This week’s mystery movie was the 1936 Paramount picture “The Big Broadcast of 1937,” with Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, Shirley Ross, Ray Milland, Frank Forest, Benny Fields, Sam Hearn, Benny Goodman and his band, and Leopold Stokowski and his symphony orchestra. Screenplay by Walter DeLeon and Francis Martin, based on a story by Erwin Gelsey, Arthur Kober and Barry Trivers, photographed by Theodor Sparkuhl, special effects by Gordon Jennings and Paul Lerpae, art direction by Hans Dreier and Robert Usher, music and lyrics by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, musical direction by Boris Morros, dance ensembles staged by LeRoy Prinz, interior decorations by A.E. Freudeman. Produced by Lewis E. Gensler and directed by Mitchell Leisen.
“The Big Broadcast of 1937” has never been commercially released, but you can find it on the gray market.
Thanks to the member of the Brain Trust who requested “The Big Broadcast of 1937.”
If you have a mystery movie request, send it in!
“The Big Broadcast of 1937” opened in New York on Oct. 21, 1936. Writing in the New York Times, (Oct. 22, 1936), Frank S. Nugent said:
Completely shaming these round-the-world travelers, Paramount has brought in its annual radio show a year ahead of schedule. “The Big Broadcast of 1937,” third of the series and not to be confused with the equally previous “Big Broadcast or 1936,” seen in 1935, has landed on cats’ feet at the Paramount Theatre and goes bouncing across its screen with a deal of geniality and good humor. An amusing potpourri of words and music, it is energetically played by a cast from the networks and the studios and it has been directed and photographed with considerable artistry by (respectively) Mitchel Leisen and Theodor Sparkuhl.
For Monday, we have a sophisticated mystery guest in a pensive moment during a genteel drawing-room drama.
Update: Sadly, our sophisticated gent remains unidentified. I was hoping a member of the Brain Trust would recognize him.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery gent. With big hoop earrings.
Update: This is Frank Forest singing “La Bomba.”
I’ve heard of mike shadows before, but this is ridiculous.
Update: This trio remains unidentified.
Here’s one of the many mysterious musicians in our mystery movie.
Update: This is Benny Fields
Here are some more.
Update: These players remain unidentified.
Here’s a mystery woman with still another mystery microphone. There are lots of mystery mikes in this picture. If you made them into a drinking game you would be smashed in the first reel.
Update: This is Shirley Ross.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery guest and even the mystery song).
For Thursday, we have a mystery musician and his mysterious instrument.
Update: This is “Bazooka” Bob Burns.
Another mystery musician…
Update: This is Gene Krupa.
Still another mystery musician….
Update: This is an incredibly young Leopold Stokowski.
…. and also.
Update: This is Martha Raye.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery woman and mystery crooner) and Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery gent and mystery song, Wednesday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mystery crooner).
Personal note to Mike Hawks: He’s supposed to be in this movie but I can’t find him anyplace!
For Friday….
Update: This is George Burns, Ray Milland, Jack Benny and Gracie Allen.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests Nos. 3 and 4), Earl Boebert (Thursday’s mystery drummer), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Gary (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests Nos. 2, 3 and 4), Sylvia E. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s through Friday’s mystery guests), Sarah (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests No. 2, 3 and 4) and L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast).
ladailymirror.com 
I believe this is the love child of Edward Everett Horton. His name escapes me temporarily.
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Great answer!
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Failed the Bowery Boys IQ and dictionexams
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Frank Forest om THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1937 (1936), singing the delirious “:La Bomba.”
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Delmo Fritz and FREAKS.
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Interesting guess, but alas, wrong studio.
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Benny Fields, Shirley Ross.
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It looks like Lanny Ross in the first photo today and Benny Fields in the second.
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Ted Lewis in Birth of the Blues.
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Is everybody happy? Alas, no, I’m afraid it’s another top-hatted singer with a cane. 🙂
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Shirley Ross today and the BIG BROADCAST OF 1937.
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Frank Forest singing La bomba on Tuesday.
