Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-08
THEATER FOR DEAF
URGED IN ESSAY
GaIIaudet Student Wins
Prize on Theme of
"TaIkie" Handicap.

The disappearance of the silent film
has deprived great numbers OF deal
people of their principal source OF en-
tcrtainment, according 10 pre- vii,
ming essay, Silent TalkleS, by Emu
Iadner. ir.. a member of the prepare
tory class at Gallaudet College.
Mr.. Iadner, VINO won the DlStrlct OF
Columbia prize in a contest sponsored
by the Atlantic Monthly Magazine, sug-
cests that at least one theater in each
large community show silent MINIS lot
the convenience Of deaf patrons.
THE writer deplores the fact that
sDeech seems TO have replaced acton
on the modern screen. but finds comlort
in the more easily understood neWsFeel'
trayeIog or prizefght and wrestling pic
lures.
Text of Essay.
The essay follows:
The disappearance OF the Sllent MN
has been a calamity to the deaf. Here
tofore much of our entertainment, ana
much of our learning has ben derived
from the silent screen but now that
the "talkies" have taken the place OF
tho silent film. what are We 10 40;
While it is true that the "talKleS are
a great deal more satisfactory 70 the
hearing people 50 they say, sun one
can easily see that it is likewise true
that the "talkies" are source OF great
regret to the deaf in general. however,
as the number of hearing people IS lat
greater than the number OF deat peop!e,
II is evident that the "talKleS nave
come to stay. as the majority must RUE
even when it comes to such Things as
movies" We deaf do not go 10 lIle
"talkies' for several reasons.
we cannot hear the conversations:
nor the singing, nor read the Ups Oh
the actors easily. The plot is not Clear
If We disregard the talking par, any
the action on the screen has olmlhlsheu
as the talking has increased:
To attempt to read the players ApS
Is extremely difficult, as they often talk
too fast. or do not move their lps All
the time they are talking. or are sup
posed to be. Also, what IS the use OF
going to the theaters TO see coioLeu
entertainers crack Jokes nap tha me No
and players sing, when all the tlhie
We cannot tell the difference between
THE Star Spangled Banner and an
Amos and Andy joke? ..s..,
II is discouraging 10 see the beautiful
heroine throw herself into the arms OF
the handsome gentleman Wnlle We 90
not know # he is her lover. her nus
band. father or lust the VlI4ain. we
see groups Of people talking an at ire
same time. as if we could read two per-
sons; Inns at once. The actors turn
their backs to us, say something Wnlch
causes a Juror in the audience, ana we
do not know If they say they nave
found the long-lost son or heard the
report of pistol. We see the pur9IaI
stealthily enter room IN the oarh anu
encounter the heroine.
He usually says some thing when, 10
our imagination, is a command to throw
I'D her hands. and in turn he elopeS
with her The action of some players
Is nothing spectacular nor OF the pest
Compare the late immortal Lon Chaney
TO some of the present actors and you
viii notice the vast difference. Some
actors look as natural as blank wall
and some actresses emote like pretty
doll So far the best actors that we
deaf can fully understand are couple
Of umciyilized Indians conversmg IN
their sign language, which is much IKE
our own system.
Action Speaks Loudest.
To us their gestures were more IN
tclligent than the facial contorConS anc
gestures of most of the great move
stars. Actions. not words. speak louder
especially 10 the deaf. Even the I'M
portant news reels are mystery TO Us
unless interpreted on the screen. Ho"
do we know if the person on the screen
is King of Jugoslavia. Emperor OF Elmo
phia. or Just a flagpOle sitter? Wha'
has the person done to be worthy OF
mention? Although We can get tht
news from the papers. still neWsreei
is a great deal more interesting anc
vivid than the same news in the papers
The only real news with any real under'
standing TO us is a boxing or wrestling
match for there is at least plenty o.
action to suit US.
Sometimes some of us who can hear
little better than the majority o.
deaf people can catch or TO what Il
being said on the screen il we sit ur
close in front of the screen, but ther
it is hard on the eyes and we deal
live bv our eyes. Thus, since the
'talkies' are here, have been, and vii
be. what shall we deaf do to substitute
for them? Miniature golf is out o.
the question, as none OF us wish u
knock a little white pill in and Out
of sewer pipes and around lot OF junk
Social gatherings, auto trips and read
ing books are some things We may
spend our time with Perhaps. in time
an invention will be perfected that vii
enable the deaf to hear the "talkieS,'
or an Invention which will throw the
words spoken directly under the screen
as we'll as being spoken at the same
time
A few theaters have earphones for the
, hard Of hearing, but to most OF US
these are useless. The real solution,
believe, is to have a silent theatre If
every city where there are large
number of deaf people Showing the
best films in silent versions, the theatel
would draw not only the deaf, but some
hearing people. The hearing may ever
tire of the "talkies' but this is doubt
full as long as they are being perfected
all the time.
How thankful We deaf are that
Rear Admiral Byrds picture Of TIN
South Pole was silent talkie' anc
NAV he visit few more poles every
now and then so we deaf may have {
silent talkie.'
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