The slightly built, pencil-mustached Adams has been described by historian Kalton C. Lahue as "a poor man's Charley Chase."

Like Chase, and unlike the other comics at Educational, Adams favored situational comedy over slapstick.

Star comedians Jimmie Adams, Bobby Vernon, Lige Conley, Neal Burns, and Billy Dooley constituted a lineup that was no threat to Hal Roach, but nevertheless entertained millions with a style than neither Roach or Mack Sennett could or would provide.

In 1930, he co-starred with burly comic Bud Jamison as The Rolling Stones, a pair of singing vagabonds touring America.

Adams also sang with The Ranch Boys, a musical group featured in Charley Chase comedies.