Tweet New Warner Archive Vitaphone Shorts Set out Tuesday, 12/14!

Hi All,

The first of a series of multi-DVD sets of Vitaphone shorts will be out on Warner Archive this Tuesday, 12/14. There will be more Vitaphone sets in the future, covering the full gamut of what survives or has been restored.

Please spread the word so this great stuff continues to be put out! Here's the rundown for this 3 DVD set:

Disc One



Vitaphone Pioneers

Stars of Broadway, Vaudeville and Nightclubs (1926-1931) -13 shorts

THE HOWARD BROTHERS in BETWEEN ACTS AT OPERA 10-5-1926 Howard Bros. #349

GUS ARNHEIM and HIS COCOANUT GROVE ORCHESTRA June,1928 Gus Arnheim #2584

TAL HENRY AND HIS NORTH CAROLINIANS April,1929 Tal Henry #732

RHYTHMS June,1929 Leo Reisman and his Hotel Brunswick Orchestra #770

THE OPRY HOUSE August, 1929 The Mound City Blue Blowers #834

RED NICHOLS AND HIS FIVE PENNIES December, 1929 Red Nichols #870

LEW FIELDS IN 23...SKIDOO June, 1930 Lew Fields #1017

FASHION'S MIRROR October, 1930 Jack Thompson & Barbara Newberry #1045

HENRY SANTREY & HIS SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE January, 1931 Henry Santrey #1128

OPENING NIGHT January ,1931 Dorothy Sands, Peggy Shannon #1138

ONE WAY OUT January, 1931 Thelma White #1153

JACK BUCHANAN WITH THE GLEE QUARTET February, 1930 Jack Buchanan #3816

BUBBLES with the Vitaphone Kiddies 1930 The Gumm Sisters (w/Judy Garland) #389

Disc Two

Vitaphone Varieties

Music and Comedy Diversions (1931-35) -6 Shorts

THE GRAND DAME May, 1931 Patsy Kelly #1203

NINE O'CLOCK FOLKS June, 1931 Roy Fant, The Mound City Blue Blowers #1220

HOT NEWS MARGIE November, 1931 Marjorie Beebe #1290

THE MILD WEST 11-18-1933 Janet Reade #1582 - 83

ROOFTOPS OF MANHATTAN 11-16-1935 Gil Lamb #1893 - 94

THE DUNCAN SISTERS IN "SURPRISE" 7-27-1935 Duncan Sisters #1915 - 16


Disc Three

Vitaphone presents Movie Memories, Celebrities & Novelties

Hollywood/Personalities/Nostalgia (1931-34) 11 shorts

THRILLS OF YESTERDAY 10-17-1931 Silent-era Serials #1261

CORRECTION (but a nice one!) This will be a FIVE DVD set, not 3. I will post the full rundown later today!

quote="vitaphone"]Hi All,

The first of a series of multi-DVD sets of Vitaphone shorts will be out on Warner Archive this Tuesday, 12/14. There will be more Vitaphone sets in the future, covering the full gamut of what survives or has been restored.

Please spread the word so this great stuff continues to be put out!

Um . . . on the Warner Archive's Facebook page, it says this is a 6-DVD set.

Here is the full rundown for the SIX DVD Warner Archive DVD set due out this Tuesday. Some great stuff, and more in the pipeline!

*Disc One

Vitaphone Pioneers
Stars of Broadway, Vaudeville and Nightclubs (1926-1931) -13 shorts

THE HOWARD BROTHERS in “BETWEEN ACTS AT OPERA” 10-5-1926 Howard
Bros. #349
GUS ARNHEIM and HIS COCOANUT GROVE ORCHESTRA June,1928 Gus
Arnheim #2584
TAL HENRY AND HIS NORTH CAROLINIANS April,1929 Tal Henry
#732
RHYTHMS June,1929 Leo Reisman and his Hotel Brunswick
Orchestra #770
THE OPRY HOUSE August, 1929 The Mound City Blue Blowers #834

