History of Sound Motion Pictures by Edward W Kellogg First Installment

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

History of Sound Motion Pictures by Edward W Kellogg First Installment History of Sound Motion Pictures by Edward W Kellogg First Installment History of Sound Motion Pictures by Edward W Kellogg Our thanks to Tom Fine for finding and scanning the Kellogg paper, which we present here as a “searchable image”. John G. (Jay) McKnight, Chair AES Historical Committee 2003 Dec 04 Copyright © 1955 SMPTE. Reprinted from the Journal of the SMPTE, 1955 June, pp 291...302; July, pp 356...374; and August, pp 422...437. This material is posted here with permission of the SMPTE. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution must be obtained from the SMPTE. By choosing to view this document, you agree to all provisions of the copyright laws protecting it. FIRST INSTALLMENT History of Sound Motion Pictures By EDWARD W. KELLOGG Excellent accounts of the history of the development of sound motion pictures special construction, to provide maxi- have been published in this Journal by Theisen6 in 1941 and by Sponablee in 1947. mum volume and long playing, the The present paper restates some of the information given in those papers, supple- cylinder record was oversize, and the menting it with some hitherto unpublished material, and discusses some of the horn and diaphragm considerably larger important advances after 1930. than those of home phonographs. Be- One of the numerous omissions of topics which undeniably deserve discussion tween the reproducing stylus and the at length, is that, except for some early work, no attempt is made to cover develop- diaphragm was a mechanical power am- ments abroad. The subject of 16mm developments is discussed with a brevity plifier, apparently using the principle of altogether out-of-keeping with its importance. This has been on the theory that capstans used on shipboard. There was a basically the problems are similar to those of 35mm sound, and that whatever has continuously rotating amber cylinder brought improvement to one has been applied to both. and a hard rubber brake-shoe subtending Edison invented the motion pictures as a supplement to his phonograph, in about 130’ of arc. One end of the shoe the belief that sound plus a moving picture would provide better entertainment was connected to the reproducing stylus than sound alone. But in a short time the movies proved to be good enough enter- in such a manner that an upward dis- tainment without sound. It has been said that although the motion picture and placement of the stylus would increase the phonograph were intended to be partners, they grew up separately. And it the pressure between shoe and cylinder; might be added that the motion picture held the phonograph in such low esteem and the other end of the shoe was con- that for years it would not speak. Throughout the long history of efforts to add nected through a slender rod to the dia- sound, the success of the silent movie was the great obstacle to commercialization phragm, in such a way that the shoe of talking pictures. movement resulting from increased fric- tion would give an upward push on the diaphragm.” One may well imagine Early Sound Pictures Using blissements Gaumont” used the system that the adjustment of this device to give the Phonograph developed by Peterson and Poulsen. substantial gain without producing chat- The idea of combining recorded Laemmle. An attempt by Carl Laemmle tering must have tested the skill of the sound with the motion pictures is as old of Paramount in 1907 to exploit a best of operators. Nevertheless, it must as the motion picture itself33 (if we ex- combination of phonograph and motion have worked, for the record indicates clude the early “zoetrope” invented in picture is mentioned in Sponable’s that the Edison talking-picture show ran 1833 by W. G. In a paper, paper.6 This was a German development for several months in Keith’s Colonial “What Happened in the Beginning,” called “Synchroscope.” It was handi- Theatre in New York, with much ac- F. H. Richardson’ reproduced a letter in capped by the short time which the rec- claim, and was shown in other large which Thomas A. Edison quoted from ord would play, and after some appar- cities of America and in other countries. his early notes: “In the year 1887, the ently successful demonstrations, was The arrangement for synchronizing idea occurred to me that it would be pos- dropped for want of a supply of pictures was not in accordance with present prac- sible to devise an instrument which with sound to maintain programs in the tices. The phonograph behind the should do for the eye what the phono- theaters where it was tried.13 screen