Wil Paradise
Dixieland cornetist Red Nichols runs into opposition to his sound, but breaks through to success. He marries a warm, patient woman and even finds time to raise a family. Then tragedy strikes when their daughter contracts polio.
Self (archive footage)
A made-for-TV musical revue, compiled from soundies and film and TV performances by jazz greats from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Himself (uncredited)
Having to leave Melbourne in a hurry to avoid various marriage proposals, two song-and-dance men sign on for work as divers. This takes them to an idyllic island on the way to Bali where they vie with each other for the favours of Princess Lala. The hazardous dive produces a chest of priceless jewels which arouses the less romantic interest of some shady locals.
Spectator
To ensure a full profitable season, circus manager Brad Braden engages The Great Sebastian, though this moves his girlfriend Holly from her hard-won center trapeze spot. Holly and Sebastian begin a dangerous one-upmanship duel in the ring, while he pursues her on the ground.
Himself - Orchestra Leader
A young woman (Janet Leigh) leaves her small hometown in Vermont and travels to New York City with hopes of becoming a Broadway star.
Don Collins
A teenage fan sets out to boost her favorite radio singer's career. Comedy with songs.
Mel Murray
A sister act finds itself stranded and broke, and teams up with a medicine man who is promoting a child talent contest.
Bob Richards
In this comic western, a Broadway star leaves his musical revue to go West and help out his troubled friend. While there, the performer finds himself forced into becoming the town sheriff. Mayhem ensues, but somehow, the crooner manages to round up a band of killers.
Jimmy
A piano teacher and her roommate decide invest their savings in a music publishing company. Comedy with music.
Orchestra Leader
A high school bandleader captures the interest of a popular co-ed.
Bob
Journalist Marion Hargrove enters the Army intending to supplement his income by writing about his training experiences. He muddles through basic training at Fort Bragg with the self-serving help of a couple of buddies intent on cutting themselves in on that extra income.
Bob Crosby
Starstruck Indiana small-town girl Lily is pestering theatrical producer John Thornway for a role but he is reluctant.
Bob - Bob Crosby and His Orchestra (uncredited)
Beverly Ross, the switchboard operator at a local radio station, jumps at the chance to be the DJ for an early morning show before the soldiers at a nearby army camp assemble for reveille. Beverly, with her modern music, camp bulletins and chatter, is a hit with the soldiers. Beverly's younger brother and his two buddies are soldiers at the camp. The buddies vie for Beverly's attentions.
Bob Crosby
Acrobat Eddie Marsh is in the army now. His first act is to become friendly with Kathryn Jones, the colonel's pretty daughter. Their romance hits a few snags, including disapproval from her father. Eddie's also plagued by fear of having an accident during his family's trapeze act in the army variety show, which also features a gallery of MGM stars.
Duke Wilson
The story details the misadventures of two itinerant songwriters named Duke (Crosby) and Cliff (Foy) as they try to survive Army boot camp. Intending to boost the morale of their fellow draftees, our heroes stage a big musical show, which they eventually hope will graduate to Broadway.
Jeff Farnsworth
An unsophisticated farm girl enrolls in college and stars in the campus musical.
Bob Crosby
An elderly schoolmarm makes a hit in New York after a bandleader jazzes up her corny song.
Orchestra Leader
In a nightclub setting, Bob Crosby and His Orchestra play five numbers, as young couples dance in front of the bandstand, in contrasting styles ranging from Dixieland to Blues to Ragtime Pop to Swing: "How'dja Like to Love Me?", "Pagan Love Song", "Moments Like This", "Romance in the Dark" and one of the group's best-known recordings, "The South Rampart Street Blues." The featured vocalist if Kay Weber and the drummer is Ray Bauduc.
Band Leader
A Broadway playboy inherits an almost bankrupt girls' school and tries to save it by a big show.
Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby feels inferior to brother Bing, but needs to land a big band job before he can marry sweetheart Toby. Auditioning for Anson Weeks' band, he fantasizes about Toby and some barely clad showgirls.