In 1919, Terence Donahue and his wife Molly are a husband-and-wife vaudeville team known as the Donahues, pursue both a stable family life as well as professional success. Their children, Steve, Katy, and Tim, join the act one by one, and their act eventually becomes the Five Donahues. The family is a success and soon hit the top. One night after a show, a worried Molly and Terry return home alone while Katy goes out on a date, Steve takes a walk, and the womanizing Tim goes out with an older chorus girl. Katy and Tim both wind up at a nightclub where Tim teases Victoria Hoffman. Vicky forgets Tim's wisecracks, however, when Eddie Dugan, her agent, informs her that he has persuaded famed producer, Lew Harris, to visit the club. With the help of her co-workers, Vicky gets onstage and impresses Lew and Tim with her singing. Backstage, Vicky learns that Tim is one of the well known Donahues but quickly dismisses him in order to talk business with Harris.