Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2 is a weirdly charming mess

Is this actually worth watching?

If you have a weird fascination with how early talkies tried to cram as many people onto a screen as possible, sure. It's a short, so you aren't losing much of your life. People who love stuffy, polished narratives will probably hate it because it has the structural integrity of a wet paper bag. It’s jittery, loud, and doesn't care if you're confused.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2 (1932) through its definitive frames.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream of vaudeville acts that got lost on the way to a real show. We’ve got saxophonists Benny Krueger and Rudy Wiedhoeft just hanging out, making jokes about their horns and prohibition like they’re at a bar. It’s strangely casual, almost like they forgot the camera was rolling for a second. 🎷

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2 (1932) through its definitive frames.

Then there’s the segment with Sylvia Froos. She’s reading the paper in her pajamas, which sounds like a normal enough setup until a reporter literally crawls out from under her bed. It’s meant to be a gag, but it just feels unsettling? It hits that same weird, chaotic energy you sometimes get in Funny Paper where things just happen without needing a reason.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2 (1932) through its definitive frames.

The transitions are basically non-existent. You’re on a boat, then you’re in a living room, and the movie just expects you to roll with it. It reminds me of the pacing in Traffic Regulations where you feel like the director was just looking for the next shiny thing to film.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2 (1932) through its definitive frames.

The sound quality is exactly what you’d expect from this era—a bit tinny and scratchy. It gives the whole thing this ghostly, dusty vibe. You can hear them breathing into the mics, which is kind of cool in a tactile way. It’s definitely not a slick production.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Rambling 'Round Radio Row #2 (1932) through its definitive frames.

Random thoughts from the couch:

• The saxophone jokes have not aged well. They are impressively bad.
• I spent too much time wondering how big that bed was if a whole reporter could fit under it.
• It’s a very specific brand of 1930s "showbiz" energy that just doesn't exist anymore.
• If you watch this back-to-back with The Telephone Girl, you'll really start to appreciate how weird these shorts can get.

It’s not good, but it’s fascinating. It’s like finding an old polaroid in a thrift store of people you don't know doing things that don't quite make sense. I didn't hate it, but I definitely wouldn't call it cinema. It's just... stuff happening. And sometimes, that's enough. 📻