The Backyard Broadcast

Backyard Broadcast, The (1936)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

If you're a fan of Musical shorts then you'll want to check this one out due to its cuteness level but others will probably want to stay away. The film has a group of kids putting on a talent show in their backyard and we're treated to various acts, dances and of course music. Polly Wolly Doodle, Don't Give Up the Ship, Beautiful Girls, Wah! Hoo!, I'm a Little Gypsy Tea Room and Raggedy Doll are just a few of the songs performed here. I think what makes this Vitaphone short so interesting, to film buffs at least, is that none of the performers here went on to do anything else so this is your only shot of seeing them. I'm not sure if Warner meant for this to be an ongoing series of new kids but either way this is the only one out there. While nothing here is ground breaking or going to make you forget about SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, the kids are all mostly charming and the music numbers are cute at the least.

Joseph Henabery who, along with Roy Mack, kept up the production of short subjects at the old Vitagraph studios in Brooklyn through the 1930s, here presents a talent show of little kids, none of whom seem to have been in anything except this short. The whole show is structured as "Major Bones' Amateur Hour", a joke based on the then-popular Major Bowes show on radio, which presented some real talent in nascent form.

There is plenty of singing and dancing, including a rather elaborate tap chorus. The whole effect is pretty cute. The dancing includes an emphasis on tap and a gymnastic act. It's not great movie-making, but must have been a pleasant little one-reeler hidden among the short subjects of a show.