determined the speed, being con- graph does for the ear, and that by a nected through a string belt to a syn- combination of the two all motion and Pomerede, Amet, Bristol. Theisen’s chronizing device at the projector. The sound could be recorded and reproduced paper6 mentions combinations of phono- belt pulleys were about 3 in. in diameter. simultaneously.” The letter proceeds to graph and motion pictures using flexible The belt passed from the phonograph up tell of the development of the motion shafts or other mechanical connections, over idler pulleys and overhead, back tm picture (and is followed by letters from by Georges Pomerede2 (1907 patent), the booth. The synchronizing device Thomas Armat, George Eastman, C. and E. H. Amet“ (1912 to 1918) who applied a brake to the projector, and the Francis Jenkins and others, related to used electrical methods for the sound. brake-shoe pressure depended on the rel- motion-picture inventions). Edison in Wm. H. BristoP began his work on ative phase of phonograph and projec- 1895 tried on the public the combination synchronous sound about 1917. tor, increasing rapidly as the projector of a phonograph with his “peep show” Siren Type of Amplijier. An ingenious got ahead in phase. With an even force moving pi~ture.~,”He built at least 50 attempt to obtain amplification in re- (and probably more) of the combination production used the movements of the I machines. phonograph needle to vary the opening I of an air-valve, connected to a source of Gaumont. Leon Gaumont, in Fran~e,~ air pressure. This device was employed began as early as 1901 to work on com- for sound pictures by Oskar Messter5*’6 bining the phonograph and motion pic- (Germany 1903-4). In England, whereit ture. He worked on the project during was known as the “Auxetophone,” it had several widely separated intervals. Thei- some use for phonographs. Its invention sen6refers to a series of shows of the “Film is credited by the Encyclopedia Britan- Parlant” at the Gaumont Palace in nica to Short (1898), with improve- Paris in 1913 and to demonstrations in ments by the Hon. C. A. Parsons. the United States. After 1926 the “Eta- Edison. In 1913 Edison made a seri- Presented on May 5, 1954, at the Society’s ous effort to provide synchronized Convention at Washington, D.C., by Edward phonograph sound. The equipment is on W. Kellogg, Consulting Engineer, 276 Merion Ave., Haddonfield, N.J. exhibit at the Edison Museum in West Fig. 1. Mechanical power amplifier of (This paper was received on October 25, 1954.) Orange, N.J. The phonograph is of Thomas A. Edison and Daniel Higham. June 1955 Journal of the SMPTE Volume 64 291 (No Model J 3 Sheeta-Sheet I beam of modulated light, and uses a A. 0. & C. A. BELL & S. TAINTER. light-sensitive device (selenium cells) to TRANSMITTINO AND RECORDINO SOUNDS BY BADIANT ENEBBY. detect the received fluctuations, thus anticipating the essential principle of the 341.213. Patented Mav 4. 1886.- No. reproducing system which was used in many later experiments. Blake. Prof. E. W. Blake of Brown University in 1878 made photographic recordsof speech sounds on a moving pho- tographic plate, using a vibrating mirror. 6,18 FrittS. U.S. Patent No. 1,203,190, filed in 1880 by Charles E. FriLts,S,6 discloses photographic soundtracks and a great variety of devices for recording and reproducing, but there does not appear to be evidence of much significant ex- perimental work. Bell and Tainter. In the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., are a 0 number of large glass disks carrying spiral n sound tracks. These were made by a Liib. 2. \\ “..- method described in U.S. Patent No. 341,213 (filed 1885) to Alexander Gra- ie 2rcr Sensitized ham Bell, Chichester A. Bell and Sumner 11 / Disk (in Box) Tainter. Light from a steady source was transmitted in a relatively narrow beam through a piece of stationary glass, and then further restricted by a slit where it reached the circular photographic plate. Just above the place where the light entered the stationary glass, a tiny jet of ink (or other light-absorbing liquid) was directed against the surface. The nozzle was attached to a “sounding board” (small plate) which picked up the sound vibrations. The jiggles of the nozzle caused waves in the stream of ink which flowed down over the surface, and these modulated the transmitted light. Fig. 2. Variable density recording system of A. G. Bell, C. A. Bell and Sumner Some years ago it became desirable, in Tainter, 1886. connection with a patent suit, to demon- strate that the spiral track was really a soundtrack. Contact prints (on celluloid on the projector crank, normal phase tation toward photographic recording, films) were made of several of the most relation was maintained.
