Juan Monroy — 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