The Melody Masters were a series of first-rate big band musical film shorts produced by Warner Brothers, under the supervision of Samuel Sax at their Vitaphone studio in New York between 1931 and 1939, and in Burbank, California with producer Gordon Hollingshead in charge between 1940 and 1946.
Overview
Among the most popular short subjects of their kind (making the Motion Picture Herald top money-making shorts lists in 19391965 International Motion Picture Almanac. 1964. Quigley Publishing Company. pp. 86-88A); these were an offshoot of the Vitaphone Varieties. Each ran from 9 to 11 minutes in length and was produced in black and white.
While rival studios like Universal Pictures focused mostly on the performance itself in their own “Name Band Musicals” shorts, Warner Bros. added more storyline material and visual experimentation. Early films often used a gimmick to frame the musical performances such as the roller skates used in Eddie Duchin & His Orchestra. As the series progressed, the uses of multiple exposures (a great example being Symphony of Swing with Artie Shaw), optical effects, mirrors (i.e. Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra) and stark shadow lighting (i.e. Henry Busse and His Orchestra) made this series stand out against the competition.Maltin, Leonard. The Great Movie Shorts. 1972. Bonanza Books, p. 25 & 213
Jean Negulesco was a key director on some of the best titles of the early 1940s before graduating to features. Life (magazine) photographer Gjon Mili contributed to the most frequently seen today title, Jammin' the Blues, entered into the National Film Registry in 1995.
After the series’ official end in 1946, there were two follow-up series called “Memories from Melody Lane” and “Hit Parade of the Gay Nineties” that differed somewhat in style and narration, tracing the history of popular music since the 1890s.
Current availability
A group of them were released on laser disc (through MGM/UA) and Warner DVD, starting in the 1990s. In the latter format, they were mostly “extras” with various Warner features before the Warner Archive Collection produced a set titled Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts in 2010.
List of titles
Below is a full listing by title, director and major credits, followed by release date, review date (Film Daily) or copyright date.Motion Pictures 1912-1939 Catalog of Copyright Entries 1951 Library of Congress DVD availability is also provided.
1931
TitleMajor creditsReview date (Film Daily)Rhythms of a Big City Harold Levy (director) John Hickey & Billy Gilbert August 23The Big House Party Earl Carpenter September 27A Havana Cocktail Castro Cuban Orchestra October 4Musical Moods Horace Heidt & His Californians December 6Darn Tootin' Rudy Wiedoeft with Dixie Lee & Lucille Page December 6
1932
TitleMajor creditsRelease, copyright or review dateNotesUp on the Farm Roy Mack (director); Henry Santrey & Band with Dudley Clements, Barney Grant & the Three Moderns March 27 (Film Daily review) It's a Panic Roy Mack (director); Benny Meroff & His Orchestra April 10 (Film Daily review)Music to My Ears Roy Mack (director); Jack Denny & Orchestra, Dorothy Brent, George Tapps, Jean & Lynton September 17The Yacht Party Roy Mack (director); Roger Wolf Kahn, Gertrude Niesen & Melissa Mason © September 29 Sometimes listed as a “Vitaphone Variety”. Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD The Lease Breakers Roy Mack (director); Willie Creager & Band, Aunt Jemima (Tess Gardella), Isabel Brown & the Colleano Wire Act November 10 (Film Daily review)
1933
TitleMajor creditsRelease, copyright or review dateNotesHot Competition Roy Mack (director); The Continentals, Ted Husing, Harry Barris, Lois Whiteman & Ray Sax © January 9 Abe Lyman Band Abe Lyman & His Band January 20That's the Spirit Roy Mack (director); Noble Sissle & The Washboard Serenaders, Cora La Redd February 3 (Film Daily review) Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD; Copyright date on opening credit is MCMXXXII (1932)The Alma Martyr Fred Waring & His Pennsylvanians February 23 (Film Daily review)How's Tricks Roy Mack (director); Howard Lanin Band © February 25Hot from Petrograd Joseph Henabery (director); Dave Apollon MayThe Name is Familiar Alfred J. Goulding (director); Leon Belasco & Band, Vivian Janis, Holland & Knight, Dorothy Dodge © June 6David Rubinoff and His Orchestra David Rubinoff & Jean Sargent July The Audition Roy Mack (director); Phil Emerton & Band, Hannah Williams (actress), the Three X Sisters, Larry & Larry July 8 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD & The Mayor of Hell DVD A Castilion Garden Joseph Henabery (director); Senor del Pozo's Marimba Band, Celso Ruttado, Tortolero de Medina, Senorita Adrina and Ismael Guzman © August 1 Barber Shop Blues Joseph Henabery (director); Claude Hopkins, Orlando Roberson & Four Step Brothers © September 23 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDNotre Dame Glee Club Joseph Henabery (director); Charles Coleman © November 11 Eddie Duchin & His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Eddy Duchin © November 25 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD. Spelling of title is incorrect on screen.
