After being mistakenly informed of a $750,000 he will not actually inherit, naïve Professor Potts (Buster Keaton) decides to live a little by quitting his university job, withdrawing his life savings and travel. Meeting a traveling vaudeville troupe on the train and being convinced by Jimmy the piano player (Jimmy Durante) that the show is a success, Potts decides to use his money to buy the show and bring it to Broadway. After discovering what type of show he bought during opening night, Potts attempts to apologize to the audience but instead becomes the hit of the show by accidentally stumbling into the production number and show effects. Potts must now contend with the show, the creditors looking for money as well as the affections of his home town sweetheart and the show's leading lady.