New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-18
And Carl Says
That Edward
Was Ambitious
But He Said II Only After
His Nephew Proved
That 1t Was True
By Harriettc Underhill

BY Harricttc Underhill
Just because Carl Laemmle. presi-
dent OF Universal City. believes that
young men should learn early in life
that there Is no royal road 20 success
young Edward Ls.mmle has had rather
q hard time % il. From The first Ed
ward thought he would like very much
10 be a movie director. but as Uncle
Carl was not sure whether this was
real ambition or a mere whim he said;
All right. young man, II you want 10
direct you can 60 70 Africa and direct
the csnnibals.'
Pine" said young Edward. Let's
20" 50 away he went 20 turn the
crank FOR W. F. Alder and photograph
the cSnnibsls as they appeared az their
simple domestic duties. When he re-
turned he brought back the famous pic
ture "Shipwrecked Among Csnnibals."
and after that Uncle Carl felt that
Edward ought To be able 10 manage
any mob that ever stormed a camera.
However. u wasn't well 10 take any
chances with a young man who was
already known ss "a relative Of the
boss" so Mr. Lsemmle started his
nephew on his directoriAi career by
giving him Hoot Gibson and telling
hin % 90 ahead and make two-reel
Western. Here he not only made Hoot
star Of feature length. hut he made
himself into a director OF the first
water.
Carl Lsemmle had come % the con.
ciusion that the time was ripe 10 on
tircly revise the serial program Of the
Universal Company. Heretofore serials
had been the point OF attack Of all
censorship agitation. He resolved 20
make out Of them q medium OF posi-
tive public good, n thing in which
educational bodies could take an in
t.rest and which they could recon-
mend. rather than dctriment TO the
business and made supposedly for
financial gain alone. He selected I'd
ward Laemmle 70 carry out the frs.
serial under this plan Il was crucial
moment. The word educational had
always had o fesrsome sound 70 eH-
hibitors. Would q serial developed
along educational and historical lines
have any chance Of success? The
answer was astounding and overwhelnn-
ing. Winners Of the West this first
Observation-Disclosures serial. was
tremendous success, in fact. the great
est ever enjoyed by UNIVERSE serial
/, VAS tribute 10 the budding genius
81 Edward Lsemmle, too.
The next work he did was TO direct
,nsther but more ambitious serial
called On the Days Of Buffalo Bill
Thi. brought into high relief not only
.h. period and actual building Of the
Union Pacific Railroad, the first trans
continental line. but covered important
historical episodes in the lives Of three
Presidents Of the United States.
you should sec the funny engines
.h.v used in ST." said the young d.
rector They loaned them 70 me and
have used them N my picture.
When are sou going 70 photograph
-. r,.h;t,oric engines which they used
on the Erie7' We asked.
As soon as they finish using them
on their railroad" replied Mr..
Lasmml.. They promised TO lend
them 20 me"
And this was the first we suspected a
,,nte Of humor in this serious. young
director
Il have in my chapter play the sur
\ render Of Lee 70 General Grant, the
illumination Of President Lincoln in
Ford's Opera House. tho capture Of
Booth. the presentation by Charles
Dickens q copy Of one q his novels
- President Jackson and many ether
historical episodes After directing
this play to the last chapter, Nh
I.mmls did Top OF the Morning"
with Gladys Walton, as a sort OF reere-
alton. And nov comes the best Of all.
Edward Laemmle has received the
plum Of the year, direetoTisl assign
rents He WIS commissioned to 80
10 England 70 film Sir Walter Scott's
immortal romance "Ivanhoe' and he
vas given 3 free hand in every pos
s,bl. way. For his name part he chose
Harry Myers. thus adding third
classical character 10 this gontleman's
previous experiences as "sir Boss and
Eohinsor Crusoe