Watch The Birdie!... And Smile For Me!
At least seven films dating back to the 1920's were entitled "Watch The Birdie" that all were centered around the ever emerging field of photography. As cameras became more portable and processes more stable and consistent, accessories started coming into play to help photographers with their photo taking sessions. Benches, props , backdrops and new flash techniques started to help drive this new and evolving industry. Birds made of brass were developed to distract children while taking their picture and were activated at times with rubber hoses that either an assistant blew into or a squeeze bulb forced air into the metal bird which may have caused wings to flutter or warble with water in the unit depending on the design in order to grab attention and make it fun to smile for the camera. Hollywood Gets Into The Act
In 1928, a Universal Pictures short film in the Buster Brown Series was called "Watch the Birdie" and by 1935, Bob Hope, Nell O'Day and Arline Dinitz starred in an 18 minute short film usually shown prior to the Fred Astaire film "Top Hat" which had a wide release."Hellzapoppin'" was a Broadway show that ran from 1938-1941 with Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson who later starred in the 1941 film version. One of the lesser documented songs in the movie, "Watch the Birdie" was sung by Martha Raye, who's career of service to our country secures her place in our country's history as a patriotic icon. Later the song was recorded by many in the swing era and probably gained the most popularity with Anita O'Day and The Gene Krupa Orchestra with a 1941 recording session.
In 1950, Red Skelton, Ann Miller and Arlene Dahl teamed up for "Watch the Birdie" where Red played a camera store owner and the father and grandfather of the character in separate roles as an early precursor to Eddie Murphy in his multiple role movies. 
In 1986, Anthony Edwards as "Goose" in Top Gun grabs his polaroid camera after "Maverick" had kept up foreign relations with the MiG, and says "watch the birdie". Feature Cartoons Add To The Lore
Walt Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" of 1955 contains a "Watch the Birdie" song toward the end of the feature and in 1958, Walter Lantz and Woody Woodpecker had a six minute cartoon feature. So.....where did the phrase "watch the birdie" begin? As with all time honored traditions, the phrase grew over the years with the generations and is worth bringing back to help distract children and to help assist photographers to get the best out of their subject and to help make it fun to smile for the camera. Their smiles will be captured for future generations! Return to Home from Watch the Birdie
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