The Washington times., 1937-10-15
BY ED SULLIVAN
Behind the Scenes

Hollywood Oct 49,
IF AN MGM director the sound Eskimo building
an goo he calls Douglas 3Syeaod genius Of the Metro
sound tracks library of Shearers department there
sound effects film put in protector
that footage continuously for Is days mite and day
Crs kitchen noises effects earthquakes crowd cheers
punches ~ the cocktail shakers,
gun Shots police whistles collision noisestheres nothing can
that he can't supply He give you the noise
South Sea native wrapping fish in palm leaf or
made by whale it spous column Of water into
the
NOT THAT sHEARER his waits for orders Of
of the ITS his department is in charge
the effects library The brother Of Norma Shearer,
likely than not will be in the laboratory invenng new
gadget that will excite the huzzas Of Western Electric
Lacking education seaugh Shearer Of the great
creative minds of electrical engineering applies to moving
pictures He has invented electric filters ne has invented horS
invented optical printers and he probably
knows about sound than man in the industry
TALL BEsPEcTAcUED with face that is reminiscent OF
Roosevelt hearer showed through his empire OF
sound yesterday Explained how sound filmed RADIO
engineers the air." he
planned o job different We have to Photograph the sound
on film that six months or year later heas all over the
world can reproduce what we are doing at TINS very 30
projected the markings the film the
sound to life again There are o Gu b To Dc a
the reeberaons shot blew out the delicate gadgets on the
terrible kissing sound When girl walked set in
taffeta it sounded like machine fire Sopranos hit
nigh notes and put the ae O1 sn % Ooe
vibrating tail to by Shearer disposed Of these
MOVABLE microphone important contribution to
talking pictures enabled actors to move freely about set
pole extension arrangement This moved their heads fol
lowing them of the The wTing noise of the
eliminated Shearer invented soundproof
noise its motor would
register handy to have around this
tall, young Canadian.
AT THE MOMENT he conducting what he considers his most
important trying educate theaer owners
all over the country to the vital necessity Of sound equip
for their theaters that they and their patrons
the ADVANTAGES Of what being done here in the HOLLYWOOD sound
studios "a studio spends, 100000 for picture,
he pointed out yet most theaers don't get SO cent Of that
value because of defective sound equipment For instance went
to Pittsburgh when opened Romeo and Juliet there The
theaer h and trolley cars ran past it, their brakes
grinding AS result the moving picture operators in the booth
had to the volume Of sound the film to drown out the
trolley Pittsburgh patrons instead Of getting the delicate
values of dialogue and music got completely distorted picture
The industry must correct that situation throughout the country
ILLUSTRATE point shearer took projection
operator sound tracks have
heard such magnificent tones in recording That's the
picture sounds when the major studios here he
gnned but eater audiences hear it that they?
And this standard theater equipment nothing special We can't
instruct moving picture operator theaer what level
is best his teaer That to the theater manager and
his taste isn't excellent, it is just too bad.
"THE it," sad leaving, els that
theaer he playing vaudeville acts will watch those
the microphone levels perfect
minute the vaudeville finishes however he'll out to
office about 100000 picture He
picture will of itself When
operators that pictures
reached its millennium"
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