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History of Cinema I
History of Cinema I: Class 14, Coming of Sound
History of Cinema I: Class 14, Coming of Sound
1 Early sound experiments
1.1 Edison and Dickson
1.2 problems
synchronization
phonographic record
projected film
amplification
acoustic amplification
pipe organ in theater
1.3 solutions
audion
Lee DeForest
based on incandescent library
vacuum triode
Western Electric
DeForest worked for Western Electric
subsidiary of of AT&T
developed a sound-on-disk system
better
amplification
fidelity
problems
synchronization
transportation
editing
developed public address system
condenser microphone
amplification system
used at 1920 Republican Convention in Chicago
2 Vitaphone
2.1 Warner Brothers
acquired First National studios
aided by Wadill Chaddings
founded radio station KFWB in Los Angeles
acquired Western Electric, sound-film patent, 1925
acquired Vitagraph Brooklyn studios
used sound on disk system
began producing shorts with vaudeville performers
2.2 Don Juan
John Barrymore
Mary Astor
first feature with synchronized soundtrack
score performed by New York Philharmonic
sound effects, especially of swordplay
preceded by a series of shorts
Will B. Hays Introduction to Vitaphone
New York Philharmonic - Overture to Tannhauser
Mischa Elman – Humoresque and Gavotte
Roy Smeck in His Pastimes
Marion Talley – Caro Nome
Efrem Zimbalist and Harold Bauer – Theme and Variations from The Kreutzer Sonata
Giovanni Martinelli – Vesti La Giubba
Anna Case – La Fiesta
largely considered a success
audience enjoyed the talent (NY Phil)
producers like the idea of transporting talent in canned form
2.3 Jazz Singer
capitalized on success of shorts from Don Juan program
Al Jolson
chosen over Eddie Cantor
biggest star of the vaudeville stage
used for early Vitaphone films, such as A Plantation Act
Samuel Rafelson
A Day of Atonement,
short story
Jakie Rabinowitz
January 1922
The Jazz Singer
Broadway play
September 1925
sold rights to Warner Brothers in 1926
3 Thallofide vacuum tube
3.1 Theodore Case
partnered with Lee DeForest, 1921–24
3.2 Earl Sponable
3.3 “light” recording for sound
3.4 variable density film stock
4 Phonofilm
4.1 sound on film system
4.2 solved synchronization problem
4.3 printed soundtrack parallel to image
5 Movietone
5.1 Fox acquired Case-Sponable patents for Phonofilm
5.2 acquired German Tri-Ergon optical film system
5.3 rebranded the process Movietone
5.4 Sunrise
6 RKO
6.1 merger
RCA
Film Booking Office
Keith-Orpheum theater chains
instant vertically integrated
6.2 Photophone
acquired Western Electric’s patents
sound on film
variable area soundtrack
became standard for sound film until Dolby Stereo (1950s)
7 Reorganization
7.1 Big Five
Paramount
20th Century Fox
Warner Brothers
MGM
RKO
7.2 Little Three
Columbia
Universal
United Artists