APRIL 15 SUN (2 FILMS FOR 1 ADMISSION)
VITAPHONE VARIETIES, 1926 – 1930
Between 1926 and 1930, the Vitaphone short subjects division of Warner Brothers produced over 1000 one and two-reel sound shorts with the sound-on-disc process. By March, 1930, even Warners switched to the simpler, more mobile and editable sound-on-film “Movietone” process still used today.
The majority of the one-reel “Vitaphone Varieties” produced during this period were straight recordings, without cuts, of vaudeville, operatic, comedy and band performers. As such, surviving shorts offer a rare glimpse into exactly how an act appeared on stage during its heyday. Vitaphone Varieties were promoted to exhibitors as a vast library of entertainment from which theatres could draw. Such performers as Burns & Allen, Ruth Etting, Spencer Tracy, Lyda Roberti and Jack Benny made their screen debut in this series.
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Today’s program is the latest group of Vitaphone shorts restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive:
THE REVELERS
(1926) This prolific Victor recording group was the inspiration for the German group “The Comedian Harmonists” (subject of a recent documentary and feature film) and also toured extensively in vaudeville. The tunes presented here, Including a great rendition of “Dinah”, could concurrently be purchased on a Victor 78 for 75 cents.
JIMMY CLEMONS IN “DREAM CAFÉ”
(1926) In a restoraton funded by his daughter Mary Ellen, eccentric dancer extraoadinaire Jimmy Clemons recreates his stage act. The ballerina is Clemons’ wife, so it was a special treat for Mary Ellen and her 90-year old sister to recently see --- and hear – both their parents again after many decades.
EARL BURTNETT & HIS BILTMORE HOTEL ORCHESTRA
(1927) Brunswick recording artist Earl Burtnett made four Vitaphone shorts in while appearing at L.A.’s Biltmore Hotel in 1927 and ’28. Three have been restored, and give a good idea of how the leader blended hot dance, novelty, and schmaltz. The band recorded until Burtnett’s sudden death in 1936.
JANS & WHELAN, “TWO GOOD BOYS GONE WRONG”
(1929) A totally forgotten comedy team, Jans & Whelan were fast talking and highly physical comics straight from vaudeville. They later performed on the radio and committed some of this short’s dialogue to a Victor 78. They made at least one other film, a Technicolor MGM short titled WILD PEOPLE, in 1932. The team slowly faded as vaudeville died. Whelan died at 46 in 1940.
MORRISSEY & MILLER NIGHT CLUB REVUE
(1927) Shot in March 1927 at the newly-wired Warner Bros. West Coast studios, this short presents, verbatim, the act of perennial MC Will Morrissey and comedienne Midgie Miller, along with a parade of other long-forgotten California entertainers. It‘s a fast-paced short and Morrissey’s quick deliver deserves close listening for some great throw-away lines!
ADELE ROWLAND IN “STORIES IN SONG”
(1928) Rowland was a true vaudeville great, and at the time of this short had already been performing in vaudeville for over 25 years. Her smooth, confident delivery confirms her veteran status. She was equally comfortable with ethnic and romantic tunes. She even recorded a Hit of the Week 78 in 1932. Her first husband was Charlie Ruggles, and she later married actor Conway Tearle
DICK RICH & HIS SYNCHO SYMPHONISTS
(1928) Rich’s other short restored two years ago was such a hit that finding a funder for this one was easy. His real name was Larry, and his claim to fame was discovering The Andrew Sisters in 1930. He often kidded about his physical similarities to Paul Whiteman, and used his wife Cherie, in the act. He was not the real leader, however. It was banjoist Syd Austin. But Rich’s way with comedy made him a natural choice as front man. While appearing in a vaude show in Newark in 1935, he collapsed onstage and died soon after.
J.C FLIPPEN, THE HAM WHAT AM
(1928) This March 1928 short presents comedian Flippen, only recently out of blackface (though many of the mannerisms remain). His material is quite risqué, and reflected his free-wheeling singing style on countless Pathé 78s. As vaudeville disappeared, Flippen reinvented himself as a craggy character actor in THEY LIVE BY NIGHT (1949), OKLAHOMA! (’55) and HOW THE WEST WAS WON (’62). At his funeral, Milton Berle described Flippen as “one of the greatest stand-up comedians I ever saw.”
JACK WHITE & HIS MONTREALERS (1929)
(1929) The breathless delivery of forgotten vaude star Jack White is from the “if you don’t like this one, maybe you’ll like the next one” school. White also appeared in some sketches in the feature revue THE KING OF JAZZ (1930), as well as a Technicolor Vitaphone short, SCHOOL DAZE (’30).
EARL BURTNETT & HIS BILTMORE HOTEL ORCHESTRA
(1928) The last of the Burtnett band shorts to be restored. The orchestra also appeared in support for several early talkie features, including the truly horrible PARTY GIRL (’30), with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and the 1929 Pathé picture THE FLYING FOOL, with William “Stage” Boyd.
SHAW & LEE IN “GOING PLACES”
(1930) Unquestionably the biggest hit of our 2004 Vitaphone restoration program in their 1928 short THE BEAU BRUMMELS, the bizarre and talented duo Shaw & Lee are back in this 1930 one-reeler. This one offers more of their eccentric dancing and physical gags. They appeared in support in dozens of features.
Notes by Ron Hutchinson of The Vitaphone Project
The Vitaphone Project was founded by record collectors and film buffs in 1991 to seek out missing soundtrack discs and mute film elements of 1926-30 talkies. To date they have uncovered over 3500 discs in private hands worldwide and have participated in over 85 shorts and 12 feature film restorations. For more info, visit www.vitaphoneproject.com
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