Laugh Makers, The (A Pictorial History of American Comedians)
ROAD SHOW (1941)
Film Pick of the Day
Sunday, July 5, 2026
Millionaire Drogo Gaines jilts his golddigging bride at the altar by pretending to be insane, and when she sees through his scam, gets revenge by having him committed to a sanitarium. Gaines meets up with fellow patient Col. Carroway, a harmless eccentric committed by his family. Gaines and Carroway escape and hook up with a travelling carnival owned by Penguin Moore (Carole Landis). Drogo and Penguin are infatuated, and with Carroway's "help," Drogo is passed off to Penguin as a the world's greatest lion tamer. The carnival's financial condition leaves a lot to be desired, and finds itself evicted by the Sheriffs of several towns. But the Colonel's conspiring lands them on millionaire Harry Whitman's estate, with a plan to bring Drogo and Penguin together, and save the carnival.
Shemp Howard appears in a small role as Moe Parker, a wild animal exhibitor who sells his lions to the carnival.
Comedy relief is handled by Patsy Kelly, Penguin's best friend and the reluctant object of the carnival's mute Indian barker's (George Stone) affections. Willie Best also comes on board about halfway thru the film as a carnival handyman, who runs afoul of some loose lions. Musical interludes are provided by the gospel/folk group The Charioteers, with lyrics by Hoagy Carmichael.
Originally planned as one of Hal Roach's "streamliner" features (~ 45 minutes), ROAD SHOW wound up with a running time of 86 minutes, and Roach went so far as to cast his daughter Margaret in a supporting role as the carnival's vocalist, who sings with The Charioteers.
Details
Average Rating:   [ 7.50/10 ] 2 votes |
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| Featuring | Shemp Howard (Solo) |
|---|---|
| Release Date | Tuesday, February 18, 1941 |
| Studio | Hal Roach Studios |
| Production Type | Feature Film |
| Duration | 86 min. |
