Hollywood Steps Out is often seen in its 1949 re-issued version. The 1941 original version is missing, and it contains a sequence that was missing in the common-known version. The evidence is also made clear when I recieved knowledge of animation historians Dave Gerstein and Mark Kausler recently viewing the UCLA/Warner archive print. It was reported that there were many splices indicative of censorship during the conga sequence. So, what was the scene?

Gary Cooper and Shirley Temple were in the original, but cut in the reissue, possibly due to the irrelevance of the gag. After all, Shirley Temple was fully grown by 1949.

The original ending was cut from the re-issue as well. According to Bob Clampett’s wife, Sody, Bob told several animation historians that after Groucho says, “Well, fancy meeting you here!” Clark Gable said something along the lines of “Awwwww well, I still want what’s comin’ to me, and I’m a-gonna get it!” to which he kisses Groucho Marx anyway. Sody recounted that apparently Gable really thought himself a ladies’ man, and the minute he heard about that gag he went right to his agents at Warner Bros. and demanded the joke be removed. 

Sody said that up until sometime in the mid-70s she was aware of a surviving original print existing in a film archive or collection, but unfortunately it was stolen, and hasn’t been relocated since.