The Star Reporter: A weird, snappy trip back in time

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, it depends on how much you like vintage stage performances. If you’re into the 1930s aesthetic and enjoy seeing an all-girls orchestra do their thing, you’ll probably get a kick out of it. If you’re looking for something with a beginning, middle, and end, you’re gonna be bored within five minutes. It’s essentially a museum piece that decided to move around a bit.

Ted Husing is the guy running the show here, and he acts like he’s broadcasting to the whole world even though he’s just standing there. It’s charming in that old-timey way, but also feels a bit like he’s trying to sell you a toaster. 📻

The Acts

Then we get to the actual performers. Betty Jane Cooper shows up to dance, and she’s fine, I guess. It’s all very polite and stiff, the way things were back then. But then Ina Ray Hutton takes the stage with her orchestra, and suddenly there’s a bit of actual spark.

She conducts with this intense, almost frantic energy that makes you wonder if she’s the only one in the room actually having a good time. The syncopation is tight, and the brass section sounds like it’s trying to punch its way through the screen. It’s definitely the highlight, even if the audio recording makes it sound like everyone is playing inside a tin can.

I found myself wondering if this felt as stale back then as it does now. Sometimes, watching these old shorts, you feel like you’re looking at a ghost. It’s not quite as chaotic as Life's Last Laughs No. 1, but it has that same weird, detached energy.

Odd Details

• The way the camera just sits there, completely still, while everyone moves around it. It’s so static it hurts.
• The lighting makes everyone look like they’re standing in a fog bank.
• Husing’s suit is absolutely immaculate, which is frankly the most impressive thing about the whole production.

It’s not trying to be Red Salute, so don't expect any drama or romance here. It’s just people playing instruments, dancing, and trying to fill airtime. It makes me think about how much simpler entertainment used to be—or maybe just how much shorter the attention spans weren't back then. It's an easy, breezy watch if you want to turn your brain off for ten minutes. 🎷

Sometimes I think I prefer these little shorts to actual movies. They don't pretend to be anything they aren't. They just show you a lady conducting a band and then they call it a day. Simple as that.