Not so Laughing Gas

There was a period in Hollywood when theaters loved to show short comedies before the main attraction, and at the same time movie studios were creating short screen test films for would-be actors and performers. It was a marriage made in Hollywood, and the studios turned out many short musical comedy films that not only provided fresh new faces to the audience, but also turned the screen test into a profit making venture. I'm sure that most of the shorts didn't bring most of the wanna-be actors to fame and fortune, but today it gives us an interesting peek into the talent that was invading Hollywood with the hopes of becoming the next Humphry Bogart, Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers. In this musical comedy short comedian Pinky Lee is a new kind of dentist who provides live entertainment for his patients to take their mind off of the pain he is causing while working on their teeth. Andy Anderson's orchestra provides the music for singer Mary Sutherland . . . . You don't remember the famous singer Mary Sutherland? . . . . Me either . . . . Anyway . . . the Emcee and singer/tap dancer Barbara McDonald performs next . . . and then a trio of comedy dancers, The Eltons . . . Who could forget the Eltons? . . . . uh . . . well . . . . Anyway . . . before it is all over comedian Pinky Lee does a bit of stage work and our pained patient leaves smiling, along with all of the other patients waiting for the good doctor. Pop a little bowl of white kernel popcorn with a bit of real melted butter on it and enjoy the screen test of wanna-be stars from 1937.

Aileen Cook and Harold Waldridge	Aileen Cook
Barbara McDonald with the Andy Anderson Orchestra	Barbara McDonald
Harold Wadridge has a toothache	Mary Sutherland
	Mary Sutherland sings a duet all by herself
Mary Sutherland	Pinky Lee and Harold Waldridge
The Three Eltons