RED NICHOLS AND HIS FIVE PENNIES December, 1929 Red Nichols
#870
LEW FIELDS IN ”23...SKIDOO” June, 1930 Lew Fields #1017
FASHION'S MIRROR October, 1930 Jack Thompson & Barbara Newberry
#1045
HENRY SANTREY & HIS SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE January, 1931 Henry Santrey
#1128
OPENING NIGHT January ,1931 Dorothy Sands, Peggy
Shannon #1138
ONE WAY OUT January, 1931 Thelma White #1153
JACK BUCHANAN WITH THE GLEE QUARTET February, 1930 Jack
Buchanan #3816
BUBBLES with the Vitaphone Kiddies 1930 The Gumm Sisters (w/Judy Garland)
#3898


Disc Two

Vitaphone Varieties
Music and Comedy Diversions (1931-35) -6 Shorts

THE GRAND DAME May, 1931 Patsy Kelly #1203
NINE O'CLOCK FOLKS June, 1931 Roy Fant, The Mound City Blue
Blowers #1220
HOT NEWS MARGIE November, 1931 Marjorie Beebe #1290
THE MILD WEST 11-18-1933 Janet Reade #1582 - 83
ROOFTOPS OF MANHATTAN 11-16-1935 Gil Lamb #1893 - 94
THE DUNCAN SISTERS IN "SURPRISE" 7-27-1935 Duncan Sisters #1915 -
16

Disc Three

Vitaphone presents Movie Memories, Celebrities & Novelties
Holywood/Personalities/Nostalgia (1931-34)– 11 shorts

THRILLS OF YESTERDAY 10-17-1931 Silent-era Serials #1261
MOVIE ALBUM #1 3-5-1932 Old Silent Days #1326
INKLINGS 4-8-1933 Lowell Thomas #1368
MOVIE ALBUM #2 6-4-1932 Old Silent Days #1388
NICKELETTE 9-24-1932 Nickelodeon #1399
MOVIE MEMORIES #1 12-30-1933 Old Silent Days #1517
A PENNY A PEEP 6-30-1934 Nickelodeon Memories #1518
THE CAMERA SPEAKS, THE 8-11-1934 Billy Bitzer #1600
HOLLYWOOD NEWS REEL 6-24-1934 Warner Bros. Stars # 6170
MOVIE MEMORIES #2 10-27-1934 Old Silent Days # 6493
TRIP THROUGH A HOLLYWOOD STUDIO, A 12/7/1934 WB Stars # 6616

Disc Four

Vitaphone Singin’ and Swingin’
Musical delights from the worlds Broadway, Radio, Nightclubs & Vaudeville
(1933-39)-11 shorts

HARRY WARREN, AMERICA’S FOREMOST COMPOSER 11-18-1933 Harry Warren
#1544
BARBER SHOP BLUES 9-30-1933 Claude Hopkins #1551
PHIL SPITALNY & HIS ORCH-A BIG CITY FANTASY 4-14-1934 Phil
Spitalny #1635
MIRRORS 9-8-1934 Freddie Rich & His Orchestra #1689
PHIL SPITALNY & HIS MUSICAL QUEENS 10-6-1934 Phil Spitalny
#1719
DON REDMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA 10-29-1934 Don Redman #1770
MR. & MRS. JESSE CRAWFORD AT HOME 4-15-1939 Jesse and Helen
Crawford #B219
VAUDEVILLE REEL #1 10-13-1934 Herb Williams #1751
VAUDEVILLE REEL #2 10-29-1934 Carl Emmy, George and Olive
Brasno #1761
VAUDEVILLE REEL #3 2-16-1935 Al Trahan #1778
VAUDEVILLE REEL #4 4-27-1935 Blossom Seeley and Benny Fields/ Pat Rooney
Sr. #1791


Disc Five

Vitaphone in TECHNICOLOR!
TECHNICOLOR MUSICAL COMEDY 2-Reelers (1934-35) -6 Shorts

SERVICE WITH A SMILE 7-28-1934 Leon Errol #1700 - 01
GOOD MORNING EVE 9-22-1934 Leon Errol #1702 - 03
WHAT? NO MEN! 11-24-1934 El Brendel #1704 - 05
GYPSY SWEETHEART 3-30-1935 Wini Shaw #1708 - 09
OKAY, JOSE 12-7-1935 El Brendel #7071 - 72
CARNIVAL DAY 5-20-1935 Felix Knight #7143 - 44

