No this is not about Ray Faiola in shorts, or any guy wearing shorts (though it won't stop me from posting a picture of same...)* I just remember he seemed to be a fan of short films/short subjects.
I just saw "Ups and Downs," the short film (21:00) on the dvd of STAGE DOOR. It starred Hal Le Roy as a tap-dancing elevator operator with a very young June Allison as his girl.
What a fun mix of talent, awkwardness, lots of money, too little time and an silly story. Hal Le Roy could tap-dance his butt off, his feet flying and his upper body scarcely moving.
Well, if this isn't the most INSIDOUS way to get me into an alternative thread!! Actually, I can't get away wearing anything except cargos!
Yeah, the Vitaphone shorts are fun; my favorites are the Technicolor historical ones (SONS OF LIBERTY, GIVE ME LIBERTY etc.). Universal had a great series of musical shorts from the late 30's through the 50's. One I have from 1937, RHAPSODY IN ZOO, features a Tarzan-clad ringmaster hosting a bunch of musical acts for an animal (people dressed in skins) audience. Ends with a Harlem "Nagasake Tramp Band". Bee-zarre! I have a bit over 800 shorts in my 16mm collection.
Yeah, the Vitaphone shorts are fun; my favorites are the Technicolor historical ones (SONS OF LIBERTY, GIVE ME LIBERTY etc.). Universal had a great series of musical shorts from the late 30's through the 50's. One I have from 1937, RHAPSODY IN ZOO, features a Tarzan-clad ringmaster hosting a bunch of musical acts for an animal (people dressed in skins) audience. Ends with a Harlem "Nagasake Tramp Band". Bee-zarre! I have a bit over 800 shorts in my 16mm collection.
Any shorts collections on dvd or vhs that you recommend, Ray? I've only heard about the Prelinger collection of educational/industrial shorts.
Best thing to do is, if you're not buying, rent as many Warner DVD's of classic features. They all are chock-filled with shorts and cartoons. Several of them even have the Warner Bros. Breakdowns shorts - annual volumes of studio bloopers. They are hilarious. Especially Ronnie Reagan having problems with a VERY stubborn zipper!!
Best thing to do is, if you're not buying, rent as many Warner DVD's of classic features. They all are chock-filled with shorts and cartoons. Several of them even have the Warner Bros. Breakdowns shorts - annual volumes of studio bloopers. They are hilarious. Especially Ronnie Reagan having problems with a VERY stubborn zipper!!
All of the Warner Brothers Gangster Picture Collections (4 sets so far) have "Warner Night at the Movies" on each disc, which includes newsreels, short films that were played with the movies theatrically, and Looney Tunes shorts. These discs are wonderful because you can experience exactly what audiences did in 1933, 1935, 1939, etc. Some of the shorts are cool, like one with Cab Calloway and one Technicolor short from 1939 about the Monroe Doctrine.
Also, TCM has a 40 year license on the Hal Roach short subjects library. So keep an eye out for Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase, The Boy Friends (yes, David, THE BOY FRIENDS!), Thelma Todd & Zasu Pitts & Patsy Kelly, and the Taxi Boys.
Unfortunately, the Our Gang (ne LITTLE RASCALS) are no longer part of the library but the entire Roach-Rascals talkie collection has just been released on DVD. Fans beware as this latest release includes several 16mm Blackhawk prints, unlike the previous laser set which was entirely from 35mm Library of Congress material.
Well, of course, Warners has several (# 6 on the way) volumes of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Universal has two volumes of Walter Lantz cartoons. The Laurel & Hardy shorts and features are available in a British Region 2 DVD box. Kino has many volumes of silent and talkie shorts, including lots of Paramount musical and comedy shorts.
The RKO shorts are owned by an attorney in New York and are not being distributed. I have a few, some with Leon Errol and Edgar Kennedy. But my favorites are two shorts that Phil Harris did. One, SO THIS IS HARRIS, won an Oscar as best short subject of 1933.
Well, of course, Warners has several (# 6 on the way) volumes of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Universal has two volumes of Walter Lantz cartoons. The Laurel & Hardy shorts and features are available in a British Region 2 DVD box. Kino has many volumes of silent and talkie shorts, including lots of Paramount musical and comedy shorts.
The RKO shorts are owned by an attorney in New York and are not being distributed. I have a few, some with Leon Errol and Edgar Kennedy. But my favorites are two shorts that Phil Harris did. One, SO THIS IS HARRIS, won an Oscar as best short subject of 1933.
and David - the lovely Nan Wynn, with a voice like fine wine, was Rita Hayworth's singing voice for several years in the early 40's. She was also the "Vingo Jingo" girl in Universal's PARDON MY SARONG.
I just took a load of stuffy sartorials to the clothing drive so as to make room in my closet for those daring sport shirts!! And though I'm retired, I don't plan on being old for at least another 20 years!!
