The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-10-08

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ago New Workers journeying along
any Of the main arteries of the five
boroughs saw staring them from the
boardings huge posters trenchantly
shouting with all the strength and
power of large type that ''Vitaphone
would thrill the world!'
New Workers did not know what
Vitaphone was or meant maybe they
didn't care, but Ihey were willing to
be thrilled.
In the course of time, Vitaphone
was announced in connection with
John Barrymore in do Juan" at
the Warner Theater and the curious
New Workers went TO see this thing
which was going to do the thrilling.
In all justice to Vitaphone it must
be said that if it's first nights
audience entered the theater in
sceptical mood. It left it convinced
and enthusiastic.
Just how solid and substantial a
hit did Vitaphone score, that in the
eight weeks it has been the prel-
ude to John Barrymore in Don
Juan" there has never been a va.
cant seat at any of it's presentations
at the Warner Theater.
To the benighted ones, If there
are any such. who do not know what
Vitaphone is, it may be described as
the amazing invention which syn
chronizes motion and sound.
From the instant motion pictures
became a successful reality. men
have sought to couple them with
sound. Just how many inventive
minds were bent on securing this
end no one knows. Suffice It to say
that the failures were many and as
dire as numerous. The way the per.
lection Of the idea came about is
interesting.
Bothered by long distance tele-
phone problems. the American Tele.
phone and Telegraph Company
turned them over to the research en-.
gineers of the Bell Telephone
Laboratories for solution. In work.
ing over these problems the en-.
gineers came upon some acoustical
discoveries.
Following these findings came the
light that showed the way to the
solution of the problem of synchro-
nizing motion and sound. Then it
was found that the transmitting in.
strument and the moving picture
camera could be electrically geared
10 work from the same shaft and
the engineers knew that success was
within their grasp
Only those who have seen and
heard Vitaphone can really grasp
It's amazing features, Critics have
been unanimous in describing It as
uncanny.
one Of the numbers on the Vita
phone programs at the Warner The.
alter is furnished by the New York
Philharmonic Orch-5tra OF 107 men.
This large organization is shown on
the screen, Henry Hadley. its con-
ductor, raises his baton and the
strains OF the Overture from Tam
hauser fiaot out into the auditorium
with all the clarity and power that
would come II the orchestra was
there in the flesh. Where different
effects are sought by groups of in.
struments these. groups are shown,
and II is easy for one TO find that
the augmentation is perfect.
Anna Case and her limpid soprano
tones seem 20 come from her throat
as she stands in shadow upon the
screen. For Martinelli, who sings
an aria from "Pagliacci," there is
as much enthusiasm as If the tenor
was there in person. And the same
is to be said of Mischa Elme.n for
his mastery violin solo.
Vitaphone is the biggest develop
ment that has been made in the way
of entertainment that the theater
has known. Is possibilities are enor-
nous and they are not all confined
TO the theater. The possibilities in
the educational world alone are
many, and so they are in the world
of business.