This is an amazing find! The first song 'The Dumber I Like 'Em' was released as a 78rpm record. I never understood why sound quality was so bad. Acoustical recordings being released at the time were of a much higher sound quality. Now I know. Mystery solved!
And thank you for your suggestion. Saw the vid ... loved it! Also, thanks for posting Eddie Cantor, whom I consider to be the greatest entertainer of the 20th Century.
Thank you for your comment, solarvegan! I have updated my description thanks to your eagle eye. I enjoyed your favourites by the way, also, have you checked out Griffith's "Intolerance" set to "A Day In The Life" by the Beatles?
The dumber they are, the more that I like em, because the dumb ones know how to make love! LOL, thats awesome, Eddy Cantor was a funny funny dude! It's amazing how good this is and how Hollywood put off for so many years sound films! Just finding out about De Forest, I'm really happy there is a print of this still around, thank you for posting it.
Deforest patented his Phonofilm process in 1919. It borrowed and improved upon 2 earlier German systems. 2 things prevented DeForest from interesting Hollywood with his invention-First was his well known involvement in patent lawsuits(his battle with Armstrong over the regenerative circuit for radio was being waged at the time) and Second, the movie studios owned or controlled all the theatres back then and they saw no need to fix what wasn't broken- the movies were already making millions-
Thanks for this clip! I love Eddie Cantor, too, but as far as commercial success and popularity during his career (since that seems to be what you're discussing), no one will ever be able to touch Bing Crosby with a ten foot pole. :) It's true. But hey, I'm not going to try comparing a crooner and a belter right now... ;)
Eddie Cantor did have a very long entertainment career. On an episode of "The Colgate Comedy Hour", which he shared rotating hosting duties with Dean Martin And Jerry Lewis, and Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and other special guest hosts during the Summer months, Cantor stated that he started his songwriting career alongside Jimmy Durante, in 1907. He also was a recording star and Broadway star. Cantor had a hit Broadway musical when this experimental sound film clip was made. Eddie Cantor became a movie star in the late-1920s, and continued to star on films and Broadway until he was hired to work part-time (at his request) on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" on NBC. He continued to work on TV on specials until he retired around 1960.
Why? Because Lee DeForest had perfected his "sound-on-film" process by 1923, and was trying to sell it to the movie industry. Hence, these experimental films of prime vaudeville talent shot in New York, to elicit interest. But the movie studios weren't interested at the time..."Mr. Olsen" is obviously bandleader George Olsen.
Points well-taken, chas63 and voglesque. I should have said that Eddie Cantor is my favorite entrtainer of the 20th Century. That would have been the more proper wording for a subjective observation.
However, Cantor was a great man and a great entertainer no doubt. Please read Herb Goldman's extraordinary bio, "Banjo Eyes." A first rate bio. Before I get cut off by the Janet Gari (Cantor's daughter) let me say that Mr. Goldman's book is the definitive bio of Cantor, by far. They (the family) are pissed of at him for telling the truth of his affair with Joan Davis. Ugh! Little minds. Cantor deserves better. He was a true superstar and great humanitarian.
This was an experimental sound-on-film presentation by Lee DeForest's Phonofilm Company. Phonofilm made several experimental films, which were played in movie theaters in New York City. They were trying to get the movie studios to start making sound films using their cameras and equipment. They were not interested at the time. In 1927, Western Electric offered Warner Brothers Pictures to sell their sound-on-film equipment and supplies, and they accepted their offer. Other movie studios quickly followed suit after the success of "The Jazz Singer", which was a part sound/part silent film. Some of the Phonofilm short-subject films are available for viewing here on RUclips. I recommend watching the one starring Blues/Jazz bandleader and singer Noble Sissle and William Hubert "Eubie" Blake on piano.
Oh, wow! An ex-wife has something negative to say about her husband! Alert the media! Brilliant. "Jolson doesn't hold up..." I don't know upon what you base this. No one knows who Eddie Cantor was (unfortunately). Jolson is known. There was an off-Broadway show recently about Jolie, and an award winning documentary made in Germany on Jolson. Go back to sleep.
Wow. A sound film from 1923. And 85 years later I see it on my computer through a wireless connection.
Thanks for the post.
This is an amazing find! The first song 'The Dumber I Like 'Em' was released as a 78rpm record. I never understood why sound quality was so bad. Acoustical recordings being released at the time were of a much higher sound quality. Now I know. Mystery solved!
