Soundies

Admission is free. No advance reservations. Your seat will be assigned to you when you pick up your ticket at the box office. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis. The box office opens one hour before the event.

We’re transforming the Billy Wilder Theater into a big-screen Panoram to showcase Kino Classics’ toe-tapping, eye-opening collection of newly restored Soundies — many of which are also held in the Archive’s collection! For the uninitiated, Soundies are musical short films produced from 1940-1946 for distribution on movie jukeboxes called Panorams, 16mm rear projection machines that delivered unique performances by musical acts big and small to patrons at bars, nightclubs and restaurants for a dime. From the sights and sounds of the big band era into the emergence of early rock and roll, this evening’s program features such artists as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Gene Krupa, Thelma White and Her All-Girl Orchestra, the Les Paul Trio and dozens of unsung talents waiting to be rediscovered!

DCP. Total program runtime: approx. 96 min.

Special thanks to our community partners: Cinecon Classic Film Festival, Hollywood Heritage, UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

Program 1: “Starting From Swing” 

Jam Session

U.S., 1942 

Director: Josef Berne. With: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra.

Dipsy Doodle

U.S., 1943 

With: Larry Clinton and His Orchestra.

Airmail Special

U.S., 1941 

Director: Robert Snody. With: Count Basie and His Orchestra featuring Jimmy Rushing.

Swing for Sale

U.S., 1941 

Director: Warren Murra. With: The Charioteers.

Jammin’ in the Panoram

U.S., 1942 

Director: Reginald LeBorg. With: Stan Kenton and His Orchestra with Helen Huntley.

Let Me Off Uptown

U.S., 1942 

Director: Robert Snody. With: Gene Krupa and His Orchestra.

Take It and Git

U.S., 1946 

Director: Dave Gould. With: Thelma White and Her All-Girl Orchestra with Ellen Connor.

She’s Crazy with the Heat

U.S., 1946 

Director: Ray Sandiford. With: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm featuring Anna Mae Winburn.

  

 

Program 2: “Powered by Dance” 

Hot Chocolate (“Cottontail”)

U.S., 1942 

Director: Josef Berne. With: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra with Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers.

The Chool Song

U.S., 1942 

Director: Reginald LeBorg. With: The King’s Men with Collins and Collette.

Maharaja

U.S., 1943 

Director: Clarence Bricker. With: Hal and Betty Takier.

Breakfast in Rhythm (Introducing “Be Careful”)

U.S., 1943 

Director: Clarence Bricker. With: The Three Chefs. 

Mi Rumba

U.S., 1941 

Director: Arthur Leonard. With: Nano Rodrigo and His Orchestra featuring the Lola and Andre Dancers.

Goin’ to the Barn Dance Tonight

U.S., 1941 

Director: Fred Waller. With: Carson Robison and His Buckaroos.

May I Have the Next Trance with You

U.S., 1942 

Director: George Cunningham. With: Grace Pogi [Poggi] and Igor.

Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry

U.S., 1942 

Director: Dave Gould. With: The Three Murtah Sisters.

 

 

Program 3: “Jumping into Gender Play”

Ma, He’s Making Eyes at Me

U.S., 1942 

Director: Josef Berne. With: Ted Fio Rito and His Skylined Music featuring Candy Candido.

Faust

U.S., 1945 

Director: William Forest Crouch With: Day, Dawn, and Dusk.

Shy Anne from Old Cheyenne

U.S., 1942 

Director: Robert Snody. With: Denver Darling and His Texas Cowhands.

On the Boulevard

U.S., 1946 

Director: Dave Gould. With: Carolyn Grey and Jimmie Dale.

Too Many Sailors

U.S., 1944 

Director: William Forest Crouch. With: The Burch Mann Dancers.

The Better Half

U.S., 1943 

Director: Robert Snody. With: Leila Moore.

You Never Know!

U.S., 1946 

Director: William Forest Crouch. With: The Harem Trio and Arica Wild.

Shoeshiners and Headliners

U.S., 1941 

With: Florence Pepper.

Program 4: “Heading Toward Rock ‘n’ Roll” 

Wham

U.S., 1943 

Director: William Forest Crouch. With: The Four Ginger Snaps.

Rock It for Me

U.S., 1943 

Director: William Forest Crouch. With: Maurice Rocco.

Opus 12EEE

U.S., 1944 

Director: B. K. Blake. With: Harry “The Hipster” Gibson.

Shoo Shoo Baby

U.S., 1944 

Director: Joseph Berne. With: The Les Paul Trio and Carolyn Grey.

Four or Five Times

U.S., 1941 

Director: John Primi. With: Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra featuring Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

The Lonesome Road

U.S., 1941 

Director: John Primi. With: Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra featuring Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Jumpin’ at the Jubilee

U.S., 1944 

Director: William Forest Crouch. With: Louis Jordan and His Band with The Swing Maniacs.

47th Street Jive

U.S., 1944 

Director: Josef Berne. With: June Richmond with Roy Milton and His Band.