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He's So Unusual/The Prep Step

Helen Kane

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In this clip Helen Kane stars opposite Jack Oakie in her 1929 film "Sweetie" performing "He's So Unusual"
and the song and dance number "The Prep Step".

It is a real cinematic tragedy that this film was chopped up for television so that many of it's scenes are now lost (27 minutes appear to be missing from today's existing print). A second movie co-starring Jack Oakie and Helen Kane was planned for early 1931 but cancelled due to movie musical budget cuts brought on by the depression.

For a live performance of the song "He's So Unusual" featuring Ginger Pauley (as Helen Kane) Click Here.

Helen Clare Schroeder born in The Bronx, New York City in 1904 began performing on the vaudeville
stage during her early teenage years.

Billed as Helen Kane she became a big Broadway star following her extremely successful 1927 appearance
in the musical revue "A Night in Spain".

In 1928 while performing in the Oscar Hammerstein production "Good Boy" Helen introduced the song
"I Wanna Be Loved by You" which would became her biggest hit.

Revered for her childlike manner she first introduced her renowned "boop-boop-a-doop" while performing
the song "That's My Weakness Now" at the Paramount Theater in Times Square.

Aside from her numerous roles in film Helen Kane would also become a famous recording star appearing
on twenty-two sides produced between 1928 and 1930.