Claude Hopkins Orchestra - Barber Shop Blues (1933)

Time for a 1933 Vitaphone short as we present Claude Hopkins and His Orchestra in "Barbershop Blues."


Vocalist Orlando Roberson and The Four Step Brothers join Claude and the boys in this one.


This short, released theatrically by Warner Brothers was photographed by Edwin B. DuPar and directed by Joseph Henabery.

Cab Calloway & His Orchestra in "Hi De Ho" (1937)

Time for a 1937 Warner Brothers-Vitaphone short as Cab Calloway and His Orchestra star in "Hi-De-Ho," part of Vitaphone's Melody Master series, released by Warner Brothers.


The selections:


♪ I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues ♪
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by Ted Koehler
Played by Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra offscreen and
Sung by Cab Calloway in his apartment

♪ Hi-De-Ho Miracle Man ♪
Music by J. Fred Coots
Lyrics by Benny Davis
Played by Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra in a tenement building and
Sung by Cab Calloway in the tenement courtyard

♪ Frisco Flo ♪
Music by J. Fred Coots
Lyrics by Benny Davis
Played by Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra in a tenement building and
Sung by Cab Calloway

♪ Some of These Days ♪
Written by Shelton Brooks
Performed by Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra (with 'scat' singing by Cab Calloway) 


Written by Burnet Hershey, photographed by Ray Foster (member of the ASC), edited by Bert Frank, and directed by Roy Mack.

Mills Blue Rhythm Band (WB/Vitaphone-1934)

Time for a toe-tappin' 1934 Vitaphone short starring The Mills Blue Rhythm Band!


Also in the cast are Sally Gooding, Fredi Washington, Hamtree Harrington, "Blues" McAllister, and The Three Dukes.


With continuity by Cyrus Wood, this Warner Brothers-released film was photographed by E.B. Du Par and directed by Roy Mack.

Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra (Warner Brothers-1946)

Sorry, folks.  No Lucy.

From Warner Brothers in 1946, we present Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra.

This short subject was produced by Gordon Hollingshead and directed by Jack Scholl.

The Black Network (1936) | The Nicholas Brothers + Nina Mae McKinney

Here's a great Vitaphone short subject, with Nina Mae McKinney and The Nicholas Brothers starring in "The Black Network."

Babe Wallace, the Washboard Serenaders, Amanda Rudolph, and Bill "Basement" Brown also appear on this 1936  two-reel short.

With story by A. Dorian Otvos and a special song by Cliff Hess, this film was edited by Bert Frank, photographed by Bert Frank (A.S.C.) and directed by Roy Mack.

Released theatrically by Warner Brothers.

Johnny Green & His Orchestra (1935)

Time for another Vitaphone musical short subject, released by Warner Brothers.

This time, we have Johnny Green, his piano and Orchestra, in a 1935 entry.

Photographed by E.B. DuPar and directed by Joseph Henabery.

Jimmie Lunceford And His Dance Orchestra (1936) (Short Film)

Time for a 1936 Vitaphone short with Jimmie Lunceford and His Dance Orchestra plus The Three Brown Jacks and Myra Johnson.

Originally released theatrically by Warner Brothers, this short subject was photographed by Ray Foster, A.S.C. and directed by Joseph Henabery.

Eddy Duchin & His Orchestra, with SYLVIA FROOS, 1933

Time for a 1933 Vitaphone musical short with Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra.

Eddy and the boys are joined by singer Sylvia Froos and the skating trio of Earl, Jack, and Betty.

Photographed by Edwin B. Du Par and directed by Joseph Henabery.

Released theatrically by Warner Brothers.

Abe Lyman and his California Orchestra "What have we got to do tonight" ...

Time for music by Abe Lyman and His California Orchestra, "What Have Go To Do Tonight But Dance" with vocal by Marvin Warner.

Recorded on March 3 1930 and released on Brunswich #6094.

