Universal Weekly (1927-1930)

Vol. 26, No. 5 Universal Weekly 27 Two New Comedies Completed by Sterns And Shipped East TWO new Stern Brothers Comedies, the first to be completed since resumption of work at the Stern studio for the Fall season, have just arrived in New York and are being printed at the Universal laboratory for immediate shipment to all Universal exchanges. They are “The Newlywed s’ Friends,” the latest two-reeler of the Universal Junior Jewel series, “The Newlyweds and Their Baby,” adapted from the George McManus newspaper comic strip, and “High Flying George,” the latest “Let George Do It” two-reeler, also adapted from a McManus comic strip. Snookums, the baby star who recently toured the country and called on President Coolidge, is featured in “The Newlyweds’ Friends.” Mr. and Mrs. Newlywed are played by Jack Bartlett and Addie McPhail. The comedy was directed by Gus Meins, who is responsible for all the Newlywed comedies. Sid Saylor is starred in the “Let George Do It” Comedy, supported by Jane Manners, a newcomer to the Stern lot. Sam Newfield directed the George Comedy, which is an aeroplane picture filled with stunts and comedy flying. It has as many thrills as the bigger aeroplane features and is a decided innovation in two-reel entertainment. Saylor makes the most of the situations and comedy material. The Cameo Theatre , one of the most popular picture houses in Paris, situated, on the Grand Boulevards, recently played '‘Oh, Baby!” Below the sign, “Oh! Bebe,” the French name for this picture, is a notice that the subtitles are given in both French and English. Comedy Sales Chief Reports Increased Demand for Shorts HERMAN STERN, sales manager for Stern Brothers Comedies, returned to New York this week after a sales tour of the Middle Atlantic States. He reports a decided increase in the demand for good tworeel comedies. “There seems to be a definite let-up in the extent to which the better class houses have been going in for prologues and presentation acts,” he says. “This has resulted in a corresponding opening of the market for short subjects, with good two-reel comedies getting the break. “We are feeling this especially in connection with ‘The Newlyweds and Their Baby’ series. There has been a striking jump in the volume of business being lined up for these tworeelers, even more than might normally be expected as a result of their advance to the grade of Universal Junior Jewels. This means we are getting into many new first run houses that hitherto have gone in more for stage acts. “The ‘Newlywed’ comedies are especially strong in the Washington territory. Reports from Ted Schlanger, Universal manager in Washington, show a very healthy increase in the demand for these comedies. Perhaps the visit Snookums paid to the White House last Spring and the remarkable publicity resulting therefrom had something to do this.” Here is Here McIntyre and the Universal Australasian organization. The photograph was taken at the annual convention in Sydney, where Mr. McIntyre introduced many striking sales innovations. The meeting urns one of the most successful ever held. C APTAIN, Keizo Itsuno, of the Japanese government training ship “Shintoku-Maru,” , visited Universal City ' recently with a corppany of 110 naval cadets. The gobs were taken on a sight seeing tour of the mammoth picture plant before leaving on their return trip to Kobe, Jaoan.