AllMovie

Beloved comedy duo George Burns and Gracie Allen made their big-screen debut with this 1931 short. Burns strolls into a modern department store to buy a tie, but can't get any assistance. The salesgirls are rude, the salesmen are insane, and no one is interested in fulfilling his simple request. Exasperated, he finds himself at a counter staffed by Gracie Allen, who responds to his request for a tie with, "Coconut or custard?" The daffy dame isn't sure exactly what is for sale, since she spends all day making up her own crossword puzzles. Burns gives up on the idea of buying a tie, and asks Allen out for a date, but she declines, saying, "I can't see you tonight, I expect a headache." It turns out that her real job at the department store is demonstrating sheet music songs, so she regales Burns with a ditty called "I'm a Whole Lot Wilder Than I Look." Burns then checks his watch, notes that nine minutes have passed, and announces that their moving picture career has officially begun. Both comedians wave goodbye to the audience as the screen fades.