Disc Six

Vitaphone in TECHNICOLOR!-
TECHNICOLOR MUSICAL COMEDY 2-Reelers (1935-38) -6 Shorts

KING OF THE ISLANDS 2-22-1936 Wini Shaw #7234 - 35
CHANGING OF THE GUARD 6-6-1936 Sybil Jason #7497 - 98
ECHO MOUNTAIN 8-29-1936 Fred Lawrence #7633 - 34
SUNDAY ROUND-UP, THE 7-10-1936 Dick Foran, Jane .Wyman #7661 -
62
ROMANCE ROAD 1-29-1938 Walter Cassell # 8179 - 80
OUT WHERE THE STARS BEGIN 4-13-1938 All Star Special #8663 - 64

Six six six I have six. Do I hear seven?

Bob

This looks like a truly wonderful collection of shorts and I'll be looking forward to it--I'm especially glad that "Mirrors" was chosen for inclusion; it's a stylish little musical with Vera Van contributing her unique vocal talents.

There are a few Technicolor Broadway Brevities from the mid-30s that seem to be unaccounted for, at least as far as DVD releases and IMDB comments are concerned. Ron or anyone else, do you happen to know the status of

Springtime in Holland (6/35)
Romance of the West (8/35)
Reg'lar Kids (10/35)
Captain Blue Blood (2/37)
Flowers from the Sky (7/37)--I see that this was originally slated for the second Berkeley collection, according to the Project's Fall '08 newsletter, but it doesn't seem to have appeared.

Any insight into the above will be appreciated. And thank you, Ron, for all the work you've done advocating and aiding the preservation of these Vitaphone jewels.

-Harold

I'd like to add a note of appreciation to Ron Hutchinson and everyone at the Vitaphone Project for all your great work. The website is a font of fascinating info, and the live shows are a special treat. I've been to several Vitaphone programs at Film Forum over the years and always enjoy the event enormously. The excitement in the air is electric. Crowd response could be described as Vaudeville Heaven: big laughs at every quip, and (often) hearty applause at the end of the short.

I do have a question, and I'm sure someone reading this thread can answer it: what exactly is a "Vitaphone Pepper Pot"? That is, how does a Pepper Pot short differ from any other? Was it a special series?

All of your listed thirties 3 strip Technicolor 2 reel Vitaphone shorts exist, and can be expected in future releases. Several, like REG'LAR KIDS was already out on DVD with a feature (forget which one). There are a few from this period, like BUSINESS IS A PLEASURE (with Teddy Joyce and Betty Grable) and GIRL TROUBLE (with Mitchell and Durant), both 1933, that have some issues with elements. And the early two color 1929-30 series has a high mortality rate, with those that survive, like BUBBLES (1930, on this set) with Baby Gumm, Judy Garland) only around in black and white. Years ago, Dick May kindly summarized those 'missing in action' for me, but I can't find the list right now.

As to "Pepper Pot", this was a generic series name mainly for one-shot one reel shorts. They also had "Big V Comedies", which included two reel shorts with Arbuckle, Shemp Howard, Jack Haley, Joe Penner and Bob Hope, among any others. And the "Broadway Brevities" series were mainly two reel musicals, often but not always with Broadway stars.

Thanks for all the kind words about this latest DVD release, but the real credit goes to the tireless and visionary Sr. VP of Home Video at WB, George Fe;ltenstein. He deserves a special Oscar for getting this stuff 'out there'!!

As to "Pepper Pot", this was a generic series name mainly for one-shot one reel shorts. They also had "Big V Comedies", which included two reel shorts with Arbuckle, Shemp Howard, Jack Haley, Joe Penner and Bob Hope, among many others.

Thanks for the info, Mr. H. If you have a moment I've also got a couple of questions regarding The Camera Speaks , a special favorite of mine. Do you know the identity of the actor who "plays" the camera, i.e. whose face is superimposed over it? And was this short directed by Joseph Henabery? No director was credited, but he seems to be a likely candidate considering the subject matter.