Recommended publications
  • P.C. Lauinger; Mary W
    GEORGETOWN Newsletter 23 August 1988 621b;;;; AsSOcldtes GEORGETOWN UNIVERSI1Y LIBRARY 37TH & 0 STREETS, NW WASHINGTON , D. C. 20057 P. C. Lauinger - the Passing of a Friend The Artist HimlHer Self It is with genuine sadness that we report the The late James Elder, rare book librarian at the death on February 20, 1988 of Mr. P. C. Law Library of the Library of Congress, system­ Lauinger, one of the library's staunchest sup­ atically collected fine art, principally prints and porters and a true gentleman in the best sense of drawings, for more than thirty years. He left a that word. P.c., as he was universally known, collection of more than 1,000 pieces at his death graduated from the College in 1922, and in 1981. Towards the end of his collecting career throughout his lifetime maintained a special he began to specialize in artists' self-portraits. affection for and dedication to his alma mater. His limited means dictated further specialization He served on the Board of Regents, the Univer­ on the work of living artists and on 20th century sity President's Council under Father Edward American and British printmakers. The library Bunn, S.J., and was appointed in 1968 one of has recently acquired, along with 58 other the first laymen to serve on the University's works, the 392 self-portraits comprising virtually Board of Directors. the entirety of Elder's collection in this field. In 1956 Mr. Lauinger was awarded the John Carroll Award, which the Alumni Association confers annually upon a distinguished alumnus/a in recognition of lifetime achievement and out­ standing service to Georgetown Univeristy.
    [Show full text]
  • The Human Voice and the Silent Cinema. PUB DATE Apr 75 NOTE 23P.; Paper Presented at the Society Tor Cinema Studies Conference (New York City, April 1975)
    i t i DOCUMENT RESUME ED 105 527 CS 501 036 AUTHOR Berg, Charles M. TITLE The Human Voice and the Silent Cinema. PUB DATE Apr 75 NOTE 23p.; Paper presented at the Society tor Cinema Studies Conference (New York City, April 1975) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.76 HC-$1.58 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS *Audiovisual Communication; Communication (Thought Transfer); *Films; *Film Study; Higher Education; *History; *Sound Films; Visual Literacy ABSTRACT This paper traces the history of motion pictures from Thomas Edison's vision in 1887 of an instrument that recorded body movements to the development cf synchronized sound-motion films in the late 1920s. The first synchronized sound film was made and demonstrated by W. K. L. Dickson, an assistant to Edison, in 1889. The popular acceptance of silent films and their contents is traced. through the development of film narrative and the use of music in the early 1900s. The silent era is labeled as a consequence of technological and economic chance and this chance is made to account for the accelerated development of the medium's visual communicative capacities. The thirty year time lapse between the development of film and the -e of live human voices can therefore be regarded as the critical stimuli which pushed the motion picture into becoming an essentially visual medium in which the audial channel is subordinate to and supportive of the visual channel. The time lapse also aided the motion picture to become a medium of artistic potential and significance. (RB) U SOEPARTME NT OF HEALTH. COUCATION I. WELFARE e NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF 4 EOUCATION D, - 1'HA.
    [Show full text]
  • A Timeless Introduction in MOTION PICTURE SOUND RECORDING
    File: Dyetrack.pm6 a b Motion Picture DYE TRACKS Application A Timeless Introduction in MOTION PICTURE SOUND RECORDING. By Jean Burtin THE SUMMARY IN BRIEF. ound is a 360-degree experience and whether we are attending a Sconcert hall or a motion picture theatre, the full emotional impact of the presentation is the result of a wide variety of sonic vibrations that arrive from every direction. We are now entering the Third Age of reproduced sound. The monophonic era was the first, which lasted from Edison’s invention of the phonograph in 1877 until the 1950s. During that time the goal was simply to reproduce the timbre of the original sound. No attempts were made to reproduce directional properties or spatial realism. Based on inventions from the 1930s, reaching the public in the mid ‘50s, the stereo era was the Second Age. This stereo sound added two dimensions of Jean Burtin space and has provided great listening pleasure for four decades. The Application manager introduction of digital multi-channel surround systems was the beginning Motion Picture Products of the Third Age, offering the public the opportunity to almost “feel” the Tel. (+ 32 ) (0)3 444 8054 sound. Fax. (+32) (0)3 444 8052 [email protected] These surround systems can provide this involving presence in a way that is robust, reliable and consistent. The only constant INSIDE... throughout the complete history of recorded sound, is the physical - Sound recording 4 way by which the analogue soundtrack is recorded on the filmmedium - The analogue track 6 itself. Up to now silver containing soundtracks are used to produce - Cross-modulation 8 - Quality 12 the necessary density for the reproduction equipment.
