the European war caused prices to rise, squeezing Big U's profits. Then a number of male actors rushed off to join the army, causing other disruptions. The higher cost of the five-reel features of Bluebird and Red Feather further drained the treasury. Laemmle asked his actors to take a cut in salary." This observation flew while an article in a trade journal reported a seemingly different situation. The back page headline in The Moving Picture World article dated September 22, 1917, read "Universal Increases Forces." The article stated, "More additions have been made to the acting and forces at Universal City during the past month than at Any Similar Period throughout the present year." Vernon's film output for the year would drop to 13 productions, but this total included nine feature films. Vernon opened 1917 by performing in two short films. She would act in two more short pictures released in July. These four films would be the last short movies she ever made. Starting in February, Vernon continued to make seven Bluebird and three Butterfly feature films. Her last three films in 1917 reunited Vernon with her former lead Herbert Rawlinson. The Bluebird comedy The Man Who Took a Chance, starring Franklyn Farnum, was released on February 19, 1917. This production was only Vernon's second feature film. Two more Bluebird comedies followed — The Clock and Bringing Home Father, with the same cast and director. In mid-1917, Agnes Vernon informed Universal she had permanently changed her prenomen from Agnes to Brownie. Vernon's baptismal name was Agnes, but even with her long, cork-screw blonde curly locks, her friends called her "Brownie". The nickname referred to her prominent brown eyes and her fondness for wearing brown appeal. After her announcement, she wanted her screen credits to read "Brownie Vernon". Bringing Home Father released June 4, 1917, marked the first time Vernon's screen credit reads "Brownie Vernon" instead of "Agnes Vernon". In the Fall of 1917, -year-old director William Worthington departed Universal, moved to New York, and went to work for Goldwyn. Before his departure, he completed directing three Bluebirds featuring Farnum and Vernon. The first was Bringing Home Father. The Car of Chance released on July 9, and the last film, The Clean-Up, had an August 6 release date. After Worthington's departure, Carl Laemmle selected -year-old Elmer Clifton as Worthington's replacement. Clifton started as an actor in 1912, acquiring roles in