23 -- Skidoo: A Quick Peek into Early Cinema's Oddities

Look, if you're not already deep into the strange world of *really* old movies, then 23 -- Skidoo probably isn't going to blow your mind. It’s a tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it short. For anyone expecting modern storytelling or even just a coherent plot, you’ll probably find yourself a bit lost. But for those of us who dig seeing how movies *started*, it’s a curious little artifact. 🤔

The whole thing centers on Otto Ott, who runs this outdoor restaurant. Right away, you get a sense of his struggles. He just can't keep a waiter, it seems.

We see a few different guys come and go, all in quick succession. One minute they're there, trying to serve someone, the next they're gone. It's almost slapstick, but with this very particular, old-timey rhythm.

The visual gags are simple, as you’d expect. A waiter trips, or a dish goes flying. Nothing too elaborate, but you can feel the effort to squeeze some laughs out of these basic situations. Otto, bless his heart, looks perpetually bewildered. His big, round eyes are often wide with disbelief.

Then there’s his wife. Oh boy. She shows up, and things just get worse for poor Otto. She’s not exactly the supportive type. Her expressions are so wonderfully *over-the-top*, typical of that era, you know? She really sells the 'grief' the plot promises.

It’s not just nagging. She seems to actively make his life harder, or at least she’s really good at pointing out all his failures. There’s a moment where she just stands there, hands on hips, looking utterly disgusted. You can almost *feel* her sighing dramatically off-screen.

The outdoor restaurant itself is quite something. It's got this very sparse, almost makeshift feel. A few tables, some chairs. It makes you wonder about the actual food quality. 😅

What really sticks with me is the energy. It’s frantic in its own way, like they had to cram as much as possible into a few short minutes. Every character seems to be moving with a purpose, even if that purpose is just to look distressed or annoyed.

You can almost hear the piano score in your head, even if you’re watching it silent. It guides the emotions, the quick little movements. The scene where Otto tries to reason with a particularly unenthusiastic waiter just feels so classic, you know?

And the title, 23 -- Skidoo. It’s an old slang term for 'get out' or 'scram'. I kept thinking, is it about the waiters skidooing? Or Otto wanting to skidoo from his wife? It just adds to the charmingly cryptic nature of it all. It’s a very *of-its-time* phrase.

There isn't much to unpack, really. It’s a snapshot. A quick laugh, a moment of early cinema history. Don't expect any deep character arcs or groundbreaking cinematography.

But for a few minutes, you get to watch a guy named Otto Ott just trying his best. And failing, often hilariously, with a very expressive wife there to remind him of it. It’s **charming in its simplicity**, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges.