RCM Productions

Spike Jones and His City Slickers perform "Pass the Biscuits, Mirandy".

Harry Langdon lip syncs the title song and interacts with models.

The Bronco Busters perform "Silver Spurs."

Yvonne De Carlo sings herself to sleep, in her dreams she dances with a Latin dancer. She awakes to sing again.

In this Soundie, the Mills Brothers sing the title song to a cut-out image of Dorothy Dandridge, which then comes to life and dances for them.

Louis Armstrong performs with Nicodemus on this Soundie from 1942.

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra perform "Bli-Blip" with Marie Bryant and Paul White

Ancestors of music videos, YANKEE DOODLER, ROSIE THE RIVETER, and DEAR ARABELLA were made during World War II for coin-operated jukebox devices found in restaurants, bars and train stations. On built-in glass screens, they projected 16mm films of artists performing popular tunes. These examples, although not in perfect condition, are time capsules of their era.

Chris Cross and crew sing "I Wanna Be a Fireman".

An early "soundie" in which Dorothy Dandridge & Paul White sing "A Zoot Suit with a Reet Pleat" while getting dressed up for a big date.

Johnny Taylor sings "Good Nite All" at a house party.

Musical short with divers Jeanne Fairbrother, Steve Acardi and Tony Zukas with music by Jimmie Wallington.

The Bronco Busters perform "Old Chisholm Trail."

Soundie featuring June Richmond (vocals) and Roy Milton performing "Hey Lawdy Mama."

Dorothy Dandridge and band perform "Cow-Cow Boogie".

R.C.M. Soundie

"Let's Scuffle" is a short subject -- a single song-and-dance number -- that appears to have been cut from a feature-length movie: to be precise, a 'race film'. (This was the term used by American cinema exhibitors in the 1940s and earlier for any movie with an all-black cast, intended primarily for distribution in black neighbourhoods at a time when many American cinemas were segregated.) The song-and-dance performer here is none other than the great Bill Robinson.

Musical short starring Spade Cooley.

Dona Drake sings "Sticks and Stones".

Ozzie Nelson takes us along for a typical day for a bandleader.