The following is a complete list of the miscellaneus live action short subject series produced and/or distributed by Columbia Pictures between 1929-1965.
No available information exists on many of the individual titles. Descriptions are given where known. All shorts were either one or two reels in length, and released in black and white except when noted.
TITLES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ARE NOTED WITH AN *
No available information exists on many of the individual titles. Descriptions are given where known. All shorts were either one or two reels in length, and released in black and white except when noted.
TITLES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ARE NOTED WITH AN *
COLUMBIA VICTOR GEMS SERIES
LISTEN LADY (1929) Grace La Rue
MONKEYSHINES
1931
Long before the 1970's cult classic television series LANCELOT LINK, SECRET CHIMP, Columbia Pictures distributed this series of shorts that featured a cast of monkeys with overdubbed voices. Produced quite possibly as a rival to MGM's DOGVILLE shorts, which were helmed by Jules White and Zion Myers.
LISTEN LADY (1929) Grace La Rue
MONKEYSHINES
1931
Long before the 1970's cult classic television series LANCELOT LINK, SECRET CHIMP, Columbia Pictures distributed this series of shorts that featured a cast of monkeys with overdubbed voices. Produced quite possibly as a rival to MGM's DOGVILLE shorts, which were helmed by Jules White and Zion Myers.
1932-33
Columbia Pictures handled the theatrical distribution for this series of two-reel comedies that was produced by The Lambs Club, a fraternity of professional actors. Some of the actors appearing in these comedies (Leon Errol and Smith and Dale) would go on to appear in their own series of two-reelers after Columbia's own shorts department opened. We are currently seeking out any production information on this series, as these titles are currently unavailable for reappraisal.
ENTERTAINER starring Ken Murray
BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A MILLION starring Ken Murray
PREFERRED LIST starring Ken Murray
CURSE OF A BROKEN HEART
THE STRANGE CASE OF POISON IVY
HOT DAZE starring Smith and Dale
LOVE IN TENTS starring Smith and Dale
50 MILLION DOLLARS CAN'T BE WRONG starring Smith and Dale
POOR FISH (4/27/33) D: Joseph Stanley. Leon Errol, Luella Gear, Lynn Overman, Harry Tyler, Harry Short, Harry Shannon. Leon's wife catches him with an actor in drag and gets the wrong idea.
MICKEY McGUIRE(1933)
Mickey McGuire was one of the many copycat series meant to rival Our Gang. It starred Joe Yule, Jr (Mickey Rooney) and was based on the Fontaine Fox comic strip THE TOONERVILLE TROLLEY. The shorts were produced by Larry Darmour and Columbia handled the distribution during the series during it's final year. The following list is incomplete. It names only the titles that were distributed by Columbia, and is based on the titles that were included in the 1959 Screen Gems Television package only.
MICKEY'S COVERED WAGON
MICKEY'S MINSTRELS
MICKEY'S RESCUE
MICKEY'S MEDICINE MAN
BEN K. BLAKE MUSICAL COMEDIES
Ben K. Blake produced and directed a series of cheaply made musical comedies in New York that were distributed through Columbia between 1937 and 1945. The following list may be incomplete. We are currently seeking out any production information on this series, as many of these titles (excluding MY WIFE'S AN ANGEL), are currently unavailable for reappraisal.
ROOFTOP FROLICS (1937) D: Ben K Blake. Kirk Alyn. Occupants of two contrasting rooftops merge to put on a musical show. Representing the tenement roofers are singer Peg La Centra, child accordian player Gina Valenti and the dance team of Selden and Endler, while the swanky apartment building crowd is Al Cooper and his swing band and the high-hat tap dancers, The Debonaires.
BROKER'S FOLLIES(1937) D: Ben K Blake. Martha Tilton Roy Campbell and His Royalists Lewis & Van The Loria Brothers
CUCKOORANCHO (3/25/38) D. Ben K. Blake. Joe Besser. Joe is a wanderer who gets mistaken for an American millionaire by the improvrished owner of a hacienda.
