing some remarkable victures for International. Universal Signs Lillian Gilmore For Five Years Lillian gilmore, one of Hollywood’s most promising young starlets, has just been signed for five years by Universal and will be developed into stellar magnitude as rapidly as possible. She already has appeared in sevex-al Universal pictures and has made a great hit. Miss Gilmore is the daughter of Barney Gilmore, famous actor-playwright, and Mrs. Gilmore, who was Mina Shirley, one of the noted Shirley Sisters of vaudeville and stage fame. The young Universal player, who is just eighteen, has been in pictures only a few months. Her first stage role was the ingenue part in the road company of “Lightnin’. ” After leaving that company she went back to school and finished at the Hollywood Girls School. Her first screen work was in “The Quest.” She started with Universal in support of Fred Gilman in the Texas Ranger two-reelers, and also played with Arthur Lake in several Drugstore Cowboy Comedies. Her work was so exceptional she was promoted to features and played the leading feminine roles opposite Ted Wells in “Straight Shootin’ ” and then opposite A1 Wilson in “The Phantom Flyer.” Her work in these two features convinced Universal that she is a “find.’ A DEAL has just been completed between J. J. Payette, general manager of the Stanley-Crandall Corporation, and Ted Schlanger, Universal manager in Washington, D. C., which will make the S-C circuit a 100 percent user of Universal pictures during the coming twelve months. Payette practically doubled his picture arrangement with the Laemmle organization. The deal covers sixteen houses in eleven situations, the most important of which are the Ambassador, Tivoli, York, Avenue Grand and Apollo in Washington; the Tivoli in Frederick, Md., and the Tivoli in Martinsburg, W. Va. Outstanding in the product involved are “The Cat and the Canary,” “Les Miserables,” and “The Cohens and Kellys in Paris,” three Universal supers, all the Jewels, Hoot Gibson pictures, the Dynamite (dog star) pictures, the A1 Wilson aviation pictures, and the short product, including serials. It is noteworthy that the Ambassador, the finest house in Washington, is now running matinee shows of “Blake of Scotland Yard,” Universal’s current de luxe serial. All other S and C houses are running this serial regularly at their night performances. The Washington circuit has just had an exceptional run of business with “Painting the Town,” Universal’s current hit. Schlanger, who is now in New York conferring with Universal sales heads, states that the new arrange ment with the Washington Circuit is exceptional because of the values involved. “Mr. Payette did not hesitate to compliment Universal upon the worth and box-office value of our new product,” said the Washington exchange manager. “He not only complimented us, but he fitted his deeds to his words. It is a very excellent deal.” International News Cameraman Gets Striking War Shots ARIEL L. VARGES, intrepid International Newsreel cameraman in China, is in the thick of the fighting again. For several weeks China was comparatively quiet, but recently the Red Army of Cantonese renewed its attack upon the Honan front. Varges was with the Shantung forces at the time and secured remarkable pictures of the fighting, which are shown in International Newsreel No. 71. Varges was at the scene of the battle in which the Reds were put to flight, retreating pell-mell before the heavy fire of the Shantungese. The pictures show that the Shantung Army is remarkably well equipped. Tanks, big guns and airplanes are now used by the Shantungese with deadly effect upon the rebellious Reds. William W. Hawkins, general manager of the Scripps-Howard newspapers, and his family recently paid a visit to Universal City where they greatly enjoyed watching the wheels of the big movie plant go round.