And thank you for your suggestion. Saw the vid ... loved it! Also, thanks for posting Eddie Cantor, whom I consider to be the greatest entertainer of the 20th Century.
I like this guy.
Thank you for your comment, solarvegan! I have updated my description thanks to your eagle eye. I enjoyed your favourites by the way, also, have you checked out Griffith's "Intolerance" set to "A Day In The Life" by the Beatles?
The dumber they are, the more that I like em, because the dumb ones know how to make love! LOL, thats awesome, Eddy Cantor was a funny funny dude! It's amazing how good this is and how Hollywood put off for so many years sound films! Just finding out about De Forest, I'm really happy there is a print of this still around, thank you for posting it.
This is very, very good stuff. Holds up flawlessly after nearly 90 years.
Deforest patented his Phonofilm process in 1919. It borrowed and improved upon 2 earlier German systems. 2 things prevented DeForest from interesting Hollywood with his invention-First was his well known involvement in patent lawsuits(his battle with Armstrong over the regenerative circuit for radio was being waged at the time) and Second, the movie studios owned or controlled all the theatres back then and they saw no need to fix what wasn't broken- the movies were already making millions-
If you haven't seen boardwalk empire yet, watch it. Stephen Derosa's portrayal of eddie cantor is uncanny.
Thanks for this clip!
I love Eddie Cantor, too, but as far as commercial success and popularity during his career (since that seems to be what you're discussing), no one will ever be able to touch Bing Crosby with a ten foot pole. :) It's true.
But hey, I'm not going to try comparing a crooner and a belter right now... ;)
Eddie Cantor did have a very long entertainment career. On an episode of "The Colgate Comedy Hour", which he shared rotating hosting duties with Dean Martin And Jerry Lewis, and Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, and other special guest hosts during the Summer months, Cantor stated that he started his songwriting career alongside Jimmy Durante, in 1907. He also was a recording star and Broadway star. Cantor had a hit Broadway musical when this experimental sound film clip was made. Eddie Cantor became a movie star in the late-1920s, and continued to star on films and Broadway until he was hired to work part-time (at his request) on "The Colgate Comedy Hour" on NBC. He continued to work on TV on specials until he retired around 1960.
Why? Because Lee DeForest had perfected his "sound-on-film" process by 1923, and was trying to sell it to the movie industry. Hence, these experimental films of prime vaudeville talent shot in New York, to elicit interest. But the movie studios weren't interested at the time..."Mr. Olsen" is obviously bandleader George Olsen.
Points well-taken, chas63 and voglesque. I should have said that Eddie Cantor is my favorite entrtainer of the 20th Century. That would have been the more proper wording for a subjective observation.
However, Cantor was a great man and a great entertainer no doubt. Please read Herb Goldman's extraordinary bio, "Banjo Eyes." A first rate bio.
Before I get cut off by the Janet Gari (Cantor's daughter) let me say that Mr. Goldman's book is the definitive bio of Cantor, by far. They (the family) are pissed of at him for telling the truth of his affair with Joan Davis. Ugh! Little minds.
Cantor deserves better. He was a true superstar and great humanitarian.
Can someone explain a talkie in 1923 when they begane 1927 or 28?
This was an experimental sound-on-film presentation by Lee DeForest's Phonofilm Company. Phonofilm made several experimental films, which were played in movie theaters in New York City. They were trying to get the movie studios to start making sound films using their cameras and equipment. They were not interested at the time. In 1927, Western Electric offered Warner Brothers Pictures to sell their sound-on-film equipment and supplies, and they accepted their offer. Other movie studios quickly followed suit after the success of "The Jazz Singer", which was a part sound/part silent film. Some of the Phonofilm short-subject films are available for viewing here on RUclips. I recommend watching the one starring Blues/Jazz bandleader and singer Noble Sissle and William Hubert "Eubie" Blake on piano.
He's hilarious.
Um... nobody got reviews and audience reaction of Al Jolson. Nobody. Not even close. His peers (including Cantor) all acknowledge Jolson was king.
1:14 he said 1927.
Oh, wow! An ex-wife has something negative to say about her husband! Alert the media! Brilliant.
"Jolson doesn't hold up..." I don't know upon what you base this. No one knows who Eddie Cantor was (unfortunately). Jolson is known. There was an off-Broadway show recently about Jolie, and an award winning documentary made in Germany on Jolson.
Go back to sleep.
Sorry to say his jokes are REALLY bad. Humor has come a long way.