YOO HOO GENERAL starring Billy Vine
DRUGSTORE FOLLIES (1938) D: Ben K Blake. Texas Jim Lewis, Roscoe Ates, George Moore, The Lone Star Cowboys, The Leslies, Carolyn Marsh. A Columbia "Variety Favorites" short (production number 3952) featuring Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys performing on a drug store set (hence the title), and includes comic bits by stuttering Roscoe Ates, juggler George Moore, singer Carolyn Marsh (singing "Stardust) and The Leslies, a dancing trio.
A NIGHT IN A MUSIC HALL (1939) D: Arthur Driefuss. Pinky Tomlin. The first in a series called "Music Hall Vanities", intended to utilize the talent from the Fanchon and Marco pool (which didn't take long to dry up), Pinky Tomlin sings one of his own songs and Betty Atkinson, Hollywood's first choice for majorette or jitter-bugging roles, extends her range to acrobatic dancing. The Fanchonettes dancers also stay busy. TRIVIA: Reissued by Sixteen M.M. Pictures Inc. in 1947.
TIMBERLAND REVELS Billed as AN ALL-AMERICAN MUSICAL NOVELTY
LOVE IN GLOOM (1941) D. Jules White (unconfirmed). Henny Youngman stars.
*MY WIFE'S AN ANGEL (1943) D: Ben K. Blake. Allen Jenkins, Arthur Horan, Katherine Givney, Jerry Cooper, The Delta Rhythm Boys, The Carters, Rolfe Sedan. Musical comedy short produced in New York. This title is one of only a few non-Jules White/Hugh McCollum produced Columbia two-reelers that was included in the original Screen Gem's 1959 HILARIOUS HUNDRED television package
VINE, WOMEN, AND SONG (1946) D. Jules White (unconfirmed). Starring Billy Vine and Nan Wynn
COMMUNITY SING
This series of one-reel musical sing alongs were also distributed for 16mm home movie use by Official Films.
*STRAUSS WALTZES with Christine McIntyre
SERIES 2, NO. 3 – COLLEGE FOOTBALL SONGS (1937) D. Charles Lamont Gene Morgan, Donald Grayson
SERIES 2, NO. 4 (1937) D: Charles Lamont Gene Morgan, Donald Grayson.
SERIES 2, NO. 5 (1937) D: Charles Lamont Gene Morgan, Donald Grayson.
COLLEGE SONGS (1938) Gene Morgan SONGS OF THE WEST (1939) D: Sam Nelson. Starring The Sons of the Pioneers (Pat Brady, Hugh Farr, Karl Karr, Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman and Tim Spencer).
SWINGY: COMMUNITY SING NUMBER. 10 (1939) D: Del Lord. The King Sisters, Danny Webb. Songs include: "All I Do Is Dream of You", "Among My Souveniers", "I'll See You in My Dreams", "Thanks For the Memory",and "There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder."PARADE OF HITS (1939) Gene Morgan and his Columbians.
SONGS OF ROMANCE (1939) Starring Gene Morgan.
OLD TIME SONGS (1939) No director credited.
STEPHEN FOSTER SONGS (1939) No director credited.
GYPSY SONGS (1939) No director credited.
SERIES 6, NO. 5 – GOODFELLOWSHIP SONGS (1942) No director credited. In this Community Sing (Columbia production number 3656, which they used again years later for those attempting to make sense of Columbia production numbers), Don Baker (IX)(who was in films before and made more movies than Don Bakers I through VIII, but is relagated to being the ninth Don Baker) plays four songs on the organ, including "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder", while the audience is asked to follow the Bouncing Ball and sing along. Most didn't.