    [Show full text]
  • TEXAS Library JOURNAL
    TexasLibraryJournal VOLUME 88, NUMBER 1 • SPRING 2012 INCLUDES THE BUYERS GUIDE to TLA 2012 Exhibitors TLA MOBILE APP Also in this issue: Conference Overview, D-I-Y Remodeling, and Branding Your Professional Image new from texas Welcome to Utopia Notes from a Small Town By Karen Valby Last Launch Originally published by Spiegel Discovery, Endeavour, Atlantis and Grau and now available in By Dan Winters paperback with a new afterword Powerfully evoking the and reading group guide, this unquenchable American spirit highly acclaimed book takes us of exploration, award-winning into the richly complex life of a photographer Dan Winters small Texas town. chronicles the $15.00 paperback final launches of Discovery, Endeavour, and Atlantis in this stunning photographic tribute to America’s space Displaced Life in the Katrina Diaspora shuttle program. Edited by Lynn Weber and Lori Peek 85 color photos This moving ethnographic ac- $50.00 hardcover count of Hurricane Katrina sur- vivors rebuilding their lives away from the Gulf Coast inaugurates The Katrina Bookshelf, a new series of books that will probe the long-term consequences of Inequity in the Friedrichsburg America’s worst disaster. A Novel The Katrina Bookshelf, Kai Technopolis By Friedrich Armand Strubberg Race, Class, Gender, and the Digital Erikson, Series Editor Translated, annotated, and $24.95 paperback Divide in Austin illustrated by James C. Kearney $55.00 hardcover Edited by Joseph Straubhaar, First published in Jeremiah Germany in 1867, Spence, this fascinating Zeynep autobiographical Tufekci, and novel of German Iranians in Texas Roberta G. immigrants on Migration, Politics, and Ethnic Identity Lentz the antebellum By Mohsen M.
    [Show full text]
  • Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German Films from the Weimar Period (1919-1933) Kester, Bernadette
    www.ssoar.info Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German Films from the Weimar Period (1919-1933) Kester, Bernadette Veröffentlichungsversion / Published Version Monographie / monograph Zur Verfügung gestellt in Kooperation mit / provided in cooperation with: OAPEN (Open Access Publishing in European Networks) Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Kester, B. (2002). Film Front Weimar: Representations of the First World War in German Films from the Weimar Period (1919-1933). (Film Culture in Transition). Amsterdam: Amsterdam Univ. Press. https://nbn-resolving.org/ urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-317059 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer CC BY-NC-ND Lizenz This document is made available under a CC BY-NC-ND Licence (Namensnennung-Nicht-kommerziell-Keine Bearbeitung) zur (Attribution-Non Comercial-NoDerivatives). For more Information Verfügung gestellt. Nähere Auskünfte zu den CC-Lizenzen finden see: Sie hier: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.de * pb ‘Film Front Weimar’ 30-10-2002 14:10 Pagina 1 The Weimar Republic is widely regarded as a pre- cursor to the Nazi era and as a period in which jazz, achitecture and expressionist films all contributed to FILM FRONT WEIMAR BERNADETTE KESTER a cultural flourishing. The so-called Golden Twenties FFILMILM FILM however was also a decade in which Germany had to deal with the aftermath of the First World War. Film CULTURE CULTURE Front Weimar shows how Germany tried to reconcile IN TRANSITION IN TRANSITION the horrendous experiences of the war through the war films made between 1919 and 1933.
    [Show full text]
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Recent Work
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Recent Work Title TESTING TECHNIQUES USED IN THE QUALITY SELECTION OF RCA 6810 MULTIPLIER PHOTOTUBES Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5jv0v3kb Author Kirsten, Frederick A. Publication Date 1956-10-16 eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ' TWO-WEEK LOAN COPY This is a Library Circulating Copy which may be borrowed for two weeks. For a personal retention copy, call Tech. Info. Diuision, Ext. 5545 BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA DISCLAIMER This document was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. While this document is believed to contain correct information, neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor the Regents of the University of California, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by its trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or the Regents of the University of California. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof or the Regents of the University of California. · UCRL- 3430(rev.) Engineering Distribution UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Radiation Laboratory Berkeley,. California Contract No. W -7405-eng-48 • •·l TESTING TECHNIQUES USED IN THE QUALITY SELECTION OF RCA 6810 MULTIPLIER PHOTOTUBES .
