On Monday, Turner Classic Movies has quite the buffet for lovers of obscure, early talking pictures, especially shorts which in some cases have had little to no televised airplay. I suggest you go look at the entire schedule but here are some nuggets…
- Paree, Paree — This was one of Bob Hope's earliest talking shorts…and it's full of Cole Porter tunes.
- Art Trouble — A 1934 comedy with Shemp Howard and a bunch of comics you never heard of. But there's an unbilled bit player in there making what may have been his screen debut…kid name of Jimmy Stewart.
- Seeing Red — A 1939 short that showcased Red Skelton and some variety acts of the time. One of the acts was A. Robins, "The Banana Man," who I wrote about back here.
- Ups and Downs — A 1937 short with Jule Allyson and Phil Silvers. I'll watch anything with Phil Silvers in it.
- Cab Calloway in 'Hi De Ho' — Twelve minutes of Cab Calloway. How can that not be wonderful?
- Home Run on the Keys — I've never seen this 1937 short but how can you pass up a musical starring Babe Ruth?
- An All-Colored Vaudeville Show — From 1935, it's a chance to see black performers from that era, including the Nicholas Brothers when they were quite young.
- Buzzin' Around — Contrary to popular belief, the screen career of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle did not end with his 1921-1922 murder trials. He did make something of a comeback, including a few talkies. This was one of his last films, released the same year as his death, 1933.
- Ramblin' Round Radio Row 4 — Radio stars of the day (1932) including Baby Rose Marie, who would grow up to be one of America's great comediennes.
- Baby Rose Marie: The Child Wonder — And here she is, three years before Ramblin' Round Radio Row 4 in her own short.
- Lambchops — This is from 1929 and it's George Burns and Gracie Allen doing their most famous vaudeville routine. Gracie does all the heavy lifting.
And there are many others, including a lot of shorts that are just filmed vaudeville acts or big bands doing their stage shows. Check out the list. It may be a long time before they or anyone runs most of these films again.