Hollywood Varieties

Well, it's certainly not a great vaudeville show. There are none of the top acts of the form's heyday. What you have here are the animal acts -- the funny dog acts, the juggling seals --some dancing, some singing, one or two sketches. You don't have any of the great monologists, certainly, nor the headliners that you would have gotten in a big house in the days gone by.

Nonetheless, if you're in the mood for a variety show -- which died out even on television with the death of Ed Sullivan -- this is a fair sampling of what you'd get. I happen to remember and like this sort of show. But it requires a certain mindset, aesthetic and expectation, just like going to see a movie made from a graphic novel.

Robert Alda, Alan Alda's father, does a pretty good job as master of ceremonies and the harmonica playing and animal acts are a lot of fun. Good enough for me.