    [Show full text]
  • The Arrival of the First Film Sound Systems in Spain (1895-1929)
    Journal of Sound, Silence, Image and Technology 27 Issue 1 | December 2018 | 27-41 ISSN 2604-451X The arrival of the first film sound systems in Spain (1895-1929) Lidia López Gómez Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona [email protected] Date received: 10-01-2018 Date of acceptance: 31-03-2018 PALABRAS CLAVE: CINE MUDO | SONIDO | RecepcIÓN | KINETÓFONO | CHRONOPHONE | PHONOFILM KEY WORDS: SILENT FILM | SOUND | RecepTION | KINETOPHONE | CHRONOPHONE | PHONOFILM Journal of Sound, Silence, Image and Technology | Issue 1 | December 2018. 28 The arrival of the first film sound systems in spain (1895-1929) ABSTracT During the final decade of the 19th century, inventors such as Thomas A. Edison and the Lumière brothers worked assiduously to find a way to preserve and reproduce sound and images. The numerous inventions conceived in this period such as the Kinetophone, the Vitascope and the Cinematograph are testament to this and are nowadays consid- ered the forerunners of cinema. Most of these new technologies were presented at public screenings which generated a high level of interest. They attracted people from all social classes, who packed out the halls, theatres and hotels where they were held. This paper presents a review of the newspa- per and magazine articles published in Spain at the turn of the century in order to study the social reception of the first film equip- ment in the country, as well as to understand the role of music in relation to the images at these events and how the first film systems dealt with sound. Journal of Sound, Silence, Image and Technology | Issue 1 | December 2018.
    [Show full text]
  • Loudspeakers and Headphones 21 –24 August 2013 Helsinki, Finland
    CONFERENCE REPORT AES 51 st International Conference Loudspeakers and Headphones 21 –24 August 2013 Helsinki, Finland CONFERENCE REPORT elsinki, Finland is known for having two sea - An unexpectedly large turnout of 130 people almost sons: August and winter (adapted from Con - overwhelmed the organizers as over 75% of them Hnolly). However, despite some torrential rain in registered around the time of the “early bird” cut-off the previous week, the weather during the conference date. Twenty countries were represented with most of was excellent. The conference was held at the Helsinki the participants coming from Europe, but some came Congress Paasitorni, which was built in the first from as far away as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Lima, decades of the twentieth century. The recently restored Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, and Guangzhou. Companies building is made of granite that was dug from the such Apple, Beats, Comsol, Bose, Genelec, Harman, ground where the building now stands. The location KEF, Neumann, Nokia, Samsung, Sennheiser, Skype, near the city center and right by the harbor proved to and Sony were represented by their employees. be an excellent location both for transportation and Universities represented included Aalto (in Helsinki), the social program. Aalborg, Budapest, and Kyushu. 790 J. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol. 61, No. 10, 2013 October CONFERENCE REPORT A packed House of Science and Letters for the Tutorial Day Sponsors Juha Backmann insists that “Reproduced audio WILL be better in the future.” J. Audio Eng. Soc., Vol. 61, No. 10, 2013 October 791 CONFERENCE REPORT low-frequency performance can still be designed using Thiele- Small parameters in a simulation, and the effect of individual parameters (such as voice coil length and pole piece size) on the system performance can be seen directly.
    [Show full text]
  • Iii. Modern Electronic Techniques Applied to Physics and Engineering
    _~__~~n~~____ I_~__ III. MODERN ELECTRONIC TECHNIQUES APPLIED TO PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING A. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A MICROWAVE ACCELERATOR Staff: Professor J. C. Slater Professor A. F. Kip Dr. W. H. Bostick R. J. Debs P. T. Demos M. Labitt L. Maier S. J. Mason I. Polk J. R. Terrall Since the last progress report, primary emphasis has been on con- struction of additional lengths of accelerating cavity and the associated equipment necessary for operation. Primary design work has been finished on all components necessary for operation of the accelerator and most com- ponents are in the process of being assembled. The following items include recent developments and design details which have not been mentioned earlier. Delivery on the 2-Mev Van de Graaff machine is expected at an early date. A pulsing circuit to modulate the electron beam from the Van de Graaff machine has been designed and built. Since this circuit is to be placed in the dome of the machine at high pres- sure, all component parts have been subjected to 400 lb/in2 pressure to ensure that they have the necessary strength. Machining work on the one-foot accelerator sections is essentially completed. Assembly and brazing of the parts are now in progress. The final design for the 20-foot accelerator tube has been slightly modified in that it has been divided into three sections which are isolated from each other rf-wise by short drift tubes which act as waveguides beyond cut-off. The primary purpose of this procedure is to allow for tuning each section to optimum frequency independently.
