''Footlight Varieties'', also called ''Variety Footlights'' is the third of four titles in the RKO series of variety films, combining previously filmed shorts with new musical numbers, plus monologues by master of ceremonies

Jack Paar Jack Harold Paar (May 1, 1918 – January 27, 2004) was an American talk show host, writer, radio and television comedian, and film actor. He was the second host of ''The Tonight Show'' from 1957 to 1962. ''Time (magazine), Time'' magazine's ob ...

. The new footage was directed by

Hal Yates Hal Yates (July 26, 1899 – August 1, 1969) was an American screenwriter and film director. He wrote for 96 films between 1924 and 1953. He also directed 88 films between 1926 and 1953. He started his career in entertainment in a vaudevi ...

and written by Yates and Felix Adler. In addition to Paar, the new footage includes performances by The Sportsmen quartet,

Liberace Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer and actor. He was born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish Americans, Polish origin and enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, ...

Jerry Murad's Harmonicats Jerry Murad's Harmonicats were an American harmonica-based group. Background The earliest iteration of The Harmonicats was known as the Harmonica Madcaps, later renamed The Quintones by Jimmy Mulcay, who promoted and produced the group until 1 ...

Red Buttons Red Buttons (born Aaron Chwatt; February 5, 1919 – July 13, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He won an Oscar and Golden Globe for '' Sayonara''. He was nominated for awards for his work such as ''Harlow'' (1965), '' They Shoot Ho ...

, Grace Hartman, flamenco dancer Inesita, and comic trick photography by

Weegee Ascher (Usher) Fellig (June 12, 1899 – December 26, 1968), known by his pseudonym Weegee, was a photographer and photojournalist, known for his stark black and white street photography in New York City. Weegee worked in Manhattan's Lower Eas ...

. The older sequences are taken from the

Leon Errol Leon Errol (born Leonce Errol Sims, July 3, 1881 – October 12, 1951) was an Australian-American comedian and actor in the United States, popular in the first half of the 20th century for his appearances in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in film ...

two-reel comedy ''He Forgot to Remember'', a ''Flicker Flashbacks'' silent-movie revival (with new narration by Paar), a

Frankie Carle Frankie Carle (born Francis Nunzio Carlone, March 25, 1903 – March 7, 2001) was an American pianist and bandleader. As a very popular bandleader in the 1940s and 1950s, Carle was nicknamed "The Wizard of the Keyboard" for his piano skills. " Su ...

musical short (''Carle Comes Calling''), and a production number with eccentric dancers

Buster West James "Buster" West (31 March 1901 – 19 March 1966) was an American dancer and actor who was a featured performer in vaudeville, the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television. West was known as being one of those performers who was "born i ...

and Melissa Mason (from ''

Radio City Revels ''Radio City Revels'' is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Bob Burns, Jack Oakie and Ann Miller. Plot An aspiring writer arrives in New York and composes musical masterpieces in his sleep. A struggli ...

'') ''Footlight Varieties'' was followed by the fourth and final film in the "musical revue" series, ''Merry Mirthquakes'', which received a limited release in 1953. Liberace appeared in new footage showcasing his piano performances, and he introduced three RKO comedy shorts.

Plot summary

''Footlight Varieties'' is structured as a variety show hosted by Jack Paar, who serves as master of ceremonies and provides introductions and commentary between acts. The film combines newly filmed performances with previously produced RKO shorts integrated into the variety format. The new segments include musical performances by Liberace on piano, vocal numbers by The Sportsmen quartet, harmonica music by Jerry Murad's Harmonicats, comedy routines by Red Buttons, flamenco dancing by Inesita, and comic photography demonstrations by Weegee. The pre-existing material consists of the Leon Errol comedy short "He Forgot to Remember," a "Flicker Flashbacks" silent film compilation with narration by Paar, the musical short "Carle Comes Calling" featuring Frankie Carle, and a dance number by Buster West and Melissa Mason from "Radio City Revels." Paar's hosting segments provide continuity between the various acts, maintaining the theatrical variety show format throughout the film's runtime.

Cast

as Host *

as Liberace * Inesita as Gypsy Dancer *

as Red Buttons *

Mamie Van Doren Mamie Van Doren (; born Joan Lucille Olander; February 6, 1931) is an American actress, singer, and model. A Bombshell (slang), blonde bombshell, she is one of the "Three M's" along with Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, who were friends and ...

as Blonde in Theater (as Joan Olander)

Reception

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' gave the picture a good review, complimenting both Jack Paar's hosting abilities, as well as the production value by George Bilson.

References

External links

* * * {{AFI film, 50104 RKO Pictures films American black-and-white films American musical films 1951 musical films 1951 films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films English-language musical films