The Theater: Outboxed, Outfoxed

Olsen & Johnson had a bright idea. They would celebrate finishing The Ghost Catchers, their new picture for Universal, by inviting the whole Ghost Catchers crew of 200 to Sons o’ Fun in Los Angeles, and they themselves would take over their original zany roles for one night.

Oldtime Keystone Cop Eddie Cline, who directed The Ghost Catchers, had a bright idea too. Olsen & Johnson got their first whiff of it when they bounced onto the stage, discovered their 200 pals down front all reading newspapers and completely ignoring the show. A minute later chorines ran up & down the aisles shrieking, “Wuxtry! Wuxtry! Read all about the Chaplin trial.”

Thereafter the Cline idea put forth leaves and flowers. When Olsen & Johnson whipped out water pistols and sprayed the audience, the tireless 200 whipped out water pistols and doused the stage. At that point someone rushed a Martini on a tray to aisle-seated W. C. Fields. Quipped Fields loudly: “I hope this didn’t come from the little boys’ room.” Every ten minutes another Martini arrived. Then:

¶ Just as Olsen & Johnson reached the punch line on a gag, a gentleman in a box dropped 40 clattering pots & pans.

¶During a Spanish-dance number, Universal’s ace bowler, from somewhere in the wings, ripped ball after ball across the stage.

¶When Olsen & Johnson appeared in pink silk panties and cutaways, a couple down front began undressing. No sooner were they tossed out of the theater than the orchestra leader started to strip.

Hastily Olsen & Johnson hauled Cline up on the stage, presented him with an ear of corn. But the master hecklers, Hollywood felt, had been outboxed as well as outfoxed.