SERIES 7, NO. 7 CHRISTMAS CAROLS (1943) No director credited. This entry in the "Community Sing" series (production number 5657) was produced at the request of the U.S. Army Motion Picture Service for showing at U.S. military installions around the world during the Christmas season. Dick Leibert, at the organ as always (when Don Baker wasn't), plays while the Song Spinners (always on hand after Ben K. Blake took over the production of the series for Columbia) sang "Silent Night," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing", "The First Noel", "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" and "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear." Columbia reissued this on December 6, 1947, and several times after that when they finally figured out it was playable once every year. One of the few in the series the audience didn't need a bouncing ball to be able to sing along
NO. 12, SERIES 10 (1945) D: Ben K Blake. This "Community Sing" short (Columbia production number 6662) features Dick Leibert playing the organ while the Song Spinners sing the songs and encourage the audience to join in and follow the bouncing ball atop of the displayed lyrics. Songs include "Bell-Bottom Trousers," , "Who Can Tell" and "Just a Prayer Away."
COWBOY HIT TUNES (1945) D: Ben K Blake. Another of the endless "bouncing-ball" sing-alongs from Columbia and Ben K. Blake with an organ player---Dick Leibert in this and many others---pumping out tunes to be sung by The Song Spinners, while the lyrics are shown on the screen and the audience (very seldom) joining in on the singing. Most of the audience usually headed for the concession stand or the rest rooms when these things came on. Especially when songs such as "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "San Antonio Rose" were being slaughtered by organ music.
YOU BELONG TO MY HEART (1945) No director credited. Don Baker pumps on the Organ while the Song Spinners sing and the audience is invited to "follow the bouncing ball" and sing-along to the lyrics written on the screen. If the latter did, and most didn't, they joined in on "You've Got Me Where You Want Me", "You Belong to My Heart", "Sentimental Journey", "Sunny Side of the Street" and "Horses Don't Bet on People"...and Audiences Don't Sing Along...except when they shouldn't.
CHICKERY CHICK (1946) D: Ben K Blake. This entry of the "follow-the-bouncing-ball" Community Sing series (Columbia production number 7657 and No. 7 of the 1945-46 production season)features Dick Leibert at the organ. The Song Spinners sing "Chickery Chick", "You Came Along", "It's Been a Long, Long Time", "Don't Forget Tonight, Tomorrow" and "Come To Baby, Do", while Leibert plays the organ and the audience snoozes.
MANAGUA, NICARAGUA (1947) D: Ben K Blake. This was "Community Sing" number 10 of the 1946-47 production season (Columbia production number 8660) with Don Baker pumping away at the organ while the Song Spinners sung the songs, and the bouncing ball implored the audience to sing along. This one leads off with "Managua, Nicaragua", a swingy novelty tune that spent 14 weeks on the Lucky Strike Hit Parade from February 15 through May 17, 1947. Audiences seldom joined in, and were less inclined to do so on a song with a title they couldn't pronounce. The remaining songs were "Why Did I Ever Leave Wyoming", "Here and Now", "Bless You for Being an Angel" and "Over the Rainbow."
FILM NOVELTIES
AREN’T WE ALL (1947) D: George Blake F. Chase Taylor. Colonel Lemuel Q. Stoopnagel (F. Chase Taylor) recounts and enacts the human foibles of people when they go out to dine. These include the chair-hopper who can never get comfortable; the diner who can't choose, or stay with his choice from the menu; and the female ash-tray emptier.
FAMOUS BANDS
CURRENTLY SEEKING TITLES/INFORMATION FOR THIS SERIES
MILTON BRITTON AND BAND (1945)
TEDDY POWELL AND HIS ORCHESTRA (year unknown) D: Ted Lloyd.
