Here Comes Elmer

At a mid-Western radio station, after comedian Al Pearce and his troupe finish rehearsing their one-hundredth radio program for sponsor Parrot Finance Co., they learn that Horace Parrot wants them to do the broadcast from his home. Parrot tries to persuade Al to let his sister, Arline Harris, sing on the program but Al resists. During the program, a parrot used in the commercial announcements repeats derogatory remarks made by band leader Joe Maxwell about the finance company's terms. As a result, the show is cut off the air and Al and his group, most of whom are in debt to Parrot, are immediately fired. Joe wants to return to New York where his girl friend, Jean Foster, is secretary to P. J. Ellis, president of the Federal Broadcasting System. Al and his fiance, beauty salon operator Glenda Forbes, however, want to remain where they are. During a phone conversation, Jean tells Joe that she has been trying to get a singing job with the Jan Garber band, and also advises him that a new nightclub could hire his band. Joe agrees to accept the engagement, then arranges for Al to receive a phony telegram inviting the group to appear regularly on Ellis' network, and Al reluctantly agrees to leave Glenda behind. After tricking Arline into advancing everyone's fare by promising her that she can join the band as a singer, they all head to New York. En route, Al tells a reporter that they have been engaged by FBS to do a weekly series. Mr. Postelwaite, Ellis' assistant, reads this and, in his boss's absence, arranges a welcoming party for Al and company, at which Arline informs two gossip columnists that she and Al are engaged. When Ellis returns and denies hiring Al, Joe's trick is revealed and Jean walks out on him. Meanwhile, Glenda reads about Al's engagement and goes to New York, where she and Jean try to find Al, who has disappeared. Al, who has taken a job as a vacuum cleaner salesman, is assigned to work with salesman Elmer Blurt, to whom Al bears a striking resemblance. As Al pursues his new job, Joe and the band rehearse for the new club's opening. When a new FBS sponsor announces that he is looking for artists for a variety program, Jean decides to send him an audition tape of Joe's band by tricking nightclub owner Louie Burch into thinking that the recording engineer is actually broadcasting his club's opening. Al is found in time for the broadcast and is about to perform his master of ceremonies duties when Parrot shows up to repossess the band's instrum