Varieties on Parade
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Synopsis
After a live orchestra opens the show, master of ceremonies Eddie Garr greets the audience from a theater stage and tells them about his trip to Los Angeles, where out-of-work actors are always "acting" while working in their service-industry jobs. Garr then introduces The Diacoffs, a mother and daughter team who perform bicycle feats. Next, The Johnson Brothers, Duke and Harry, perform a juggling act with pins and hats. After Garr introduces comedian Jackie Coogan, the two provide humorous dialogue; however, Garr steals Jackie's punch lines. Harmonica players Jimmy and Mildred Mulcay perform next, followed by comedian Al Mardo with a trick pit bull. Next, when magician Ormond McGill performs his East Indian Miracle Show and makes five female baton twirlers appear from behind a trick door in the middle of the stage, Garr tries the trick. BettyJane appears with comedians Boyce and Evans, who are costumed as a horse and perform a comedy and dance routine. Next Paul Gordon rides various trick bicycles and unicycles. When Garr brings Lyle Talbot on stage and discovers that Lyle is a smoker, he introduces him to "Doctor" Jean Carroll, who promises a cure but actually only uses Lyle's smoking as the butt of her joke. Cowboy Eddie Dean then sings "Ole Lazy Moon" but is interrupted by Lyle, who fires his stage gun. Garr then joins them on stage and they sing a trio. The Lee Sisters perform a three-woman trampoline act next, followed by a ballroom dancing slapstick routine by Armando and Lita. Eddie then introduces comedian Iris Adrian to the audience. When Iris announces that she is looking for a romantic lead, Jackie introduces her to Tom Neal; however, her forward behavior stuns him. Next, The Bobby Harrison Trio performs a number of tap routines accompanied by piano, harmonica and accordion. Iris then introduces an act that parodies Charlie Chaplin's film "The Kid," which is followed by the Darling Sisters singing a number. As the show closes, The Russ Saunders Troupe performs a teeterboard acrobatic routine and then all of the entertainers return to the stage to perform segments of their routines.
Director
Ron Ormond
Cast
Jackie Coogan
Eddie Garr
Tom Neal
Eddie Dean
Iris Adrian
Lyle Talbot
The Bobby Harrison Trio
Jimmy Mulcay
Mildred Mulcay
Duke Johnson
Harry Johnson
Paul Gordon
The Diacoffs
The Russ Saunders Troupe
Al Mardo
Ormond Mcgill
Armondo And Lita
Boyce
Evans
Bettyjane
The Lee Sisters
Jean Carroll
Harry Rose
Darling Sisters
Jack O'shea
Diane Fortier
Marrel Anore
Millicent Patrick
Crew
Emery Altimus
Ronald Badger
Alfred Berke
George Bruce
June Carr
Diane Clark
Johnny Clark
F. O. Collings
Earl Crain Jr.
Sam Freedle
Glen Glenn
Walter Greene
Jack Greenhalgh
Ernest Johnson
Rene Lamarre
Kitty Mager
William Magginetti
Ray Mercer
Jimmy Mulcay
Mildred Mulcay
Theodore Offenbecker
Jack Ogilvie
Ron Ormond
Tommy Rief
Harry Ross
Paul Stanhope
F. Paul Sylos
Hugh Winn
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Notes
The working title for this film was That's Show Business. The film opens with shots of theater patrons in a lobby, minutes before a show begins. After the opening credits, the theater ticket counter attendant, ticket taker and usher address the camera as though the audience is actually being seated in the theatre. Hollywood Reporter production charts add Bob Carney to the cast, but his appearance in the final film has not been confirmed.
