Figure 1.-- a scene in front of the premiere shows how New York boys were dressing in 1929. A surprising number of boys are wearing long pants, although many boys wear knickers--with sporty knee socks. Other photographs from the 1920s, even the late 1920s, show fewer younger boys wearing long pants and boys in knickers wearing long stockings rather than knee socks. I suspect that the boys here came from relatively affluent families with fashion concious families. Notice how well dressed the children are. This is not the kind of film that the average American boy would have shelled out his pocket money to see. Note the signs at the premier for the Alnele Robert Foundation. I am not sure what kind of foundation that was. Also note the elderly gentleman at the center. He looks familiar, but I am not sure who he is.

This New York shot Pathe film has little to recommend it except as an example of an early talkie. It is a sugary story of a mother and her boy played by Morton Downey Sr.--the father of the loud mouth TV talk show host. Film viewers at the time weere less sophisticated than the modern rather cynical movie goer, but this film was too syrupy even for 1929. We mention it here because a scene in front of the premiere shows how New York boys were dressing in 1929. A surprising number of boys are wearing long pants, although many boys wear knickers--with sporty knee socks. Other photographs from the 1920s, even the late 1920s, show fewer younger boys wearing long pants and boys in knickers wearing long stockings rather than knee socks. Also note that none of the boys wear short pants suits, another reflection of social class. There are a variety of other interesting fashion items here. One boy wears white long stockings, not very common for boys. Another boy wears sneakers wu\ith his suit. And notice some boys wear adult-looking fedoras rather than flat caps. I suspect that the boys here came from relatively affluent families with fashion concious families. Notice how well dressed the children are. This is not the kind of film that the average American boy would have shelled out his pocket money to see. Morton Downey was well known at the time as a radio crooner. He stars as Tommy O'Day, a Jazz singer trying to get established. Just P'Day is about to make his Broadway debut, his beloved mother (Beryl Mercer) who has sacrificed everything for him falls ill. O'Day leaves the show and rushed to his mother's side. There he of course sings to her which helps to restore her health. Leaving the show in the lurch, almost ruins his fledling career. But then the newspapers report why he left the show. Note the signs at the premier for the Alnele Robert Foundation. I am not sure what kind of foundation that was. Also note the elderly gentleman at the center. He looks familiar, but I am not sure who he is.

Created: 5:31 PM 6/25/2009
Last updated: 5:31 PM 6/25/2009