As anyone who reads this blog knows I am a huge country music lover. As such I am highly enjoying Ken Burns' new documentary film, Country Music. Those of you who like me watched the first part on PBS yesterday, you heard mention that Jimmie Rogers appeared in a short film called The Singing Brakeman (1929). Luckily for us this film exists today and can be found on YouTube. The film doesn't have much in the way of story but Jimmie performs three of his classic songs, Waiting For a Train, Daddy and Home and Blue Yodel. For my fellow country music fans being able to see Jimmie Rogers actually performing these songs is a special treat. So enjoy this great film.
Sadly a reviewer in Motion Picture News was not impressed stating "three number song novelty that is just a little too much the same throughout to be particularly effective."An exhibitors review in the Exhibitors Herald World was more positive stating "A very good act and well recorded." The following is another review from Exhibitors Herald World, "Fine piece of recording. If your town likes this blue yodeling stuff go after it. Jimmie broke a record here in person and the liked his talking act too. (Henry Reeve, Mission theatre, Menard, Tex. Small Town Patronage)." Yet another exhibitors review from the same magazine stated "As fine a short as you can play."
-Michael J. Ruhland
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