Billy & Len Childs (1929-1932)

No titles. Singing / comedy duo Billy & Len Childs. Probably filmed in Pathe Studio, London. Billy and Len Childs, dressed in white tie and tails, sing a jaunty little song called ’Oh, Maritana’ in Italian accents, about a girl who runs a fruit shop where “she sell-a the big-a banana“! One sits and plays the grand piano while the other stands beside it. They stop the song to give us an impression of “that famous Italian tenor, Signor Banknote“. The one standing starts to sing a version of ’O Sole Mio’. He argues with the pianist, who has put on a hat and moustache, and they engage in crosstalk, ending with the pianist babbling away in nonsense Italian. A reprise of ’Oh Maritana’ ends the act. This probably originates from Pathe Sound Magazine 19. Note: item is out of synch throughout due to early sound recording. FILM ID: A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT’S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES.