Milt Britton(1894-1948)
- Actor
Milt Britton started playing vaudeville around 1914. In 1917 he formed
a double act (trombone and cornet) with Frank Wetzel, who then changed
his name to Frank Britton. Originator of
the "slapstick" orchestra, Britton's Orchestra became known in Europe
and the USA as "America's Craziest Orchestra" and "The Mad Musical
Maniacs." The band's routine was to begin playing a selection in the
normal way, then about half way through the song, a musician would
stumble and knock an instrument out of another's hand, thereby starting
a melee of comedy. Their band played some Broadway shows, made tours of
South America and the US, and made appearances in shorts and feature
films. They are seen causing mayhem during the title song in
Moonlight and Pretzels (1933).