Despite the previous harsh reviews, this Vitaphone short is not bad at all. As a matter of a fact, it's an interesting and very enjoyable curio. On it's own, no it's not Rogers and Astair, but the two leads are quickly likable even though there is no time to develop in a quick two-reeler. Watch this in context of the time and era and you'll appreciate the music and talent that doesn't have the benefit of large orchestras, special effects, huge budget or Busby Berkeley. (Note that the "Dawn O'Day" listed in the credits is not Anne Shirley as it is linked in the cast list. Even Anne's IMDb bio warns to not confuse her with this Dawn O'Day.) Very likely your grandparents or great-grandparents enjoyed this short, so watch it through their eyes and you'll see it differently.
8 Reviews
There's No Business
boblipton22 October 2022
Hal Leroy and Dawn O'Day are in show business! He's an usher in a theater in Atlantic City, and she's on the chorus line that plays between the movies and better acts. They discover this during a show, and are dumbstruck and fired for it. So they decide to start a double act and show them all.
They're both fine hoofers, of course, although Miss O'Day's line reading is a trifle weak. It's an entertaining short subject, one of 17 that Leroy starred in at Vitagraph in the 1930s, when he wasn't appearing on Broadway. It looks to be well produced, with a large supporting cast and popular singer Jack Fulton singing a song early on, and the two leads ending in a fine eccentric dance.
They're both fine hoofers, of course, although Miss O'Day's line reading is a trifle weak. It's an entertaining short subject, one of 17 that Leroy starred in at Vitagraph in the 1930s, when he wasn't appearing on Broadway. It looks to be well produced, with a large supporting cast and popular singer Jack Fulton singing a song early on, and the two leads ending in a fine eccentric dance.
they seem to have fun
SnoopyStyle22 October 2022
Hal Le Roy approaches Dawn O'Day on the beach. He tells her that he's management at the Grand Majestic Theater. In reality, he's a lowly usher. She's a chorus girl for the new show at the theater. Dawn is struggling with her steps. Both Hal and Dawn get fired on the same night. They develop their own dance act.
It's not anything great. I wouldn't call Hal and Dawn as a great dance act although they seem to have fun together. Hal is a tall lanky guy. Dawn is exuberant. This is a short of some fun and limited excellence. Fans of this duo would probably like this. Otherwise, it's relatively harmless.
It's not anything great. I wouldn't call Hal and Dawn as a great dance act although they seem to have fun together. Hal is a tall lanky guy. Dawn is exuberant. This is a short of some fun and limited excellence. Fans of this duo would probably like this. Otherwise, it's relatively harmless.
A Sign that Prohibition Ended
jtyroler30 June 2008
Someone had to have been somewhat intoxicated to come up with this Warner Brothers short.
I usually enjoy short films from the 30s, but this is not one of the better ones. It starts out on a fake beach with Hal LeRoy as "Hal" trying to get to know Dawn O'Day as "Dawn", who apparently takes a phonograph to the beach. As a general rule of thumb, when actors' character names are the same as their own is often a sign that you're not going to see great acting.
Hal's an usher, Dawn's a chorus girl and they both get fired from the Grand Majestic theater when they see each other while working. Dawn gets fired because she stops dancing in the middle of a number. Hal, while working as an usher stands in front of the stage in slack- jawed amazement.
No wonder vaudeville died.
I usually enjoy short films from the 30s, but this is not one of the better ones. It starts out on a fake beach with Hal LeRoy as "Hal" trying to get to know Dawn O'Day as "Dawn", who apparently takes a phonograph to the beach. As a general rule of thumb, when actors' character names are the same as their own is often a sign that you're not going to see great acting.
Hal's an usher, Dawn's a chorus girl and they both get fired from the Grand Majestic theater when they see each other while working. Dawn gets fired because she stops dancing in the middle of a number. Hal, while working as an usher stands in front of the stage in slack- jawed amazement.
No wonder vaudeville died.
Have you ever seen one of those cartoons (or even a low-budget live-actiion . . .
cricket3021 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
. . . "Western" in which one of the characters fires a series of gunshots at the feat of some unarmed dude in order to make him "dance" in fear for his life (or, at the very least, his toes)? The two "leads" in PICTURE PALACE doing most of the dancing and tapping are sure to put many viewers in mind of such gun-play in the dusty streets of the Old West--they seem THAT desperate to stay on their feet, and not fall flat on their potentially bullet-riddled butts. However, it's not really very entertaining watching this ill-matched pair (the guy has no singing voice!) attempting to keep the lead out, so to speak. Why not skip this short, and use its 21 minutes to support your local chapter of BANGS (Broke Americans Need Gun Stamps)?
