Charley Chase goes to visit his girl Mary, but her father J.B. instructs the maid not to let him into the house. So he tries to sneak in and manages to mess up J.B.'s stamp collection, which is the "finest... west of the Rockies". J.B. gets a phone call regarding a carrier pigeon stamp, of which there are only four in the world, and that he'd pay $10,000 for.
In order to win over J.B., Charley says he will form his own collection, starting with one of the "Pigemania Pigeons". Not knowing where to find stamps, he tries stealing letters from a mailbox, which lands him in jail. He asks a Chinese man if his letter has stamps from China on them, but alas, it was mailed in Brooklyn. He also asks a Hindu man, and an Italian, who tells him about mail-order brides. He figures he can write to the women in a "catalog" and get stamps from all over the world.
The idea works, and Charley ends up with piles of letters with stamps on them. Then, while going through the latest batch of mail with Sam (his valet?), Sam mentions he got a letter from an uncle via carrier pigeon from Pigoenmania. He shows Charley, who tips Sam a quarter after almost telling him the stamp is worth $10,000.
Of course, the stamp manages to escape from Charley, leading to some silent-era style gags. But he gets it back, and now in J.B.'s good graces, Charley prepares to marry Mary.
Before the wedding, Charley waits for Mary and her father to arrive so they can drive to the church. But women he wrote to begin to arrive at his apartment. Mary and J.B. arrive outside and Charley hides the women in a car, which he accidentally locks bumpers with. A wild ride ensues, ending with everyone in "deep water".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charley's search for postage stamps is rather cute (especially to this stamp collecting-fan!), with some good, silent-era style gags, but the last part of the film, where he attempts to get married, slows things down too much. Then there are the Columbia low-budget special effects, which we all know about from our youth watching Three Stooges shorts!
Bud Jamison is his usual Columbia-self, but Iris Meredith's performance is wooden. And, as usual in these shorts, she is way too young to be engaged to Chase.
Modern audiences may not like the scenes with the Chinese, Italian, and Hindu men. But the whole idea is Charley is looking to see if they have any mail from their home countries.
Watching this short is a little depressing, given Chase passed away soon after. While he appears a bit older than his 46 years and had been in bad health, he actually seems full of pep. Watch him look at the stamp from Bali, for instance.
If only he had lived longer, who knows what Chase could have done for screen comedy, if only behind the cameras...
Charley calls on his gal Mary... the maid says J.B. doesn't want him in the house
A breeze from the window Charley is at blows J.B.'s stamp collection around.
(Bud Jamison, Iris Meredith, and Charley Chase)
Looking for a carrier pigeon carrying stamps!
One way to get stamps... and jail time...
Charley asking a fellow "inmate" if he gets mail with Chinese stamps... he doesn't...
Write to the women in this booklet, get stamps in return!
Charley inspects a stamp from Bali as Sam looks on.
Charley gives Sam a quarter for his letter from Pigmania (Sam calls it Pigeonmania).
Charley peels his prize find off the envelope... no, it isn't this easy and modern stamp collectors are cringing right now...
... stuck to the tire of a police car...
... up a tree with the stamp in-hand once again...
... the reason Charley is in a tree, the family dog, now in possession of the stamp...
Charley saves the "Pigmania Pigeon" from certain death!
The brides are starting to arrive from around the world, looking for Charley their husband-to-be!
Locking bumpers with a car full of "brides" with clueless Mary and J.B.
... a wild ride ensues, complete with Columbia low-budget special effects...
... off the bridge, into the drink...
Where's father? Charley has him by the hand...........
The the "Pigmania Pigeon"