THE INGENUES "THE BAND BEAUTIFUL"

Time for a 1928 Vitaphone short featuring The Ingenues in "The Band Beautiful."

Released theatrically by Warner Brothers.

Blossom Seeley and Bennie Fields with The Music Boxes

Time for a Vitaphone short with Blossom Seeley and her husband Bennie Fields along with The Music Boxes (Charles Bourne and Phil Ellis).

This film was completed in May, 1927.

Vitaphone reel #548 was released theatrically by Warner Brothers.

Cab Calloway's "Hi De Ho" (1937)

From 1937, here's Cab Calloway and His Orchestra in "Hi De Ho."

This Brooklyn-produced short was released theatrically by Warner Brothers.

Ruth Etting - Regular Trouper - 1932 Musical Film Short

From 1932, here's Ruth Etting starring in the Vitaphone musical short, "A Regular Trouper."

With story by Herman Ruby, this short, released theatrically by Warner Brothers, was photographed by E.B. DuPar and directed by Roy Mack.

Ray Kinney and His Royal Hawaiian Orchestra (1938)

Time for ten minutes of great music with Ray Kinney and His Royal Hawaiian Orchestra in this Warner Brothers/Vitaphone short subject.

Photographed by Ray Foster and directed by Roy Mack.

Produced in Brooklyn, New York.

The selections:

♪ Across the Sea ♪ Written by Ernest K. Kaai, Ray Kinney and Johnny Noble Performed by Ray Kinney and His Orchestra Dance performed by The Aloha Maids ♪ Ulili E ♪ Traditional Performed by Ray Kinney and His Orchestra Dance performed by The Aloha Maids ♪ The Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai ♪ Written by R. Alex Anderson Performed by Ray Kinney and His Orchestra Dance performed by Pualani Mossman ♪ A Song of Old Hawaii ♪ Written by Gordon Beecher and Johnny Noble Performed by Ray Kinney and His Orchestra Dance performed by Pualani Mossman ♪ Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai) ♪ Written by Johnny Noble and Prince Leleiohoku Performed by Ray Kinney and His Orchestra Dance performed by The Aloha Maids

Released theatrically by Warner Brothers.

RussColumbo1929

From 1929, here's a Vitaphone short (released by Warner Brothers) with Gus Arnheim and His Ambassadors, featuring Russ Columbo.

Cab Calloway's "Hi De Ho" (1937)

Here's Cab Calloway and His Orchestra in the 1937 Vitaphone short "Hi-De-Ho."

Released theatrically by Warner Brothers, this short was written by Burnet Hershey, photographed by Ray Foster (member of the A.S.C.), edited by Bert Frank, and directed by Roy Mack.

Cab Calloway's "Hi De Ho" (1937)

From 1937, time for "Hi De Ho," a Vitaphone musical short starring Cab Calloway.


You'll see Cab and his great orchestra in action as they perform "I've Got The Right To Sing The Blues," "The Hi De Ho Miracle Man," "Frisco Flo," and "Some Of These Days."


Released theatrically by Warner Brothers.

RussColumbo1929

Here's a 1929 Vitaphone Varieties musical short released by Warner Brothers featuring Gus Arnheim and His Ambassadors and featuring budding singer Russ Columbo.

SPADE COOLEY, THE KING OF WESTERN SWING-Short Subject (Warner Brothers-1945)

Here's another 1945 Warner Brothers theatrical musical short, this one entitled "Spade Cooley, The King Of Western Swing."



Among the featured vocalists are Tex Williams and Carolina Cotton.



Produced by Gordon Hollingshead and directed by Jack Scholl.

BOB WILLS AND HIS TEXAS PLAYBOYS-Short Subject (Warner Brothers-1945)

Time for a very entertaining Warner Brothers theatrical short subject, "Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys."

Yep, that's Tommy Duncan doing the vocal on "San Antonio Rose."


This short was produced by Gordon Hollingshead and directed by Leroy Prinz.