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228 SOUND MOTION PICTURES
procedure of showing short subjects only. Yet even though those who controlled the industry at that time virtually had a monopoly because of their patented holdings, this conservative pessimism did not stop the march of progress. When it was found that the motion picture was capable of greater expression the public demand and the vision of progressive forces commanded the development of the films, until they constituted the most popular diversion of the whole world. This evolution trained for the industry a talented group of directors, players, writers, and studio technicians. An amazing period of enterprise and achievement refined the possibilities of the photoplay to the point where it revolutionized all known standards of entertainment. Just as in those days, the industry is now going through an era of improving a new art, perfecting its apparatus, developing its technique, and nurturing a greater medium of expression. Silent motion pictures in themselves have limitations; pantomime at its best, for instance, has not been able to express itself adequately without the use of subtitles.
This brings up the question, Has the silent drama really been silent ? From the time movies first flickered they have been accompanied by music — in some instances rather poor music. Now, for the first time, the producer is able to control the sound that accompanies the presentation and is free of the fear that his product may be exhibited to the weird "music" of some local performer.
How inadequate, above all, must be any attempt to interpret the true quality of the life about us without sound ! Now that characters can sing or talk, it is surely insufficient that they continue to remain silent. Sound and voice have lifted the motion picture from pantomime to the heights of new power. In spite of the fact that the silent screen has registered tremendous progress, its ability to talk has brought to it greater opportunity for growth. As