“Hot Dog“ Dogville Shorts (1930-31) - Feature Clip (Warner Archive Collection)

In the Early Sound Era, talent from all over – veteran vaudevillians, musical icons, radio personalities, Broadway luminaries – performed in specialty shorts augmenting main features that packed moviehouses. One particular pack stood out: the amazingly trained tail-waggers of the 10 “All-Barkie” Dogville Comedies. Directed by Zion Myers and Jules White, these unusual attractions showcased creatively costumed “talking” dogs of various breeds and spoofed the noble and naughty behaviors of people. They pulled