WHAT? NO MEN! 11-24-1934 El Brendel #1704 - 05
OKAY, JOSE 12-7-1935 El Brendel #7071 - 72

HOORAY!!! Dick May had told me a couple years back that they had found the original tech elements to "What? No Men" and the short was in the process of being restored. Waiting to see if it's the original or censored version.

There are a few from this period, like BUSINESS IS A PLEASURE (with Teddy Joyce and Betty Grable) and GIRL TROUBLE (with Mitchell and Durant), both 1933, that have some issues with elements. And the early two color 1929-30 series has a high mortality rate, with those that survive, like BUBBLES (1930, on this set) with Baby Gumm, Judy Garland) only around in black and white. Years ago, Dick May kindly summarized those 'missing in action' for me, but I can't find the list right now.

Someone on the TCM boards posted a huge list of Warner-Vitaphone short subjects a while back (whether they used Roy Liebman's tome, I don't know). Here are the ones in Technicolor that pre-date Service With a Smile (there were a LOT more than I would have guessed!):

The Military Post (10/29)
Spanish Fiesta (10/29)
Dance of the Paper Dolls (11/29)
Minstrel Days (1/30)
Bubbles (1/30)
Evolution of the Dance (1/30)
Poor Little Butterfly (1/30)
The Sultan’s Jester (1/30)
A Scene from Carmen (2/30)
Only the Girl (2/30)
Shakespeare was Right (2/30)
And How (3/30)
Contrary Mary (3/30)
Jazz Rehearsal (3/30)
The Wedding of Jack and Jill (3/30)
The Lonely Gigolo (3/30)
A Holiday in Storyland (4/30)
South Sea Pearl (5/30)
Holland (5/30)
The Japanese Bowl (6/30)
College Capers (9/30)
Girls We Remember (9/30)
Modern Business (9/30)
C’est Paris (9/32)
Tee for Two (10/32)
Pickin’ a Winner (11/32)
Hey, Hey, Westerner (1/33)
Pleasure Island (2/33)
Northern Exposure (4/33)
’Tis Spring (10/33)
Morocco Nights (1/34)
Girl Trouble (3/34)
Not Tonight, Josephine (3/34)
Business is a Pleasure (3/34)

And also "Hello, Baby!" and "Believe Me" from the 1929-30 period which the poster omitted for whatever reason.

-Harold

This is great news and an unexpected Xmas present. Although several of these shorts have been previously released with other features, it's still going to be nice to have them all in one place.

But when I went to the Warner Archive site today to order the set, I couldn't find it listed anywhere. How does a mere mortal buy this? SETH

Yes, I too have checked all corners of the website and there's nary a shadow of this set. What's doin'?

WHAT? NO MEN! 11-24-1934 El Brendel #1704 - 05
OKAY, JOSE 12-7-1935 El Brendel #7071 - 72

HOORAY!!! Dick May had told me a couple years back that they had found the original tech elements to "What? No Men" and the short was in the process of being restored. Waiting to see if it's the original or censored version.

OK, Louie, NOW I'm curious - What was censored?

Westegg,

As I said, this set comes out Tuesday December 14th which is why you will not see any announcement until then. I was giving nitratevillians an advanced heads up. Look for it by close of business Tuesday.

OK, Louie, NOW I'm curious - What was censored?

Thanks vitaphone--I guess I was looking for a pre-order kinda thing. By the way, let me say how fantastically grateful I feel about your work--I go back to the days of those priceless vitaphone laser discs which you helped with, and they were extremely cherished at a time when such shorts were beyond elusive.

The final shot, described in the synopsis, of the Indian woman with a baby. When she turns around, the baby looks like El Brendel, and I think says something with a Swedish accent.
I can't say for sure, not having been involved in the restoration, but I'd guess that has been reinstated.
Viewing it today, I didn't feel it was "vulgar", but very entertaining. As in many of the early WB Technicolor shorts, the design had many shots that show off the capabilities of 3-color Tech.

