The Show of Shows (1929)

Now hear this. The studio that gave the cinema its voice offered 1929 audiences a chance to see and hear multiple silent-screen favorites for the first time in a gaudy, grandiose music-comedy-novelty revue that also included Talkie stars, Broadway luminaries and of course, Rin-Tin-Tin. Frank Fay hosts a jamboree that, among its 70+ stars, features bicyclers, boxing champ Georges Carpentier, chorines in terpsichore kickery, sister acts, Myrna Loy in two-strip Technicolor as an exotic Far East beauty, John Barrymore in a Shakespearean soliloquy (adding an on-screen voice to his legendary profile for the first time) and Winnie Lightner famously warbling the joys of Singing in the Bathtub. Watch, rinse, repeat!

Cast (69)CrewGenresDetailsReleasesMediaAwards

Frank Fay

Master of Ceremonies

Lloyd Hamilton

Hansom Cabby in "What Became of the Floradora Boys" number" / (segment "Recitations") / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution")

Lupino Lane

Street Cleaner in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number / 'Tramp' Ballet

Ben Turpin

Waiter in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number

Sally O'Neil

Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'Meet My Sister' Numbers

Alice Day

Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'Meet My Sister' Numbers

Patsy Ruth Miller

Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'If I Could Learn to Love' Numbers

Marian Nixon

Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number

Lila Lee

Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number

Myrna Loy

Performer in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' & 'Chinese Fantasy' Numbers

Chester Morris

Performer in $20 Bet Sketch and 'Bicycle Built for Two' Numbers

Jack Mulhall

Performer in '$20 Bet' Sketch and 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number

Sôjin Kamiyama

Performer in '$20 Bet' Sketch (as Sojin)

T

Ted Lewis

Performer in 'The Pirate' Number

Winnie Lightner

Performer in 'Pingo Pongo' & 'Singing in the Bathtub' Numbers

Nick Lucas

Lady Luck Solo for 'The Only Song I Know' & 'Chinese Fantasy' Numbers

Dolores Costello

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Helene Costello

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Molly O'Day

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Marceline Day

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Sally Blane

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Loretta Young

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Armida

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number (as Mimi Vendrell)

L

Lolita Vendrell

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number (as Lola Vendrell)

Marion Byron

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Ann Sothern

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' & 'Bicycle Built for Two' Numbers (as Harriet Lake)

Alberta Vaughn

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

A

Ada Mae Vaughn

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' Number

Viola Dana

Performer in 'The Pirate,' 'Meet My Sister' & 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Numbers

Shirley Mason

Performer in 'Meet My Sister' & 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Numbers

Irène Bordoni

Performer in 'Just for One Hour of Love' Number

Rin-Tin-Tin

'Chinese Fantasty' Presenter

Sid Silvers

Al Jolson Impersonator / Introducing Larry Ceballos Black and White Girls Number

H

Harry Akst

Pianist Accompanying Irene Bordoni

Johnny Arthur

Hero - Performer in 'The Pirate' (uncredited)

Mary Astor

Performer in 'The Pirate' Number (uncredited)

William Bakewell

Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)

John Barrymore

Richard III in 'Henry VI Part III' (uncredited)

Richard Barthelmess

Meet My Sister Presenter (uncredited)

Noah Beery

Performer in "The Pirate" Number / Soldier (segment "Rifle Execution") (uncredited)

Monte Blue

Condemned Man (segment "Rifle Execution") (uncredited)

Hobart Bosworth

Executioner - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)

Jack Buchanan

Jack (uncredited)

J

Joseph A. Burke

Joe Burke (as Joe Burke) (uncredited)

Georges Carpentier

Boulevardier in 'If I Could Learn to Love' Number (uncredited)

Ethlyne Clair

Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)

J

James Clemens

Performer (as Jimmy Clemons) (uncredited)

Ruth Clifford

Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)

William Collier Jr.

Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)

Betty Compson

Performer in 'The Pirate Number' & 'Lady Luck' Numbers (uncredited)

Chester Conklin

Traffic Cop in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)

Heinie Conklin

Ice Man in 'What Became of the Floradora Boys' Number (uncredited)

William Courtenay

The Minister - Guillotine Sequence (uncredited)

Jack Curtis

Performer in 'The Pirate' Number (uncredited)

Sally Eilers

Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)

Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Ambrose in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number (uncredited)

Louise Fazenda

'Recitations' Sketch (uncredited)

Frances Lee

Performer in 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Number (uncredited)

Beatrice Lillie

Performer in 'Recitations' Number (uncredited)

Jacqueline Logan

Performer in 'The Pirate' & 'Bicycle Built for Two' Numbers (uncredited)

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