100 years ago today, the first feature movie with Vitaphone synchronised sound was released. A full description and history of the Vitaphone system will be given in the upcoming Autumn edition of our Rewind magazine, however such a milestone is worth celebrating on the day of the 100th anniversary.
Don Juan, which premiered at the Warners’ Theatre in New York City on August 6th, 1926, was actually a silent movie meaning there was no talking, singing or sound effects. However, unlike all other silent movies that had a live orchestra / band / performance to accompany the picture, Don Juan had synchronised sound – a music track that was recorded by the studio and played in sync with the picture.
This was accomplished with the Vitaphone system, where large 16″ diameter shellac record discs (calling them “vinyl” would be incorrect, as shellac was the material used, not vinyl) were played mechanically in sync using specialist projectors that had turntable bases fitted. The turntables turned at 33 1/3 rpm, a speed chosen so that the length of the 16″ discs would match the 10 minute runtime of the 1000ft spools of film used.
The Projected Picture Trust are lucky enough to have a couple of sound-on-disc systems (although not a Vitaphone branded one) in our extensive cinema technology collection, as well as at least one 16″ disc.
While Don Juan was not a “talkie” as it only had synchronised orchestral music, the presentation was preceeded by some shorts that also used the Vitaphone system, and these did have synchronised talking, singing and sound effects. However it was not until a year later that 1927’s The Jazz Singer that a full feature with talking and singing was created using Vitaphone, and this is often credited with starting the talkies era.
It should also be noted that Vitaphone was not the first synchronised sound format – there were a plethora of others before it, a few of which were covered in Dion’s article earlier this year in Rewind 190. However Vitaphone was the first commercially successful system, even though it only lasted a few years, quickly being overtaken by sound-on-film systems.
Don Juan, which premiered at the Warners’ Theatre in New York City on August 6th, 1926, was actually a silent movie meaning there was no talking, singing or sound effects. However, unlike all other silent movies that had a live orchestra / band / performance to accompany the picture, Don Juan had synchronised sound – a music track that was recorded by the studio and played in sync with the picture.
This was accomplished with the Vitaphone system, where large 16″ diameter shellac record discs (calling them “vinyl” would be incorrect, as shellac was the material used, not vinyl) were played mechanically in sync using specialist projectors that had turntable bases fitted. The turntables turned at 33 1/3 rpm, a speed chosen so that the length of the 16″ discs would match the 10 minute runtime of the 1000ft spools of film used.
The Projected Picture Trust are lucky enough to have a couple of sound-on-disc systems (although not a Vitaphone branded one) in our extensive cinema technology collection, as well as at least one 16″ disc.
While Don Juan was not a “talkie” as it only had synchronised orchestral music, the presentation was preceeded by some shorts that also used the Vitaphone system, and these did have synchronised talking, singing and sound effects. However it was not until a year later that 1927’s The Jazz Singer that a full feature with talking and singing was created using Vitaphone, and this is often credited with starting the talkies era.
It should also be noted that Vitaphone was not the first synchronised sound format – there were a plethora of others before it, a few of which were covered in Dion’s article earlier this year in Rewind 190. However Vitaphone was the first commercially successful system, even though it only lasted a few years, quickly being overtaken by sound-on-film systems.
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