This short was released in connection with the 20th anniversary of Warner Brothers' first exhibition of the Vitaphone sound-on-film process on 6 August 1926. The film highlights Thomas A. Edison and Alexander Graham Bell's efforts that contributed to sound movies and acknowledges the work of Lee De Forest. Brief excerpts from the August 1926 exhibition follow. Clips are then shown from a number of Warner Brothers features, four from the 1920s, the remainder from 1946/47.
The comedy team of Jack Born and Elmer Lawrence perform their vaudeville act.
Comedian Pat West performs his vaudeville act.
The scene is a parlor out West, with Ray Mayer sitting at the piano in is cowboy duds - hat, scarf, and chaps. He plays a little barrel-house music and then introduces Edith Evans, who enters wearing fur. She sings - her voice a light-opera soprano - while Mayer plays.
A New york producer sends a spy to a nightclub to report back on the musical acts.
Robert Ripley shows a pretty blond a shrunken head and an iron execution chamber.
In this short film, Robert L. Ripley introduces narrator Leo Donnelly who presents various "Believe It or Not" oddities from around the world as gathered by Ripley. Segments include a NYC clothier that caters to very large men and circus elephant grooming. Vitaphone No. 1363.
Robert Ripley presents a well-dressed cocktail party an assortment of drawings and film clips showing the world's youngest parents and the largest bible. Vitaphone No. 1362.
A comedic team. The Ann seems to try and come across as a Mae West type. Jay plays the role of the straight partner.
Ben Bernie and his orchestra play a few songs for a vitaphone recording.
A cycle of songs performed by the singer Florence Brady.
This omnibus of film clips include a Savanna golf course made from Civil War trenches, wooden Indians used ourside cigar stores, an American Indian artist from South Dakota who paints upside down, the smallest residence house, a Bronx River statue with mysterious Civil War origins, the Ocean Grove community in New Jersey that closes on Sundays and a futuristic automated parking garage. Vitaphone No. 1364.
Robert Ripley gives a show aboard a luxury liner at sea, starting with drawings discussing the origin of the "fathom" and Christopher Columbus being banished from America.
Val and Ernie Stanton make their second appearance in a Vitaphone short. This time out the two basically stand in the same spot as they re-create their vaudeville act, which includes a few songs as well as a couple comedy routines.
Harry Fox performs his vaudeville act.
Georgie Price tells Bryan Foy, who is to direct his short film, that he is nervous about performing to a camera and microphone instead of an audience. He then sings a couple songs, in an Al Jolson/Eddie Cantor style.
Comedian Chaz Chase performs his vaudeville act.
Eddie White performs his vaudeville act.
Robert Ripley draws and shows movies to train passengers.
Jack Waldron performs his stand-up vaudeville act.