Milt Britton started playing vaudeville around 1914. In 1917 he formed a double act (trombone and cornet) with Frank Wetzel, who then changed his name to Frank Britton. Originator of the "slapstick" orchestra, Britton's Orchestra became known in Europe and the USA as "America's Craziest Orchestra" and "The Mad Musical Maniacs." The band's routine was to begin playing a selection in the normal way, then about half way through the song, a musician would stumble and knock an instrument out of another's hand, thereby starting a melee of comedy. Their band played some Broadway shows, made tours of South America and the US, and made appearances in shorts and feature films. They are seen causing mayhem during the title song in Moonlight and Pretzels (1933).
