Community Sing
The audience was encouraged to follow along with the words superimposed on the screen in this series of one-reel musical sing-a-long shorts, though most of them probably took the start of one of these shorts as their cue to head to the lobby for a snack. The first handful of titles were produced in Hollywood with two-reel comedy directors Del Lord and Charles Lamont at the helm. Assistant director Sam Nelson used these shorts to help pave the way to directing serials for the studio. Before long, Columbia would hand the reins over to Ben K Blake in New York, who would continue to produce these fillers until the late 1940's.
Several titles in this series found their way into the home via 16mm film that were released by Official Films.
All titles in this series are one reel in length.
Community Sing (2/8/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 2 (2/12/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 3 (5/11/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 4 (6/8/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 5 (9/2/1937) No Director Credited. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson. With a riverboat setting, songs include "Are You From Dixie?", "Carolina", "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Mammy".
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 3: College Football Songs (9/2/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan. Released first in Series 2 for the fall college football season, the songs include "On Wisconsin", "Fight For California" and "Notre Dame Victory March".
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 1 (9/10/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 2 (9/18/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 4 (10/5/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
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Community Sing: Series 2, No. 5: Barber Shop Songs (11/28/1937)
Director-Charles Lamont
Cast
Gene Morgan
The Columbians (featuring Thurl Ravenscroft)
Reissued in 16mm by Official Films under the title BARBER SHOP QUARTETTES.
From the Official Films catalog description....
Turn back the clock to a gas-lit parlor of the gay nineties, and join in the old familiar ditties that are still so much fun:
WHILE STROLLING THROUGH THE PARK ONE DAY
IN THE SHADE OF THE OLD APPLE TREE
CUDDLE UP A LITTLE CLOSER
SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD
IN MY MERRY OLDSMOBILE
and
AFTER THE BALL
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Community Sing: Series 2, No. 6 (2/23/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 7 (3/16/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 8: Gus Van's Song Shop (5/6/1938) Charles Lamont. Gus Van (emcee), Joan Brooks and The Treys (Instrumental Group). Reissued by Official Films under the same title.
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 9 (6/10/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 10 (6/14/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 11 (9/6/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 12 (9/15/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 1: College Songs (10/1938) D: Del Lord. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 2 (10/17/1938) D: Del Lord. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 3 (11/16/1938) D: Del Lord. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 4: Friendship Songs (1/4/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 5 (1/16/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 6: Songs of the West (2/2/1939) No director credited. Sons Of The Pioneers
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 7: Crosby Hit Songs (3/2/1939) D: Sam Nelson. The King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Gene Morgan (emcee). In the ten-minute short, the King Sisters sing "One, Two, Button My Shoe," "Pennies from Heaven," "Love in Bloom," "I'm an Old Cow Hand," and "Blue Hawaii." Reissued by Official Films under the title CROSBY FAVORITES.
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 8: The Parade Of Hits (5/5/1939) No Director Credited. Gene Morgan & His Columbians
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 9: Swingy (6/8/1939) D: Del Lord. Danny Webb & The King Sisters
Songs include: "All I Do Is Dream of You", "Among My Souvenirs", "I'll See You in My Dreams", "Thanks For the Memory" and "There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder."
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 10: Strauss Waltzes (7/2/1939) No Director Credited. Gene Morgan & Christine McIntyre
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 1: Songs Of Romance (8/25/1939) No director credited. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 2: Old Time Songs (9/7/1939) No director credited. Gene Morgan & His Columbians
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 3 (10/16/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 4: Stephen Foster Songs (11/4/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 5: Gypsy Songs (12/6/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 6 (6/11/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 7 (8/28/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 1 (10/2/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 2 (11/8/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 3 (12/9/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 4 (1/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 5 (2/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 6 (3/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 7 (4/25/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 8 (7/1/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 1 (8/15/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 2 (9/5/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 3 (10/1/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 4 (11/15/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 6 (12/31/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 5 - Goodfellowship Songs (1/23/1942) 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 relegated to being the ninth Don Baker over at IMDB.COM) plays four songs on the organ, including "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder".
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 7 (2/22/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 8 (3/27/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 9 (4/30/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 10 (6/2/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 1 (8/15/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: America Sings With Kate Smith (8/21/1942). This short was released separately and reissued to theaters in 1974 as part of THE THREE STOOGES FOLLIES.
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 2 (9/18/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 3 (10/15/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 5 (11/13/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 4 (12/11/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 6 (1/1/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 7 (2/19/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 8 (3/26/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 9 (4/30/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 10 (6/8/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 1 (7/29/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 2 (8/27/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 3 (9/24/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 4 10/5/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 5 (11/25/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 8: Christmas Carols (12/2/1943) D: Ben K. Blake. 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 bases 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 to follow the words on the screen to be able to sing along.
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 6 (12/21/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 8 (1/28/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 9 (2/21/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 10 (3/17/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 11 (4/13/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 12 (6/16/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 1 (9/1/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 2 (10/12/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 3 (11/10/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 4 (12/1/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 5 (1/1/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 6 (2/9/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 7: I'll Walk Alone (3/15/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 8 (4/12/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 9 (5/25/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 13 (5/28/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 10 (7/19/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 11 (7/26/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 1: Cowboy Hit Tunes (9/20/1945) 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.