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Joan Longhurst and Jack Buchanan in “This’ll Make You Whistle”
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Jack Buchanan is great, but this is no Jack Buchanan, alas.
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Bob Burns; Gene Krupa; Leopold Stokowski; Martha Raye.
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The Big Broadcast of 1937
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I think the movie is “The BIg Broadcast of 1937,” but I only recognize Martha Raye and Leopold Stokowski.
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Gene Krupa on Thursday? Hollywood Hotel?
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Bob Burns, Gene Krupa, Leopold Stokowski, Martha Raye.
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Gene Krupa, Bob Burns, Leopold Stokowski and Martha Raye make this THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1937.
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What? Gene Krupa? Leopold Stokowski? Martha Raye? Was such a movie ever made? Oh! Yes! The Big Broadcast of 1937!
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Hmmm…???? (thinking)
Thursday includes Gene Krupa and Martha Raye
The hunt is on!
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The Big Broadcast of 1937
Monday – not sure who the “crazy googenheim” lookalike is (will look forward to Saturday’s reveal)
Tuesday – Frank Forest (Hoping to hear what the name of the musical number is. I’ve found it called “La Bomba” and “A Trifle Ambiguous” (the second fits his costume more)
Wednesday – Benny Fields is the ‘top hat’ guy / Shirley Ross is the DJ (again will look forward to Saturday’s reveal on the other musical guests – appreciate your inclusion of them)
Thursday – Bob Burns (with his ‘bazooka’) / Gene Krupa / Leopold Stokowski / Martha Raye
So Friday, must include Jack Benny and Ray Milland / Gracie Allen and George Burns
Nice puzzle. Thanks
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Just wondered if anyone guessed Billy Bletcher for Monday’s guy in the 11/12/18 photo. It sure looks like some of the images I’ve seen of him (the goofy mouth pose.) IMdB has him listed in the cast as Property Man (or maybe it was Manager.) Anyway, wondered about who others guessed he was.
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I have posted all the comments… I would have to go back and look at images of him.
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It took awhile, but with Leopold Stowkoski, Martha Raye, and Gene Krupa, it has to be “The Big Broadcast of 1937”!
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The Big Broadcast of 1937 w/Benny, Burns & Allen, Raye, Milland, Weidler, Stokowski, Goodman, Krupa, etc…
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Whoa! Ben just told me you did my movie this week. And it’s stumping people! Thanks Larry!
Psst, I am entering the TCM dedication contest with a dedication on Bringing Up Baby to Benito. We met when he was a big brainy handsome clueless attorney like David, and I was his noisy little temp paralegal like Susan. Like Susan, I got my man. See? Perfect & maybe made for TV. Cross your fingers for me! Have a great weekend Larry
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George Burns, Ray Milland, Jack Benny, and Gracie Allen.
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George Burns, Ray Milland, Jack Benny, Gracie Allen.
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This week’s film has been The Big Broadcast of 1937. Thurs we have Gene Krupa on drums, conductor is Leopold Stokowski and singer is Martha Raye. Friday we have George & Gracie with Jack Benny and Ray Milland.
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Monday’s gent #2 is Leonid Kinskey
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Gent # 1 on Thurs. I think is Frank Jenks
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Oops – that should have been Tues – not Monday for Leonid Kinskey as the our gent with the big hoop earrings.
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I think our mystery singer on Wen is Shirley Ross
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George Burns, Ray Milland, Jack Benny, Gracie Allen
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Burns and Allen, Ray Milland and Jack Benny.
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The Big Broadcast of 1937. I’ve never seen it but DAMN! Now I REALLY want to!
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Not an easy movie to see, alas. It turns up on TCM every so often, so set your DVR!
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I’m a member of the Brain Trust? I just fainted. Seriously, I am in awe of Larry and Mary and Eve and Mike and whoever else I’m squee-ing too hard to remember. And of course Benito, of whom I am the proud missus. Literally 20 years ago, the only classic movie I knew besides The Wizard of Oz was Bringing Up Baby. Look at me now! thanks to you lot, who have taught me so much.
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