Universal Weekly (1920, 1923-27)

Vol. 26, No. 6 Universal Weekly 23 Above : “Dancing Fools,” and at the right, “K e eping in Trim," the first of the “M ike and I k e” and “ Keeping Up with the Joneses” Series. In the CENTER, “R u s h i n g Business” (“Let George Do It” Series) ; above, “Newlyweds’ Troubles” and at the left, “Buster Came On.” Stern Brothers Launch New Line-Up Announcing Four Months’ Supply THE long-heralded Stern Brothers product for the new season, which represents a complete change-over at the studio plant of that comedy-making corporation, has just been launched. A full half a year’s supply of the two-reelers are on hand, it is asserted. The current announcement includes release dates up through December, with the information that prints of all so scheduled already are in the exchanges and available for pre-viewing, or even for pre-release runs. Julias Stern, president of the Stern Flm Corporation, in announcing the new year’s releases, points out the new production policy of the Sterns and its results as shown by the entertainment value of the new line-up. “Our new product, consisting of one Universal Junior Jewel series of twelve two-reelers, and four Stern Brothers series of 13 two-reelers each, will mark, we hope, a new epoch in the two-reel comedy field,” he states. “In production expense, it is characterized by a distinct advance over anything we ever attempted before. This applies to the personnel of the stars and players as well as the directorial talent, the scenario and gagman and to the technical details. “It is in the quality of the material used in adapting the new pi'oduct that our 1927-1928 line-up is particularly notable, however. This quality is the result of a definite policy, based upon careful study. “All of our new comedies are based on popular newspaper comic strips. All five series are adapted directly from the work of intenationally known cartoonists. This is due to our New “Newlywed” Reaches New York THE Universal Home Office reports the receipt of the first of the new season’s “Newlyweds and Their Baby” comedies in from the coast. It is entitled “The Newlyweds’ Friends,” and features Snookums, the Stern Brothers baby star. It is cited as an excellent example of the high grade being attained with this series under the new Universal Junior Jewel releasing arrangement. It was directed by Gus Meins at the Stern Brothers studio. Jack Bartlett is the new Mr. Newlywed and Addie McPhail the new Mrs. Newlywed. Both are excellent in these supporting roles. The comedy is reported to be very dressy in sets, cast and costumes. decision that the newspaper comic strip offers the best material for screen comedy adaptation yet discovered. The comic strip itself is a moving picture, told in four or twelve pictures instead of the many different pictures that go to make up two reels of motion pictures. “We find the comic strips characters ideally suited to the grotesque characterizations necessary in screen comedy. We find the situations ‘made’ for the screen. A little elaboration of plot, the addition of gags and a building up of the situations gives us perfect comedy. “The greatest advantage of all, however, is the fact that every newspaper reader knows our characters and is delighted to see them all over again on the screen. Comic strip fans, and their name is legion, become screen comedy fans as soon as our comedies are heralded. Exhibitors have found that these comic strip adaptaticns sell themselves. There is a ready-made public waiting for them. It numbers millions. “Our choice of comic strips for adaptations was a happy one. Our leading series, now being released as a Universal Junior Jewel series, is ‘The Newlyweds and Their Baby’ taken from the famous comic strip by (Continued on page 40)