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 12 (10/4/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 2- You Belong To My Heart (10/18/1945) D: Ben K. Blake. 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".
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 3 (11/29/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 4: Good, Good, Good (12/20/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 5: No Can Do (1/17/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 6: That Feeling In The Moonlight (2/21/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 7: Chickery Chick (3/7/1946) 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.
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 8 (4/11/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 9: Aren't You Glad You're You (5/9/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 10 (6/13/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 11: You Won't Be Satisfied (7/11/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 12: One-zy Two-sy (8/1/1946) 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."
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 1 (9/12/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 2 (10/10/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 3 (11/14/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 4 (12/19/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 5 (1/23/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 6 (2/27/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 7 (3/13/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 8: I'll Close My Eyes (4/17/1947) D: Ben K. Blake. Don Baker and The Song Spinners
provide a warm-up session on "I Tipped My Hat" - "Far Away Island" - September Song", and "Lullaby of Broadway", before the big finish (with the audience joining in) on "I'll Close My Eyes."
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 9: For Sentimental Reasons (5/22/1947) D: Ben K. Blake.
Six songs are featured - "Sonata" - "Symphony" - "It's a Good Day" - "Among My Souvenirs" and "At Sundown", before the audience is asked to join in on "I Love You for Sentimental Reasons."
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 10: Managua Nicaragua (7/19/1947) 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."
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 1: Heartaches (9/4/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 2: April Showers (10/10/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 3 (11/6/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 4 (12/4/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 5: Feudin' And Fightin' (12/28/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 6: It's A Pity (2/12/1948) D: Ben K. Blake.
Don Baker and the Song Spinners provide the organ music and the singing on "The Old Chaperone", "And Mimi", "Just Around The Corner" and "It's A Pity" as the bouncing ball leads the theater audience into singing along.
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 7 (4/8/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 8 (6/3/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 9 (7/5/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 1 (9/161948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 2 (10/21/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 3 (12/23/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 4 (3/10/1949) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 5: June In January (4/21/1949) D: Ben K. Blake. Songs heard include "June in January," "Concita Marquita Lilota Pepita Rosita Juanita Lopez," "Sleepy Time Gal," and "Ain't Misbehavin'."
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 6 (7/7/1949) D: Ben K. Blake
SPECIAL THANKS TO SCOTT MacGILLIVRAY & LES ADAMS FOR THEIR HELP WITH THIS PAGE
Several titles in this series found their way into the home via 16mm film that were released by Official Films.
All titles in this series are one reel in length.
Community Sing (2/8/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 2 (2/12/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 3 (5/11/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 4 (6/8/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: No. 5 (9/2/1937) No Director Credited. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson. With a riverboat setting, songs include "Are You From Dixie?", "Carolina", "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Mammy".
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 3: College Football Songs (9/2/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan. Released first in Series 2 for the fall college football season, the songs include "On Wisconsin", "Fight For California" and "Notre Dame Victory March".
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 1 (9/10/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 2 (9/18/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 4 (10/5/1937) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
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Community Sing: Series 2, No. 5: Barber Shop Songs (11/28/1937)
Director-Charles Lamont
Cast
Gene Morgan
The Columbians (featuring Thurl Ravenscroft)
Reissued in 16mm by Official Films under the title BARBER SHOP QUARTETTES.
From the Official Films catalog description....
Turn back the clock to a gas-lit parlor of the gay nineties, and join in the old familiar ditties that are still so much fun:
WHILE STROLLING THROUGH THE PARK ONE DAY
IN THE SHADE OF THE OLD APPLE TREE
CUDDLE UP A LITTLE CLOSER
SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD
IN MY MERRY OLDSMOBILE
and
AFTER THE BALL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 6 (2/23/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 7 (3/16/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 8: Gus Van's Song Shop (5/6/1938) Charles Lamont. Gus Van (emcee), Joan Brooks and The Treys (Instrumental Group). Reissued by Official Films under the same title.
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 9 (6/10/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 10 (6/14/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 11 (9/6/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 2, No. 12 (9/15/1938) D: Charles Lamont. Gene Morgan & Donald Grayson
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 1: College Songs (10/1938) D: Del Lord. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 2 (10/17/1938) D: Del Lord. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 3 (11/16/1938) D: Del Lord. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 4: Friendship Songs (1/4/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 5 (1/16/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 6: Songs of the West (2/2/1939) No director credited. Sons Of The Pioneers
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 7: Crosby Hit Songs (3/2/1939) D: Sam Nelson. The King Sisters (Luise, Alyce, Donna, Vonnie), Gene Morgan (emcee). In the ten-minute short, the King Sisters sing "One, Two, Button My Shoe," "Pennies from Heaven," "Love in Bloom," "I'm an Old Cow Hand," and "Blue Hawaii." Reissued by Official Films under the title CROSBY FAVORITES.
