RCM Productions

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

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.

R.C.M. Soundie

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

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

Dona Drake sings "Sticks and Stones".

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

Original Schnickelfritz Band perform "Turkey in the Straw."

Musical short starring Spade Cooley.

Kay Starr singing "Stop That Dancing Up There".

Louis Armstrong performs with Nicodemus on this Soundie from 1942.

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

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.

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers at their best along with Duke Ellington and his Orchestra performing for this "Hot Chocolate" musical short.

"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.

The Bronco Busters perform "Old Chisholm Trail."

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

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

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

The Terry Twins with Jerry Browne & His Orchestra perform "Chiquita Banana."