For many years Bubbles was associated with a duo act called Buck and Bubbles, where he would sing and dance and his counter part would play the piano, and occasionally do a few steps. This was a typical act of the time and they became very popular around the theatre circuits. It was in one of there appearances that they were spotted and began to appear in a few films, although later on Bubbles appeared mostly in films as a solo performer.

One of the classic scenes in a film he appeared in as the duo of Buck and Bubbles, shown here above, where Bubbles dances on top of a piano, has become an unforgettable visual Tap sequence. In this sequence he effortlessly executes many steps, and crossovers, which were a typical Bubbles trade mark.

Bubbles as a frequent visitor to the famed Hoofers Club and never refused a challenge. There are numerous accounts of Tap battles  that he triumphed in. He is also said to have tricked some of its frequent visitors out of their steps. Bubble had the ability of reproducing any dance step he saw. It is said that he frequently watched dancers and when he saw some thing he liked he would tell them that it was his step and proceeded to show the unsuspecting dancer the step he had just done with a little some thing added to it, claiming that the guy must have seen him execute the move in one of his performances. One of the codes of Tap, was never copy another Tap dancers act.

Bill Robinson and John Bubbles were both responsible for some of the big innovations in Tap Dancing and dancers after them have always paid tribute to them in one way or another. Each Tap dancer who proceeded these great names had there own favourite story of a particular exploit of either dancer. There is no doubt that these two dancers were the mile stones in Tap history.