British Pathe

Archie de Bear's "Chelsea Follies" are seen appearing at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London (possibly in a revue called "Here and There"). A line of chorus girls walks onto the stage. They lean forward and draw apart their skirts (!) which are short and split down the middle. They then pretend to...

Archie de Bear's "Chelsea Follies" are seen appearing at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London (possibly in a revue called "Here and There"). A line of chorus girls walks onto the stage. They lean forward and draw apart their skirts (!) which are short and split down the middle. They then pretend to be putting on stockings or stroking their legs. They then do some high kick routines. We see these in L/S and from a closer view on stage which shows only legs and bodies of the women - not their faces. The girls sing as they fling their legs in the air. They have hats that look like artists' palettes - cute.

"No picture of Chelsea would be complete without some Chelsea Models - here are the Artist's ideals." M/S of glamour girls emerging through curtains at the back of the stage posing in long gowns. A man in a dressing gown admires the models and draws back a curtain revealing a woman standing inside a cupboard type affair. He helps her to step down then leads her to the front of the stage. "Fast stepping - by the Eight Lancashire Lads -" L/S of the boys dressed in sailor suits with bell bottoms. They do a tap routine crossed with a sailor's hornpipe, they stand on little circular podiums. They end their dance crouching down and looking out to sea. Apparently the Eight Lancashire Lads were famous for clog dancing. Can't really see their clogs for the flares!

"And Nervo & Knox have a little trouble on the Embankment." A group of people stand beside a coffee stand. Signs on the stand read: "Tea Coffee Cocoa" One of the men is dressed as a pierrot. C/U of him speaking into a stick style telephone. C/U of the other two men who laugh at him. A posh looking woman stands at the coffee stall. The men try to chat her up but she walks off with the pierrot. The other two men follow them impersonating their walk. One of the funny men grabs the telephone. Various funny business ensues with the proprietor of the stand ducking through and being hit on the head by Nervo (or Knox) with an umbrella. A slapstick fight ensues. A very smart man in a Naval uniform comes onto the stage and the proprietor of the coffee stand gets back behind the counter. The proprietor throws some strings of sausages (?) out of his stand and then he and Nervo and Knox push it off stage. (Obviously this comedy sketch loses a lot without sound!)

Was an item in Eve's Film Review issue number 501. Safety print exists.