No titles. Musical comedy star Billy Leonard.

Probably filmed in Pathe Studio, London.

M/S of pianist at grand piano playing a jaunty introduction. Comedian / singer / dancer Billy Leonard walks into shot, wearing white tie and tails, carrying a top hat. He says "What a delightful audience!" and talks of his Aunt Mabel who is sitting in the front row of the stalls - "Look at her beautiful teeth... both of them. One in the attic and the other in the basement - she believes in central eating!".

He then says he will sing us a song called 'Oh Mother, Open The Window, I Want To Throw Out My Chest'. He puts on his top hat and sings a jaunty song about a young man ringing a girl on the telephone. It might be called 'Nothing Very Particular On Tonight'. The girl in question tells the man "Come round John, I've got nothing particular on, and I'll have nothing very particular on tonight!" (saucy!).

While he is singing, Billy takes a cigarette out of a silver case and attempts to light it but the match keeps going out. While the pianist plays in the background Billy picks up a candlestick telephone and rings his girlfriend. He talks to her in a lovey-dovey fashion, then realises he is talking to 'the supervisor' and calls him a silly arse and a blithering idiot. Inevitably, his girlfriend comes on the line during the insults and thinks she means him. After a joke about thinking she said she was in the sink he puts the phone down.

Billy then takes a lit match from his trouser pocket and lights his cigarette. He goes into a soft shoe shuffle about the stage - multitalented or what?! He takes his hat off to exit.

I think Billy is quite a charming performer - nice variation on the 'toff' character.
This probably originates from Pathe Sound Magazine 15.
Note: item is out of synch throughout due to early sound recording.