Now we're talkin!

Are you ready for a new lesson on Motion Picture History boys and girls? Can you say "talky"?

And so it goes ....the silent movie had reached its hey day by the late 1920s only to be replaced by the "talkies" (a.k.a. sound films). The first movie to be sinchronized with sound was in 1926. According to Wikipedia :

Don Juan (1926) is a Warner Brothers film, directed by Alan Crosland. It was the first feature-length film with synchronized Vitaphone sound effects and musical soundtrack, though it has no spoken dialogue. The production, which premiered in New York City on August 6, 1926, stars John Barrymore as the hand-kissing womanizer (the number of kisses in the film set a record).

The first feature length movie to synchronize dialogue and thus presented as the first "talky" was in fact The Jazz Singer
According to this website about Talking Motion Pictures:

"The Jazz Singer" triggered the talking-picture revolution. Based on Alfred Cohn's story "The Day of Atonement," and Samson Raphaelson's popular Broadway play of the same name, the film starred Al Jolson as a Jewish boy who attempts to become a Broadway star. Even though "The Jazz Singer" was not the first film to use sound, it proved to be the first one to use spoken dialogue as part of the dramatic action. The combination of Jolson, America's most popular singer, and the new medium of sound helped to produce a profit of $3.5 million, causing Warner Bros. to begin its rule as one of Hollywood's top studios. When Warners Bros follow-up sound films, such as "The Lights of New York" also became box-office hits, the rest of Hollywood switched to sound with startling speed, hoping to adapt to the new technology. A year after its release, Hollywood recognized the importance of "The Jazz Singer" with regard to motion picture history by honoring the film with a special Academy Award.

The following clips are from the original movie The Jazz Singer






On that note we will end this lesson. Next blog will pick up with a brief history of the Academy Awards as it coincides with the advent of the talkies.

Lets begin at the beginning: Silent Movies

Personally, I am having a difficult time committing to a costume because there are so many possibilities with this theme. And so my next few posts will be an exploration of the different eras of film. I am hoping that by taking a look back through the history of film that something will jump out at me and help me to decide on a costume. Perhaps it will trigger something for you too.

Alright so this years theme is Old Movies. How old is old you ask? Well there are the silent movies made famous by the likes of Charlie Chaplin , Buster Keaton , Gloria Swanson . Norma Shearer and Lillian Gish . The following is a list of the 14 top grossing silent films (according to Variety Magazine in 1932):

1. The Birth of a Nation (1915) - $10,000,000
2. The Big Parade (1925) - $6,400,000
3. Ben-Hur (1925) - $5,500,000
4. Way Down East (1920) - $5,000,000
5. The Gold Rush (1925) - $4,250,000
6. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) - $4,000,000
7. The Circus (1928) - $3,800,000
8. The Covered Wagon (1923) - $3,800,000
9. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) - $3,500,000
10. The Ten Commandments (1923) - $3,400,000
11. Orphans of the Storm (1921) - $3,000,000
12. For Heaven's Sake (1926) - $2,600,000
13. Seventh Heaven (1926) - $2,400,000
14. Abie's Irish Rose (1928) - $1,500,000

Of course nothing lasts forever and it was inevitable that technology would have to butt in and ruin it for the silent films. Thus the Sound film (aka the talkie) was introduced. The first feature length movie originally presented as a talkie was The Jazz Singer, released in October 1927.

So I leave you with some silent movie videos:

1. Birth of a Nation Trailer

2. Charlie Chaplin: Table Ballet
seems to me Johnny Depp copied this scene in Benny and Joon



3. Buster Keaton: Steamboat Bill Jr.



4. Gloria Swanson: Queen Kelly

Here is a really great website, if you are looking for great pictures, movie clips and history on everything and everyone to do with silent films. Just click on image of Jean Harlow below:

Next time we will look at the beginning of the "Talkies"

Get your party on

OK , I know some of you are probably saying "What!? Halloween, its only August"! This is the thing I spend the whole year thinking about Halloween. It starts at the previous years Halloween party. At some point in the evening I start asking party goers what they think next years theme should be and a whole conversation ensues. And so every day becomes an opportunity to think about Halloween. Now the clincher comes in the spring when I start talking it up to Bill. It is not until the farmer Bill starts cultivating a pumpkin patch that I really know I need to get serious and come up with a theme, and start talking it up with all of you. I like to start the buzz early to keep you invested in the festivities. You know what they say, out of sight out of mind! It helps to have a good showing and I have noticed that the more I talk about it the better the attendance is. Cause lets face it, it would be really lonely if no one showed up.

Since I have discovered blogging, I decided that this will be a great way to keep you all involved, make the party more interactive and make it last longer. To get the ball rolling I will use this the first CASTLE MEADOW ESTATE HALLOWEEN BLOG as the unveiling of the 2008 Party Theme. Drum roll please...................................................

This years theme is:

OLD MOVIES

We encourage you to take liberties with this theme. Im always amazed and greatful to see the varying interpretations on a theme as reflected in the costumes of our guests. As always the party will be the Saturday before Halloween which lands on October 25, 2008.

This years party will be the best yet, I can feel it! As always there will be prizes for best costumes (as chosen by a democratic vote of party guests). The famous contest, combination scavenger hunt, trivia, and something really special this year will (of course) take place. HINT: Think in terms of the theme in preparation.

I am excited to have my dear friend Carla as co-host this year and know that she will bring a great deal to the making of this event as she is as much (if not more) of a Halloween fanatic as me. Thats Carla at left in witches tea at high noon attire.



I hope that I have given you food for thought and would really love to hear your feedback, just click on the comments tab below right. You can also subscribe to this blog using the link below.


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