1934
TitleMajor creditsRelease, copyright or review dateNotesMills Blue Rhythm Band Roy Mack (director); with Sally Gooding, Fredi Washington & others © February 6 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDVincent Lopez and Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Vincent Lopez & Sheila Barrett © April 13 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDBig City Fantasy Joseph Henabery (director); Phil Spitalny April 14 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDIsham Jones & His Orchestra Roy Mack (director); Isham Jones, Gypsy Nina, Eddie Vogt, Arthur & Rose Boylan May 12 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD Richard Himber and His Orchestra Roy Mack (director); Richard Himber, Joey Nash, Brhardt & Graham, Virginia MacNaughton July Jolly Good Fellow Joseph Henabery (director); B. A. Rolfe & the Men About Town, Dolly Arden & John Monahan © July 5Little Jack Little Joseph Henabery (director); Jack Little (songwriter) August 22 (Film Daily review)Phil Spitalny & His Musical Queens Joseph Henabery (director); Phil Spitalny & Mickey Braatz August 23 (Film Daily review) Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDMirrors Roy Mack (director); Freddie Rich's Orchestra © September 8 Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDCiro Rimac's Rhumba Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director) OctoberBen Pollack & His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Ben Pollack with Doris Robbins © October 4 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDMr. and Mrs. Jesse Crawford Joseph Henabery (director); Mrs. & Mrs. Jesse Crawford, Margaret O'Donnell & John Creighton October 15 (Film Daily review)Don Redman & His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Don Redman October 29 Dames DVD & Vitaphone Cavalcade of Musical Comedy Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
1935
TitleMajor creditsRelease, copyright or review dateNotesEchoes Joseph Henabery (director); Charles Davis & His Orchestra, Cackles O’Neill © March 5Will Osborne and His Orchestra Roy Mack (director); with Helen Ward (singer), Evelyn & James Vernon © April 1Barney Rapp and His New Englanders Joseph Henabery (director); Barney Rapp, Jack & June Blair, Ruby Wright © April 1Freddie Martin and His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Freddie Martin, Paul & Eva Reyes May 11The Wishing Stone Roy Mack (director); Dave Apollon, Paul Perry & Zeni Vatori © June 3 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDBorrah Minnevitch and His Harmonica Rascals (#2) Roy Mack (director); Borrah Minnevitch July 6 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDPhil Spitalny's All Girl Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Phil Spitalny, Maurine & Nova August 7Rubinoff and His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director) David Rubinoff, Loupoukin & Kounavsky, Martnoff, Adla Kuznetzoff August 10 Johnny Green & His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Johnny Green September 6 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD & Captain Blood (1935 film) DVDBy Request Roy Mack (director) & Orlando Robeson; Claude Hopkins, Tip, Tap & Toe October 18 Borrah Minnevitch and His Harmonica Rascals Roy Mack (director); Borrah Minnevitch © October 28 filmed June 1933Jack Denny's Orchestra Jack Denny November 29 (Film Daily review) Red Nichols & His World Famous Pennies Joseph Henabery (director); Red Nichols, Bob Carter & the Wallace Sisters December 30 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD
1936
TitleMajor creditsRelease, copyright or review dateNotesJolly Coburn and His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); with Kathleen Wells, Harold Richards & Lewis February 22Off the Record Joseph Henabery (director) B. A. Rolfe & Orchestra, the Music Hall Boys, and Sincair Twins © March 9 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVD Little Jack Little & Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Jack Little (songwriter); with Dot, Donna & Teddy March 28 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDRamon Ramos and His Rainbow Room Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); with Manya & Drigo April 18Meet the Kernel Joseph Henabery (director) Dave Apollon & His Band May 13 (Film Daily review) Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Vincent Lopez, June Hart, Jack Holland, Maxine Tappan, Fred Lowry, and Johnnie Morris May 13 (Film Daily review)Clyde Lucas and His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Clyde Lucas, Dave & Dorothy Fitzgibbons, Lyn Lucas, the Three Symphonettes June 12 (Film Daily review)Carl Hoff and His Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); with Grace MacDonald, Sonny Schuyler & the Collegians July 11Poets of the Organ Joseph Henabery (director); Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Crawford, Robert Simmons August 15Clyde McCoy and His Sugar Blues Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Clyde McCoy August 15Nick Lucas and His Troubadors Joseph Henabery (director); Nick Lucas, Kay Kernan, Marion Witkins & Jack Walters August 15 Harry Reser & His Eskimoes Roy Mack (director); Harry Reser September 26 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive) DVDLeon Navara and His Orchestra Lloyd French (director); with Honey & Weldon November 7 Emil Coleman and His Orchestra with The Nightingales Roy Mack (director); with Harlan & Hart © December 7Jimmie Lunceford and His Dance Orchestra Joseph Henabery (director); Jimmie Lunceford December 19 Warner Bros. Big Band, Jazz & Swing Shorts (Warner Archive), Blues in the Night (film) & Follow the Fleet DVD
1937