FILM-VODVIL
CURRENTLY SEEKING TITLES/INFORMATION FOR THIS SERIES
RANDY BROOKS AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1945) D: Ben K Blake Randy Brooks, Billy Usher
MORALE’S COPACABANA ORCHESTRA (1945)
ART MOONEY AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1946) D: Ben K Blake. Art Mooney and His Orchestra, Janie Ford, Dean Martin. Most likely and quite possibly Dean Martin's first film appearance. This was one of the "Film Vodvil" shorts made in NYC by Ben K. Blake for Columbia distribution, mostly utilizing the talent currently working in the clubs or on network radio in NYC.
BOBBY BYRNE AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1946) D: Ben K Blake Bobby Byrne, Bob Hayden, Shelia Bond. Another of the "Film Vodvil" shorts filmed in NYC utilizing radio and stage performers mostly. This entry headlines Bobby Byrne and his Orchestra providing the music, while vocalist Bob Hayden sings "Prisoner of Love" and tap dancer Sheila Bond does her stuff on "La Bonda" and "Boogie Bond." The band also plays "Hey, Bobby." This leavers singer Hayden the only performer that doesn't have his name in a song which, of course, is the only song ever heard elsewhere. The Columbia production number is 7958.
SAXIE DOWELL AND HIS ORCHESTRA (1946) Saxie Dowell, Esther Treu, Jesse Elliot This Ben K. Blake "Film Vodvil" short opens with Saxie Dowell and orchestra playing Dowell's "Three Little Fishes." Esther Treu sings "Blue" (evidently to rhyme with her name) and singer/dancer Jessie Elliott does both on "Looka Me, I'm Dancing." All hands get together on "Smiles."
Columbia production number 7957
VERA VAGUE LAFF TOURS
CURRENTLY SEEKING TITLES/INFORMATION FOR THIS SERIES
SPORTS THRILLS
CURRENTLY SEEKING TITLES/INFORMATION FOR THIS SERIES
SKI THRILLS (1938) D: Ben Schwalb
ATHLETIC YOUTH (1938) D: Ben Schwalb
DEMONS OF THE DEEP (1938) D: Ben Schwalb
FEMININE FUN (1938) D: Ben Schwalb
FISTIC FUN (1938)D: Ben Schwalb
FOOTBALL GIANTS (1938) D: Ben Schwalb. Sports short focusing on the New York Giants football team.
PLAY BALL (1938) D: Ben Schwalb
SNOW FOOLIN' (1938) D: Ben Schwalb
SPORT STAMIA (1938) D: Ben Schwalb
THRILLING MOMENTS (1938)D: Ben Schwalb
UNUSUAL HUNTING (1938)D: Ben Schwalb
SAVING STROKES WITH SAM SNEAD (1940)D: Harry Foster
AQUA ZANIES (1948) D: Harry Foster
BABE DIDRIKSON, QUEEN OF SPORTS (1948) D: Harry Foster
ACROBATIC BABIES (1948) D: Harry Foster
KING OF THE PINS (1950) One-reeler with Buddy Hackett. TRIVIA: This film was released to the home-movie market in the 8mm format.
ASSUALT AND MAT-TERY (1953) Bill Stern (Narrator). In this Columbia sports short (Columbia production number 6801), sportscaster Bill Stern attends and narrates a professional wrestling match in Los Angeles. The match is between "good guy" wrestler Antonio Rocco and the villain, Don Jonathan. Per the usual scripted professional wrestling match, Jonathan kicks Rocco all over the ring in the first half, and then Rocco recovers and wins. A mid-fifties look at professional wrestling that proves, other than special effects, nothing has changed in professional wrestling in the past fifty years, nor, for that matter, in the 50 years preceding this short. Bottom line: P. T. (There's a sucker born...) Barnum is proven right once again.
PANORAMICS
CURRENTLY SEEKING TITLES/INFORMATION
ALLEN FUNT'S CANDID MICROPHONE
A series of one-reel shorts produced by Ben K. Blake. To date, 5 shorts are known to have been produced. Research continues to determine if others were produced.
BUZZELL SPECIALTIES aka
RADIO BEDTIME STORIES
A series of one-reel subjects that were shot silent with narration by comedian Eddie Buzzell.
