Sound motion pictures : from the laboratory to their presentation (1929)

24 SOUND MOTION PICTURES cal development of the variable density sound system, whereby recording is accomplished by photographing the sound on the film itself, may be attributed to the efforts of the Fox-Case Laboratories. In 1927 the Fox-Case Movietone became the trade name for the photographic recording producing system. Shortly afterward it was incorporated into the Western Electric sound system, in conjunction with their own Vitaphone development. From this point on, the Western Electric sound system was made available by photographic recording on film as well as on disk. The success of the apparatus was instantaneous, and has since led to a popular demand for synchronized sound screen entertainment. Again science has triumphed! It has given voice to the motion picture, which seemed destined, by its very success, to remain forever a voiceless medium of expression. Through the newly improved Western Electric system the synchronization of picture and sound was made possible, with a faithful reproduction of both and with the whole world as its stage. Even in an age of mechanical and artistic marvels the sound picture has made a notable debut. A public which watched the motor car, the airplane, the motion picture, and the radio develop from crudity to their present high achievement gave the sound picture a kindly reception. The faint rustle of leaves, the chirp of birds, tne distant bark of dogs, the beat of horses' hoofs, the whirr of the airplane aloft, the boom of the surf, the patter of rain, the echo of thunder, the crackle of burning wood — all the sounds of outdoors, which may not be conveniently recorded by the disk method, are heard with startling fidelity, clarity, and naturalness through the medium of Fox Movietone. In addition, every advantage of studio recording was also made available, so that now we can