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 8: The Parade Of Hits (5/5/1939) No Director Credited. Gene Morgan & His Columbians
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 9: Swingy (6/8/1939) D: Del Lord. Danny Webb & The King Sisters
Songs include: "All I Do Is Dream of You", "Among My Souvenirs", "I'll See You in My Dreams", "Thanks For the Memory" and "There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder."
Community Sing: Series 3, No. 10: Strauss Waltzes (7/2/1939) No Director Credited. Gene Morgan & Christine McIntyre
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 1: Songs Of Romance (8/25/1939) No director credited. Gene Morgan
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 2: Old Time Songs (9/7/1939) No director credited. Gene Morgan & His Columbians
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 3 (10/16/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 4: Stephen Foster Songs (11/4/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 5: Gypsy Songs (12/6/1939) No director credited.
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 6 (6/11/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 4, No. 7 (8/28/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 1 (10/2/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 2 (11/8/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 3 (12/9/1940) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 4 (1/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 5 (2/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 6 (3/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 7 (4/25/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 5, No. 8 (7/1/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 1 (8/15/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 2 (9/5/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 3 (10/1/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 4 (11/15/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 6 (12/31/1941) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 5 - Goodfellowship Songs (1/23/1942) 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 relegated to being the ninth Don Baker over at IMDB.COM) plays four songs on the organ, including "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder".
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 7 (2/22/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 8 (3/27/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 9 (4/30/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 6, No. 10 (6/2/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 1 (8/15/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: America Sings With Kate Smith (8/21/1942). This short was released separately and reissued to theaters in 1974 as part of THE THREE STOOGES FOLLIES.
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 2 (9/18/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 3 (10/15/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 5 (11/13/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 4 (12/11/1942) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 6 (1/1/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 7 (2/19/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 8 (3/26/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 9 (4/30/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 10 (6/8/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 1 (7/29/1943) D: Ben K. & Carter Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 2 (8/27/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 3 (9/24/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 4 10/5/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 5 (11/25/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 7, No. 8: Christmas Carols (12/2/1943) D: Ben K. Blake. 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 bases 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 to follow the words on the screen to be able to sing along.
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 6 (12/21/1943) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 8 (1/28/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 9 (2/21/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 10 (3/17/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 11 (4/13/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 8, No. 12 (6/16/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 1 (9/1/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 2 (10/12/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 3 (11/10/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 4 (12/1/1944) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 5 (1/1/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 6 (2/9/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 7: I'll Walk Alone (3/15/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 8 (4/12/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 9 (5/25/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 13 (5/28/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 10 (7/19/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 11 (7/26/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 1: Cowboy Hit Tunes (9/20/1945) 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.
Community Sing: Series 9, No. 12 (10/4/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 2- You Belong To My Heart (10/18/1945) D: Ben K. Blake. 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".
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 3 (11/29/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 4: Good, Good, Good (12/20/1945) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 5: No Can Do (1/17/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 6: That Feeling In The Moonlight (2/21/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 7: Chickery Chick (3/7/1946) 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.
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 8 (4/11/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 9: Aren't You Glad You're You (5/9/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 10 (6/13/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 11: You Won't Be Satisfied (7/11/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 10, No. 12: One-zy Two-sy (8/1/1946) 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."
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 1 (9/12/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 2 (10/10/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 3 (11/14/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 4 (12/19/1946) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 5 (1/23/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 6 (2/27/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 7 (3/13/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 8: I'll Close My Eyes (4/17/1947) D: Ben K. Blake. Don Baker and The Song Spinners
provide a warm-up session on "I Tipped My Hat" - "Far Away Island" - September Song", and "Lullaby of Broadway", before the big finish (with the audience joining in) on "I'll Close My Eyes."
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 9: For Sentimental Reasons (5/22/1947) D: Ben K. Blake.
Six songs are featured - "Sonata" - "Symphony" - "It's a Good Day" - "Among My Souvenirs" and "At Sundown", before the audience is asked to join in on "I Love You for Sentimental Reasons."
Community Sing: Series 11, No. 10: Managua Nicaragua (7/19/1947) 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."
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 1: Heartaches (9/4/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 2: April Showers (10/10/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 3 (11/6/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 4 (12/4/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 5: Feudin' And Fightin' (12/28/1947) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 6: It's A Pity (2/12/1948) D: Ben K. Blake.
Don Baker and the Song Spinners provide the organ music and the singing on "The Old Chaperone", "And Mimi", "Just Around The Corner" and "It's A Pity" as the bouncing ball leads the theater audience into singing along.
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 7 (4/8/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 8 (6/3/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 12, No. 9 (7/5/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 1 (9/161948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 2 (10/21/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 3 (12/23/1948) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 4 (3/10/1949) D: Ben K. Blake
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 5: June In January (4/21/1949) D: Ben K. Blake. Songs heard include "June in January," "Concita Marquita Lilota Pepita Rosita Juanita Lopez," "Sleepy Time Gal," and "Ain't Misbehavin'."
Community Sing: Series 13, No. 6 (7/7/1949) D: Ben K. Blake
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