Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1930)

Photoplay Magazine for March, 1930 How the Movies Learned to Talk [ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59 ] actually, but the compelling interest of the genius mind in pure science. Unfortunately for romance, it wasn't any one man who mastered the principles of amplification. Even the Bell people themselves don't know where one man's findings ended and the others began. They only know that gradually they got the answer. They put tie principle to work, first, in distance phone calling, across cities, across counties, across countries and finally across oceans. Then they evolved radio. Then they hooked that up to sending photographs by telephone. They started on refinements. They would take a speech and broadcast it either across a continent or merely across a room. When they finally had sound where they could either make it yell or whisper, as they wished, the Bell Laboratories washed their hands of it and turned to other discoveries. ' I HEY handed their sound discoveries out to -* the Western Electric Company to merchandise. That left the Big Three line-up of theirs thus: The Bell Telephone Laboratories, discoverers; the Western Electric Company, merchandisers; the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, the parent company of it all. That Big Three approached the movie magnates. They presented their proposition. The movie magnates laughed at them. They were much too secure to try anything new. There was one of the smaller movie companies that wasn't too secure. In fact, it was St. Louis, Mo. It is just three years since I lost my little girl. That seemed to be the end of the world for me. I just couldn't see any reason for continuing to live. Everything seemed so useless. What was the use of ambition, striving, if the dearest thing in one's life was snatched away. My husband did everything possible to comfort me and to conceal from me his own suffering, but I wouldn't be comforted. As time passed the ache dulled but very little. My mind was too preoccupied with death and sorrow. The talkies came to the fore then, and my husband, wishing to take my mind off my grief, insisted on taking me to see them. Almost from the start and much against my will, I became interested in them. I was astounded at the remarkable voices of my old favorite silent stars. Such pictures as "In Old Arizona" and "Broadway Melody" made of me a staunch supporter of the new entertainment. Little by little my brooding spells of heart-sickness left me, and I began to take a fresh interest in life. Now, after seeing "Rio Rita," I feel like telling the world that the talkies are the greatest form of entertainment known. Anna Kennedy D You re Sure of Smartness in ^ REGil.S.MT.OFF. Imported Deauville Sandals are unquestionably the shoe vogue for summer. The smartest women, including brilliant stage and screen stars, acclaim featherweight Deauvilles for their cool comfort and stunning style. New-season Deauvilles . . . hand-woven on American lasts with narrow-fitting heels... are styled in adorable weaves and the very newest colors. Widths AAA to C. Only the original, imported, woven sandals are stamped with this trademark on the sole.. ."Deauville Sandals". At the better shops and department stores. For names of dealers, write GOLO SLIPPER COMPANY, 129 Duane Street, New York. EAIVILLC IANDALI When you write to advertisers please mention PIIOTOPLAT MAGAZINE.