Review by 16mmRay

Here's a unique entry in Universal's series of musical two-reelers produced in the early 1940's. Ted Lewis filmed several songs for the Abbott and Costello feature OH, CHARLIE! Before the film was released, the title was changed to HOLD THAT GHOST, a new ending was filmed and several songs were deleted (though they were still mentioned in the film's pressbook).

Universal took the cut songs, filmed some new footage including a couple of new numbers, and released IS EVERYBODY HAPPY? as a musical two-reeler. The short was released one month after the release of HOLD THAT GHOST.

There is no story and only a bit of dialogue wherein Lewis introduces a couple of acts besides himself. The highlight of this short is a tap number by Charles "Snowball" Whittier (though it is tainted by some condescending running commentary by Lewis). Whittier was Lewis's "shadow" for several decades, earning his keep by stepping and strutting behind Lewis in his signature "Me and My Shadow" number. That number, by the way, not only appears in HOLD THAT GHOST but in IS EVERYBODY HAPPY? as well.

While the original two-reel version of IS EVERYBODY HAPPY? is very difficult to see, there are actually more prints around of the Castle Films one-reel abridgment, titled TED LEWIS AND HIS BAND.