'Chic' Sale was a very peculiar stage and screen star. Most of his work was on stage and his act took off when he began playing old men. This carried onto the big screen and in the 1930s he appeared in quite a few films as an old coot. In all these cases, he was far younger than he looked and acted. Here in "Lem Putt, the Specialist" he's 47 but you'd guess he's about 50. In some films, he played folks significantly older!
This is among the simplest short films I have ever seen. The budget was practically non-existent, in fact. Sale gets up after he's introduced at some meeting and he gives a speech--talking all about his career as a privy (outhouse) builder...and that's it.
Back in 1930, I am pretty sure folks thought this was a wonderful film. It has NOT aged well and it probably was an act he did on stage...and it definitely has a stagy quality to it. For most folks, I cannot imagine them finishing the film, but I am a bit of a masochist and saw it all. It wasn't particularly funny nor interesting...and I know Sale COULD be very good...just not here.