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THE ANCESTRY OF SOUND RECORDING
H. G. Knox*
THE silent screen's first story dates back to 1903 to "The Great Train Robbery." Every succeeding year for a quarter of a century brought forth some new step, some progress in story or production or both. Three or four years ago most of the novel themes and treatments had been tried. The simple pictures had grown into productions costing millions of dollars. There seemed no end in sight. In that extremity any novelty had an appeal. Sound as an aid to pictures had always been in mind but in recorded form it had never been a success. The motion picture industry was puzzled and was in a receptive mood for treatment.
In certain southern states the witch doctor still exists. In his community the conjurer is a most influential person. Problems presented to him are endless, and range from bringing together two lovers to putting away an obnoxious person. Much of the conjuring is done with magic potions.
Take the horn of a toad, the fang of a snake, some graveyard dust, all mixed together with the blood of a dog. Make into a cake, burn the cake over a charcoal fire, wrap the ashes in red flannel and place under the houses of the victims. This is very strong medicine and immediate results are guaranteed.
Two or three years ago the motion picture industry visited the conjurers of the East. The electrical witch doctors made a brew — a strong one. It contained, among other ingredients, the horn of a radio, the needle of a phonograph and some studio dust. All of these elements were moistened with the tears of a producer and made into a record. The record was cremated in an electrical laboratory, the ashes wrapped in a film of celluloid and placed on the doorstep of the motion picture industry. The intent of the magic was merely to bring the two lovers, sound and silver screen together. As of historical interest it may be remarked that the parents of the silent screen almost suffered a nervous breakdown during the courting and early married days of the young couple.
In referring to the horn of a radio, the needle of a phonograph, one does not exaggerate because actually the "talkie" as we know it did not descend from the attempts of the early inventors to produce talking motion pictures; it came down through a number of
*V ice-President, Electrical Research Products, Inc.
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