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Pimple's Wonderful Gramaphone (1913)
 

Synopsis

Warning: screenonline full synopses contain 'spoilers' which give away key plot points. Don't read on if you don't want to know the ending!

Pimple sets up a booth painted with a sign advertising 'Pimple's Wonderful Gramaphone' (sic). A notice declares that it will play any tune asked for when a penny is dropped in the slot. Inside the booth is a collection of musical instruments and Pimple waits to answer the requests of different people who come along. The first customer requests a lively ragtime tune and Pimple throws himself to an energetic dance culminating in the collapse of the booth. Pimple blames the man for this and sees him off with a kick on the pants. The next punter, a man smoking a pipe, requests a sentimental ballad, but Pimple, singing with hand on heart, is overcome by the pipe-smoke and again chases the man away, hitting him on the head with a mallet. He is followed by a lady who requests a song called 'I want someone to spoon with me'. Pimple, overcome by this suggestiveness, tries to flirt with her before being caught by her husband. He is finally brought to grief by the attentions of a drunk and a request for a classical piece that he doesn't know. The customers gang up on him and, sticking his head through the hole in the booth, pelt him with rubbish as if in a fairground show.