1. The Coming of Sound

2. Early attempts at sound EDISON already invented phonograph, developed movies to accompany it –1895, he combined phonograph & kinetoscope to create the KINETOPHONE –Problems with synchronization Primary source of sound provided at theater; live music, sound effects, etc.

3. Kinetophone

4. Kinetophone film, 1912

5. Synchronized sound (1927-1928) STUDIO CONSERVATISM –Studios profitable, & resisted transition to sound –All but WB had chains of picture palaces w/ live sound from orchestras –Radio & telephone companies researched sound, but rejected by Hollywood; sound film would give smaller theaters access to sound

6. Warner Bros. & AT&T (Western Electric) WARNER BROS. –2nd & 3rd run theaters, w/o live sound –1925, cooperated with AMERICAN TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE (AT&T) on sound development WESTERN ELECTRIC –Subsidiary established by AT&T to research & manufacture synchronized sound technology –Developed 33 1/3 rpm turntables & records, effective amplifiers & loudspeakers

7. Warner Bros. & AT&T (Western Electric) VITAPHONE –Process of synchronized sound on disc & holding company created exploit it –Began with musical shorts, 1st big success with The Jazz Singer in 1927 PROBLEMS WITH SOUND ON DISC –Difficult to maintain consistent sound/picture synchronization –Because each disc 10 min. long, each shot also 10 min. long

8. John Gilbert with 33 1/3 rpm record

9. Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer (1927)

11. Fox Movie-Tone System Fox interested in sound after WB's success –1927, adopted OPTICAL sound system (sound recorded on the film itself) –Developed by General Electric, still used today –Superior to Vitaphone system Always in synchronization Greater flexibility in editing –But required Western Electric amplifiers & speakers

12. Fox Movie-Tone advertisement

13. The Patents Pool Through 1927, other majors waited to see which system would succeed 1928, “patents pool” formed & resulted in a standard system: Fox's optical sound system & Western Electric equipment All of the majors committed to sound films using the system, w/ variety of brand names (usually based on the studios' names)

14. RCA & RKO RCA developed a superior optical sound system in 1928, RCA PHOTOPHONE Majors committed to patents pool system RCA created its own studio, RKO (RADIO-KEITH-ORPHEUM)

15. RCA Photophone

16. Problems & solutions 2 types of problems: TECHNICAL& PERSONNEL TECHNICAL –MICROPHONES Had to be hidden from view Mounted on mobile booms above actors

17. Problems & solutions –CAMERAS Electrically powered for smooth, consistent operation (vital to sound synchronization) Electric motors noisy, noise picked up by microphones 1st placed in sound-proof booths, & later surrounded by sound-proof, mobile blimps Finally, noiseless cameras developed

18. Problems & solutions PERSONNEL –Some veterans of silent era made transition to sound, many did not –Some actors had unpleasant voices, or voices that did not match their screen images, etc.

19. Problems & solutions PERSONNEL –Common assumption among executives that silent writers, directors, etc. did not know how to work with sound –New talent (especially actors & writers) from Broadway, brought stage conventions & theatrical ideas about “art”

20. The Marx Brothers

21. Mae West