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The Musical Novelties (1933-1934)

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Columbia's "Musical Novelties" was the studio's first "official" series of two-reelers. These little films were a showcase for the talents of Lou Holtz, Frank Albertson, Betty Grable, Lois January and in their first Columbia two-reeler, The 3 Stooges. Most of comedies in the series, such as UMPA (1933) and WOMAN HATERS (1934) were done completely in rhyming dialogue.

Until recently, WOMAN HATERS, which has been circulated as part of The 3 Stooges television and video package, was the only title available. When viewing WOMAN HATERS, one will note that after the opening "Stooges" title card (which Columbia added for it's reissues) above the film's title reads "A Musical Novelty".









ROAMIN' THRU THE ROSES
(11/11/1933)

Status-Unavailable. Print does exist in private collection.

Production Number 102
Director-Archie Gottler
Producer-Jules White

Cast

Arthur Jarrett
Margaret Nearing
Neeley Edwards
Carol Wines
Bobby Watson

Musical short showcasing Jarrett and Nearing

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UMPA (11/24/1933)

Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.

Production Number 101
Directors-Archie Gottler, Con Conrad and Sidney Mitchell
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Archie Gottler, Con Conrad and Sidney Mitchell
Photography-John Stumar
Editor-James Sweeney

Cast

Jack Osterman
Lois January
Gloria Shea
Donald Roberts
Gus Reed
Samuel Adams
Zita Baca

Musical nonsense about a patient (Osterman), his two nurses (January, Shea) and a rare Umpa bird.


The musical score was reused and rewritten for WOMAN HATERS with The Three Stooges
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SCHOOL FOR ROMANCE (1/31/1934)

Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.

Production Number 106

Director-Archie Gottler
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Edward Eliscu and Archie Gottler
Photography-Joseph H August
Editor-James Sweeney


Cast
Lou Holtz
Lois January
Billie Seward
Gloria Warner
Carol Tevis.
Jack Norton
Ward Bond
Gloria Warner
Arthur Treacher
Fred Pisano
Benny Baker
Harry Tenbrook

Count Romansky (Holtz) is a newspaper columnist who specializes in romance issues. When he loses his job, he opens up a school where he instructs his pretty pupils on affairs of the heart.


This was the first MUSICAL NOVELTY produced, but not the first released.

The working title was LESSONS IN LOVE

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WOMAN HATERS (5/5/1934)

Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.

Production Number 112
Director-Archie Gottler
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Jerome Gottler
Photography-Joseph H August
Editors-James Sweeney and Robert Carlisle
Sound-Edward Bernds
Music-Con Conrad, Archie Gottler and Sidney Mitchell
Musical Department-Louis Silvers


Cast
Marjorie White
Jerry "Curly" Howard
Larry Fine
Moe Howard
Bud Jamison
Monte Collins
Jack Norton
Walter Brennan
A.R. Haysel
Don Roberts
Fred "Snowflake" Toones
Stanley "Tiny" Sandford
Dorothy Vernon
Leslie Goodwins
George Gray
Gilbert C. Emery
Charles Richman
Don Roberts

After joining the Woman Haters Club, Larry weds Marjorie and tries to keep it a secret from Curly and Moe. When Marjorie discovers Larry's secret, she makes it a point to woo both Curly and Moe.


This is the first Columbia short to feature The 3 Stooges, however they do not go by the names we know them as.

The score originally appeared in the short UMPA (see above)

This is the only MUSICAL NOVELTY released into syndication as part of Screen Gems Television's THREE STOOGES package in 1958. The others were not included in the following year's HILARIOUS HUNDRED package of Columbia two-reelers. THE HILARIOUS HUNDRED was Screen Gems effort to cash in on the popularity of The Three Stooges comedies
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SUSIE'S AFFAIRS (6/1/34)

Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.

Production Number 113

Director-Archie Gottler
Producer-Jules White
Story and Screenplay-Archie Gottler
Photography-Joseph H August
Editor-James Sweeney


Cast
Arthur Jarrett
Betty Grable
Lois January
Red Stanley
Gene Sheldon
Thelma White
Marion Byron
Jay Mills
Bobby Watson

Susie (Grable) and her pals pretend they're society swells.
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TRIPPING THROUGH THE TROPICS (7/27/1934)

Status-Available. Print exists in our archives.

Director-Archie Gottler.
Producer-Jules White
Story-Archie Gottler
Screenplay-
Lou Breslow
Photography-Joseph H August
Editor-James Sweeney

Cast
Frank Albertson
Lois January
Billy Gilbert
Sam Lewis
Rosa Ray
Gertie Green
Mario Alverez
Irene Coleman
Al Klein
Sydney Dalbrook
Patricia Caron
Allyn Drake
Lorena Carr
Diane Dahl
Mary Carroll
Jean Ashton
Helen Splane
Chuck Colean
Perry Murdock

Jack Albertson's father wants nothing more than for his son to marry Lois...however, Jack claims that the two are just friends. When a dance Lois performs during a secret tropical ritual changes Jack's mind, he and Lois find romance on the tropical isle.


The working title was TROPICAL MADNESS
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LOVE DETECTIVES (2/28/34)

Status-Unavailable. Print exists in a private collection.

Production Number 108

Director-Archie Gottler
Producer-Jules White

Cast

Frank Albertson
Betty Grable
Gloria Warner
Armand Kaliz
Red Stanley
Louise Allen
Jean Ashton
Tom Dugan
Carmen Bailey
Sammy Blum
Lorena Carr
Mary Carroll
Diane Dahl
Heine Conklin
Margaret Ehrlich
Patsy Green
Valerie Hall
Althea Henley
Jean Lorraine
Luanne Meredith
Georgia O'Dell
Blanche Payson
Broderick O'Farrell
Fred Pisano
Eve Reynolds
Frances Sawyer
Josephine Smith
Helen Splane

Albertson and Kaliz vie for the affections of Grable
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WHEN DO WE EAT? (3/19/34)

Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.

Production Number
Director-Alf Goulding
Producer-Jules White

Cast
Lou Holtz
Bud Jamison
Luis Alberni
Adrian Rosley
Benny Baker
Eddie Fetherstone
Arthur Treacher
Charles Dorothy
Julia Griffith
Phil Dunham
William Irving
Dorothy Compson
Ethel Sykes
Florence Dudley
Hal Price
Irene Thompson
Amron Isle
Sue, Brighton
Hugh Saxon

When the members of Holtz's theatrical troupe fine themselves in financial straits, they open a nudist restaurant.


The working title was SHOWMANSHIP
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HOLLYWOOD HERE WE COME (8/29/34)

Status-Unavailable. Print exists in private collection.

Production Number

Director-Archie Gottler
Producer-Jules White

Cast
Arthur Jarrett
Inez Courtney
Joan Gale

Two aspiring actresses plan to take Hollywood by storm. 


The working title was HOLLYWOOD CINDERELLA



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