    [Show full text]
  • Voip V2 Loudspeaker Amplifier (Wireless) Operations Guide
    VoIP V2 Loudspeaker Amplifier (Wireless) Operations Guide Part #011096 Document Part #930361E for Firmware Version 6.0.0 CyberData Corporation 3 Justin Court Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 373-2601 VoIP V2 Paging Amplifier Operations Guide 930361E Part # 011096 COPYRIGHT NOTICE: © 2011, CyberData Corporation, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This manual and related materials are the copyrighted property of CyberData Corporation. No part of this manual or related materials may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means (except for internal use by licensed customers), without prior express written permission of CyberData Corporation. This manual, and the products, software, firmware, and/or hardware described in this manual are the property of CyberData Corporation, provided under the terms of an agreement between CyberData Corporation and recipient of this manual, and their use is subject to that agreement and its terms. DISCLAIMER: Except as expressly and specifically stated in a written agreement executed by CyberData Corporation, CyberData Corporation makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, including any warranty or merchantability or fitness for any purpose, with respect to this manual or the products, software, firmware, and/or hardware described herein, and CyberData Corporation assumes no liability for damages or claims resulting from any use of this manual or such products, software, firmware, and/or hardware. CyberData Corporation reserves the right to make changes, without notice, to this manual and to any such product, software, firmware, and/or hardware. OPEN SOURCE STATEMENT: Certain software components included in CyberData products are subject to the GNU General Public License (GPL) and Lesser GNU General Public License (LGPL) “open source” or “free software” licenses.
    [Show full text]
  • “Canned History”: American Newsreels and The
    “Canned History”: American Newsreels and the Commodification of Reality, 1927-1945 By Joseph E.J. Clark B.A., University of British Columbia, 1999 M.A., University of British Columbia, 2001 M.A., Brown University, 2004 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of American Civilization at Brown University Providence, Rhode Island May, 2011 © Copyright 2010, by Joseph E.J. Clark This dissertation by Joseph E.J. Clark is accepted in its present form by the Department of American Civilization as satisfying the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Date:____________ _________________________________ Professor Susan Smulyan, Co-director Date:____________ _________________________________ Professor Philip Rosen, Co-director Recommended to the Graduate Council Date:____________ _________________________________ Professor Lynne Joyrich, Reader Approved by the Graduate Council Date:____________ _________________________________ Dean Peter Weber, Dean of the Graduate School iii Curriculum Vitae Joseph E.J. Clark Date of Birth: July 30, 1975 Place of Birth: Beverley, United Kingdom Education: Ph.D. American Civilization, Brown University, 2011 Master of Arts, American Civilization, Brown University, 2004 Master of Arts, History, University of British Columbia, 2001 Bachelor of Arts, University of British Columbia, 1999 Teaching Experience: Sessional Instructor, Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, Simon Fraser University, Spring 2010 Sessional Instructor, Department of History, Simon Fraser University, Fall 2008 Sessional Instructor, Department of Theatre, Film, and Creative Writing, University of British Columbia, Spring 2008 Teaching Fellow, Department of American Civilization, Brown University, 2006 Teaching Assistant, Brown University, 2003-2004 Publications: “Double Vision: World War II, Racial Uplift, and the All-American Newsreel’s Pedagogical Address,” in Charles Acland and Haidee Wasson, eds.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsreel Association of Great Britain and Ireland
    THE NEWSREEL ASSOCIATION OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND Jeff Hulbert This article is about the British newsreels’ trade body the Newsreel Association of Great Britain and Ireland (NRA). It is not a definitive study, but rather seeks to provide a taste of the treasures that are contained within the Association’s bound minute books, now held in the British Film Institute’s Special Collections department. The minutes are the best record that is left to posterity by an organisation now long gone. It was active as an industry watchdog, protector, promoter and occasional referee for over twenty years and there is much to be learned about the newsreels and the people who played an active role in the business of bringing newsfilm to the cinema screen. At some time between its creation and dissolution all of the correspondence files — that would probably have included many gems as well as the routine stuff of business — disappeared, probably consigned to the dustbin. There were plenty of opportunities for this to happen as the Minutes record several changes of address for the NRA secretariat. The minute books thus provide a record of the way the industry operated — rather than how the companies themselves functioned. An important point to bear in mind is that the minutes themselves only show the business items that reached the NRA council for decision. Other issues would have been decided without reference to it. In this respect the NRA was no different to any other business. This study is not a review of historical events, but rather is about issues as the NRA minutes recorded them.
    [Show full text]