Insufferably corny musical fluff is a creaky vehicle to showcase Hal LeRoy...
Doylenf9 June 2008
When all the performers are given lame dialog and all of them sound like their reading their lines for the first time, you know you're in trouble. Such is the case with this feeble Vitaphone musical featuring Hal LeRoy, Dawn O'Day and some overweight chorines, complete with a tenor who sings in a quavering high-pitched voice.
The "Aw, gee" and "Gee whiz" talk from LeRoy is consistently irritating in all of the small talk moments. At least he's capable of a few good tap routines but the clunky dancing of the heavy chorines is not exactly something to shout about. The storyline has LeRoy and O'Day as show biz wannabees in a theater where he works as an usher.
The badly choreographed dances and the banal musical numbers given LeRoy are the kind of stuff that killed vaudeville. The end credits call it a "Vitaphone Short--a Broadway Brevity". Not brief enough.
Summing up: A clumsy mess from start to finish.
The "Aw, gee" and "Gee whiz" talk from LeRoy is consistently irritating in all of the small talk moments. At least he's capable of a few good tap routines but the clunky dancing of the heavy chorines is not exactly something to shout about. The storyline has LeRoy and O'Day as show biz wannabees in a theater where he works as an usher.
The badly choreographed dances and the banal musical numbers given LeRoy are the kind of stuff that killed vaudeville. The end credits call it a "Vitaphone Short--a Broadway Brevity". Not brief enough.
Summing up: A clumsy mess from start to finish.
Another decent musical short from Le Roy...and with a most unusual dance partner.
planktonrules27 October 2022
This short from Vitaphone stars Hal Le Roy and Anne Shirley. Le Roy starred in a few films...but were almost exclusively shorts. I think it's because although he was a decent song and dance man, he just didn't have Hollywood good looks....which is a shame as he's generally pretty good. As for Shirley, she's billed as Dawn O'Day and later changed her name to Anne Shirley when she starred in "Anne of Green Gables" (using the same name as the main character. But she's barely recognizable and it's obvious Miss Shirley went through a MAJOR makeover by the studio.
When the story begins, Hal and Dawn meet at the beach. When she asks him about the work he does, he tells her he's in show business. In reality, he's a lowly movie theater usher. As for her, she tells him knows a lot of important show people...while in reality she's just a chorus girl.
When the pair just happen to be at the same theater at the same time and recognize each other. But before they can talk, both get fired! They then commiserate about their miserable careers at the beach where they first met. There, they start dancing up a storm and are, naturally, recognized for the brilliant talents they are. What's next? See the film.
So it any good? Well, it's not exactly great but it does make you respect the pair and their dancing...which is odd since he never became a star and she became known for everything but dancing! Worth seeing if you enjoy the Vitaphone shorts.
When the story begins, Hal and Dawn meet at the beach. When she asks him about the work he does, he tells her he's in show business. In reality, he's a lowly movie theater usher. As for her, she tells him knows a lot of important show people...while in reality she's just a chorus girl.
When the pair just happen to be at the same theater at the same time and recognize each other. But before they can talk, both get fired! They then commiserate about their miserable careers at the beach where they first met. There, they start dancing up a storm and are, naturally, recognized for the brilliant talents they are. What's next? See the film.
So it any good? Well, it's not exactly great but it does make you respect the pair and their dancing...which is odd since he never became a star and she became known for everything but dancing! Worth seeing if you enjoy the Vitaphone shorts.
If you like Hal Le Roy, you'll love this.
mbsheik13 August 2013
Couldn't disagree more with the other reviewers. This is a very fun short with good tunes and top-notch dancing -- just an all-around good time. But what's most interesting is Picture Palace, more than any other Hal Le Roy short, gives a glimpse of what his act on Broadway must have been like. His performance during the last number is worth the price of admission alone, as Hal seems completely in his element on a real, live stage. As for Dawn O'Day (not to be confused with Anne Shirley, who, as a child, also went by the name of Dawn O'Day), this is a rare opportunity to see her in action, as she appeared on-screen only a handful of times in her career. A real treat for fans of the genre.
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