This short cartoon from the Fleischer Brothers is important historically, as it's a sound cartoon--two years before the much more famous "Steamboat Willie" from Disney. I think the reason why "Sweet Adeline" is not well remembered is because it was technically important, it's a very dull film and does not at all hold up today like the Disney film. The animation looks a negative image (white on black) and consists of the song by the same name being sung along with Karaoke-like lyrics flying across the screen in order to have an audience sing-a-long. As this lame sort of idea was used later by the Fleischers in the 30s and 40s, I assume audiences at the time actually sang along--whereas this sort of thing might start a popcorn fight but that's all. Lame but important...and forgotten.