COLUMBIA TOURS
Travelogue series filmed in Cinecolor lasting one-reel in length.
MAN-MADE ISLAND (1939) D: Del Lord. Narrated by Gayne Whitman. Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay covering the highlights of the Exposition; the display of plants and flowers at the Tower of the Sun; the Court of the Moon, the Evening Star, Phoenix and Pacifica statutes; and other exhibits at the foreign pavilions such as the Arch of Triumph, the Siesta Pools and the Federal Group.
TRAVEL LAUGHS aka
LAUGHING WITH MEDBURY
A series of one-reel travelouges with humorous commentary by John Medbury. This list is based on the titles that were available to the 16mm rental and home movie market in the late 1940's. It may be incomplete.
BORNEO
COMIC CRUISE
GUATEMALA PHILIPPINES
RENO
DEATH VALLEY
VOODOO ISLAND
WIDE OPEN FACES
WILD WEST
WONDERS OF THE WORLD
ABYSSINIA
MANDALAY
STRANGE AS IT SEEMS
After a 6 year run at Universal, the STRANGE AS IT SEEMS series came to Columbia in 1937. The series was created as a rival to Warner Brothers RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT short-subjects. The following list of titles are currently being researched, as they have yet to be determined as to whether they are Columbia releases or the earlier Universal releases, therefore, this list may be incomplete or incorrect. All are one reel in length.
GOLD AND MAN
EMPORER NORTON
FIFTY YEARS BARTER
LAFAYETTE, CHAMPION OF LIBERTY
LITTLE JACK HORNER
MARK TWAIN
SILVER THREADS
STAR GAZERS
FOOLS WHO MADE HISTORY
A historical series produced by Hugh McCollum, which resulted in two shorts. One-reel in length.
THE STORY OF ELIAS HOWE (1939) D: Jan Leman. Richard Fiske, Lucile Brown, Lindsay McHarrie
THE STORY OF CHARLES GOODYEAR (1939) Robert Sterling, Wally Wales, Richard Fiske. The story of rubber magnate
MISC. SHORTS
CURRENTLY SEEKING TITLES/INFORMATION
QUIZ REEL: JUNIOR IQ QUIZ (1941) D: Del Lord
A FAMILY FUED (1943) United States Government short with Leon Errol and Jane Darwell.
THIS IS FORT DIX (1944) D: Ben K Blake
ROOTIN’ TOOTIN’ BAND (1944) D: Ben K Blake
NOVAK’S COMEDY BAND (1944) D: Ben K Blake
KEHOE’S MARIMBA BAND (1944) D: Ben K Blake
DESIGN FOR LOVING (1944) D: Ben K Blake
YOU BELONG TO MY HEART (1945) D: Ben K Blake
THE VERY THOUGHT OF YOU (1945) D: Ben K Blake
TICO TICO (1945) D: Ben K Blake
SWEET AND LOVELY (1945) D: Ben K Blake
RUM AND COCA-COLA (1945) D: Ben K Blake
PATRIOTIC SONGS (1945) D: Ben K Blake
THE MAGIC STONE (1945) D: Ben K Blake
LOWE, HITE AND STANLEY (1945) D: Ben K Blake
LITTLE ON THE LONELY SIDE (1945) D: Ben K Blake
KORN KOBBLERS (1945) D: Ben K Blake
I'LL WALK ALONE (1945) D: Ben K Blake
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD (1945) D: Ben K Blake
DREAM (1945) D: Ben K Blake
COWBOY HIT TUNES (1945) D: Ben K Blake
CONFESSIN’ (1945) D: Ben K Blake
BELL-BOTTOM TROUSERS (1945) D: Ben K Blake
A VOICE IS BORN (1947) D: George Blake. Nominated for an Oscar
Special Thanks to Les Adams for providing much of the information used on this page.
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