Herman Ruby

In 1911, minor stage comic, Vernon Castle meets the stage-struck Irene Foote. A few misadventures later, they marry and then abandon comedy to attempt a dancing career together. While they're performing in Paris, an agent sees them rehearse and starts them on their brilliant career as the world's foremost ballroom dancers. However, at the height of their fame, World War I begins.

Song-and-dance man Bert Kalmar can't continue his stage career after an injury, so he has to earn his money as a lyricist. By chance, he meets composer Harry Ruby and their first song is a hit. Ruby gets Kalmar to marry his former partner Jessie Brown, and Kalmar and Jessie prevent Ruby from getting married to the wrong girls. But due to the fact that Ruby has caused a backer's withdrawal for a Kalmar play, they end their professional relationship.

Two men running a carnival airplane ride are hired to fly to retrieve what they think are photos for a reporter. Actually, they are retrieving diamonds stolen from a noted gem dealer. As it turns out, their plane crashes on the very estate of the dealer. Thinking the duo are police officers, the dealer offers his home for their convalescence from the accident. Meanwhile, the diamonds have been snatched by a kleptomaniac dog and buried on the estate. When the smugglers track down the pair, they try to convince the dealer that they are officials from an institution from which the two have escaped. Before long, the carnival fellows, the crooks, the gem dealer and his family, along with a platoon of cops, are tearing up the grounds to find where the dog has buried the diamonds.

Benny and Flo are a husband-and-wife dance team starring in a new Broadway revue. When the show quickly flops, the two are forced to look for other employment and eventually find work in a nightclub, becoming famous in the process. But their relationship is tested when Flo attracts the attentions of a sophisticated millionaire playboy...

A musical parody on prison reform in which a prison warden gives his cellblocks the look of a summer resort in order to stave off reformers.

A crusading district attorney tries to stop a local mob boss who has connections in high places.

In this short film, a newlywed couple drive into Death Valley and wind up gambling for their life.

Singer Ruth Eton is looking for some new songs to use in her act. Don Hopkins is a songwriter who wants to break into the business, but knows it is difficult to get music publishers to consider new talent. Don sees Ruth having dinner at a night club and asks for her help.

Stephen Ghent, a mineowner, falls in love with Ruth Jordan, an arrogant girl from the East, unaware that she is the daughter of his dead partner. Ruth is vacationing in Arizona and Mexico with a fast set of friends, including her fiancé, Edgar. Manuella, a Spanish halfbreed hopelessly in love with Ghent, causes Ruth to return to her fiancé when she insinuates that Ghent belongs to her. Ghent follows Ruth, kidnaps her, and takes her into the wilderness to endure hardship. There she discovers that she loves Ghent, and she discards Edgar in favor of him.

In this short, multiple acts perform before an audience in a town hall. Performers include The Aaron Sisters singing trio and the Mound City Blue Blowers musicians. Another act features a tap dancer whose shoes have extensions on them that allow him to balance on the ends as one might use stilts. In the finale, an "inebriated" dog in the audience performs tricks. The short's title refers to the curfew in the town.

Bob Hope wants to marry the mayor's daughter, but the mayor doesn't want his daughter to marry Bob Hope.

A series of murders that take place in an old, dark mansion are suspected of being committed by an ape. (lost film)

A meek husband takes lessons on how to take control of his dominating wife.

This short features clips from silent films (mostly unidentified) of the 1910's, accompanied by humorous commentary. Highlighted are early appearances of stars still recognized today (e.g., Lionel Barrymore, Norma Shearer), as well as stars whose careers did not extend to the sound era (e.g., John Bunny, Edith Storey).

Two desperate singers take a job as the singing act in a movie theater between shows. They soon regret their decision.

Tom Dugan trying to go on a date behind his wife's back gets a surprise.

A penny-pinching house-holder attempts to put up wallpaper without professional help.

The Sultan is not a very happy man. He charges his royal jester to make him laugh before sunrise or die.

Ruth Eton (Ruth Etting), a singer with a traveling show troupe, is engaged to the troupe manager, Joe Grant (Edward Leiter), but when Ruth's younger sister, Laura (Wanda Perry) arrives, fickle Joe transfers his attentions and intentions to her. For the sake of her sister and the show, Ruth accepts her tough break philosophically, and sings "Why Did It Have To Be Me?"...because she is a real trouper.