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A Ticket in Tatts (1934)

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clip Two pounds of butter

This clip chosen to be G

Clip description

George (George Wallace) has to mind the grocery store while his boss is out. He has no training for the task and almost destroys the shop with a succession of demanding customers, starting with Mrs Doyle (Marie La Varre).

Curator’s notes

by Paul Byrnes

This is likely to be based on a routine that Wallace had used in one of his stage shows in the 1920s. It appears to have been filmed entirely through twice from slightly different angles, to allow room for editing (of which there is little). Younger viewers may find it hard to believe that butter was once bought this way, from a bulk supply ladled and shaped with paddles. Indeed, the whole concept of the shop is so different to modern food vending as to be slightly surreal to our eyes.

This film was shot in late 1933, at the height of the Depression, when almost a third of the country was out of work. Seeing good food ruined by George’s clumsiness might have made audiences laugh even more at the time, when many people could not afford eggs, butter or flour. Note the thick make-up that Wallace is wearing – his eyebrows have been blackened for emphasis and his lips coloured. This is a leftover from the kind of make-up he would have used on stage.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

When you access australianscreen you agree that:

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  • You may embed the clip for non-commercial educational purposes including for use on a school intranet site or a school resource catalogue.
  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

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ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

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