This 34-minute black-and-white film is a compilation of 12 different “Soundies.” Soundies were three-minute American musical films each featuring a musical performance that were produced between 1940 and 1946. Soundies exhibited a variety of musical genres in an effort to draw a broad audience and were originally viewed in public places on “Panorams,” coin-operated, 16mm rear projection machines. Several production companies filmed the Soundies shorts in New York City, Hollywood, and Chicago: James Roosevelt’s Globe Productions, Cinemasters, Minoco Productions, RCM Productions, LOL Productions, Glamourettes, Filmcraft Productions, and Alexander Productions. The “Soundies” idea developed several imitations of which were the Techniprocess company and the Featurettes company. Nonetheless, these companies later disbanded and sold their programming to the Soundies concern.
Soundies Musical: Vocalist Maurice Rocco sings “Rhumboogie” (directed by William Forest Crouch; 1943) to camera as he plays the piano in the setting of a nightclub with patrons in costume and dancing, light skin black women perform 40s-era dances to the song in voluminous dresses (0:06-2:52).
Official Films: Jim Mercer performs as little boy in song story of Tommy Tucker’s 1939 hit “The Man that Comes Around” (1940); story depicts Mercer’s mother playing a prostitute as men come and go from their home (2:55-5:56).
RCM Productions soundie: Sugar Kane sings “Shepherd’s Paradise” (c.1942/1943, directed by Josef Berne) to camera in flowing white nightgown, back up vocalists stand behind her in lingerie and occasionally hold up plaques with lyrics to song (5:58-9:05).
Official Films: The Terry Twins with Jerry Bowne and his Orchestra perform “Wherever There’s Me There’s You” c. 1940s; band performs the sisters, Bowne plays piano, twins sing and dance (9:10-11:55).
RCM Productions presents: Buddy Rogers and Marvel Maxwell perform “Dreamsville, Ohio;” pair sing and perform as a couple in love waiting at a bus station (1942) (11:57-14:50).
Official Films presents: Jerri Sullivan performs “Rum and Coca Cola” (c.1944) in bar setting in tropical location, off duty soldiers sit at tables with pretty young women as Jerri dances through the venue (14:53-17:29).
Castle Films Music Album (compilation of Soundies): The Dinning Sisters perform “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” (c.1953) on set emulating tropical paradise; provided by NBC’s National Barn Dance country music program (17:32-20:09).
RCM Productions: Marvel Maxwell, Ted Fio Rito and His Skylined Music perform “This is No Laughing Matter” (c.1942; directed by Josef Berne); Marvel Maxwell sings while standing next to Ted Fio Rito as he passionately plays piano (20:10-23:20).
Official Films presents: Young woman sits on window ledge and strums guitar while singing song in Spanish, wears traditional Mexican skirt and top (1943) (23:22-26:10).
Official Films: King Cole Trio and Ida James perform “Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t My Baby?” (1944); the three men play guitar, standing base, piano (26:13-29:11).
RCM Productions presents: Spike Jones and his City Slickers perform “Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy;” (directed by Reginald LeBorg) song story has Spike Jones and co performing as country men coming back from a hunt to homestead women cooking up a home-cooked meal in a shack (29:13-31:44).
Minoco Productions presents: Fats Waller performs “Ain’t Misbehavin’” (c.1941), plays piano while light skinned black women flirtatiously caress the singer as he sings and plays piano; this particular installment was produced by Minoco Productions, Inc. (31:47-34:18).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