The final shot, described in the synopsis, of the Indian woman with a baby. When she turns around, the baby looks like El Brendel, and I think says something with a Swedish accent.
I can't say for sure, not having been involved in the restoration, but I'd guess that has been reinstated.
Viewing it today, I didn't feel it was "vulgar", but very entertaining. As in many of the early WB Technicolor shorts, the design had many shots that show off the capabilities of 3-color Tech.

the female Indian dance sequence from "What? No Men" can be seen in the 1944 short "Musical Movieland" which was included as an extra on the DVD for 1946's "Night and Day".

And that film "It Came From Hollywood" 'round 1983 used the Indian dance scene, but stupidly replaced the original music with "Running Deer Loved Little White Dove". Or maybe it was a music rights issue. Almost half of "It Came From.....'s" cast has gone to the Happy Hunting Ground, sadly.

Loved that on the examiners sheet on the line marked Eliminations he wrote in El Brendel

Interestingly, Technicolor lists 1869 ft. while the censors report 1813 ft. I wonder if Technicolor was counting leaders, too. That's about 37 seconds worth of footage.

Loved that on the examiners sheet on the line marked Eliminations he wrote in El Brendel

Clearly a man of discerning taste.

Wouldn't it be fair to say if the censor can see those 'immoral' shots then the public should be able to. Why should he see all the choice bits. A bit hypocritical.

In the 1970s I had to carefully view adverts for the likes of Kmart depicting worn underwear and if anything was obvious the zinc plates had to go back to the photo engraving company next door & the negatives edited and the plates remade. Didn't happen often. But then we also had veto rights on the use of stamps or money in ads. They had to be broken in half to prevent copying. No computers for the home then so disfigured images for advertising could not be easily redone & used illegally. Televising a live ballet can be interesting if the producer/director lets the wrong shot go to air.

Jack,
It looks like the censors are listing the edited footage, and Tech the whole thing. 1869 is just under 21 minutes, which is about right.

Loved that on the examiners sheet on the line marked Eliminations he wrote in El Brendel

Clearly a man of discerning taste.

Boo!

And let's not forget, this short was nominated for an Oscar!!

No denying this is an outstanding, must-have set, but I must voice my teeny, tiny annoyance over the fact that once again, there is a total absence of subjects featuring African-American artists. Yes, I still have my laserdiscs, but it's well past time such great shorts as HI-DE-HO, PIE PIE BLACKBIRD, THE BLACK NETWORK, SMASH YOUR BAGGAGE, HARLEM-MANIA and yes, RUFUS JONES FOR PRESIDENT got their day on DVD.

Mike S.
(Mr. Benny ain't gonna like this)

No denying this is an outstanding, must-have set, but I must voice my teeny, tiny annoyance over the fact that once again, there is a total absence of subjects featuring African-American artists. Yes, I still have my laserdiscs, but it's well past time such great shorts as HI-DE-HO, PIE PIE BLACKBIRD, THE BLACK NETWORK, SMASH YOUR BAGGAGE, HARLEM-MANIA and yes, RUFUS JONES FOR PRESIDENT got their day on DVD.


Mr Precode, where have you been as these are all on a DVD set in this WAC & some over regular releases of classic films as extras as well? I even had a faulty, unplayable disc in the set with those shorts.

No denying this is an outstanding, must-have set, but I must voice my teeny, tiny annoyance over the fact that once again, there is a total absence of subjects featuring African-American artists. Yes, I still have my laserdiscs, but it's well past time such great shorts as HI-DE-HO, PIE PIE BLACKBIRD, THE BLACK NETWORK, SMASH YOUR BAGGAGE, HARLEM-MANIA and yes, RUFUS JONES FOR PRESIDENT got their day on DVD.

Mike S.
(Mr. Benny ain't gonna like this)

Check out Warner Archive's earlier release, Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Short Subject Collection. All the Vitaphone shorts you mentioned, and more (with the exception of HARLEM-MANIA), are on that set.

The world of the Internet can be so strange.

Earlier today I visited the Warner Archive site and saw a new release announcement that listed near its bottom the new Vitaphone set. Following the "Shop Now" button, however did not lead to anthing like it.

Now the new release announcement is gone...