"Silence Is Golden!"

    Movies have come a long, long way over the
years!
    My Dad showed the first movie with sound
in Hazleton. It was Al Jolson in "The Jazz
Singer" and Dad had to synchronize a 78rpm
record with the picture on the screen so the
sound of Jolson's voice matched his lips on
the screen.
    During my own lifetime I saw the switch
from a mix of black and white to the time
when nearly all movies were shot in some
version of  "Technicolor."
    Then came "Vista-Vision" and "CinemaScope."
    There was a bit of 3D thrown in there too.
 But with features like "Bwana Devil" it didn't
catch on very well in the 50's. If you ever get a
chance to see that one you should try to be busy
that night!
     Cinerama came along and wowed everyone
with the biggest screen they had even scene.
     Audio technology was improving all the
while too with "Stereophonic Sound" becoming
standard in most motion pictures.
     There were a couple of novelty gimmicks
tossed in along the way. Like vibrators attached
to a select number of theater seats to send
literal chills up your spine while watching "The
Tingler."  It, like "Bawna Devil" was well worth
missing!
      These days High Definition movies make
for great clarity as well as sound reproduction.
       IMAX theaters have redefined what a "big
screen" is now!
       Even 3D has finally come of age.
       So how is it my wife and I ,and everyone
else in the theater, were so fascinated with a
brand new black and white....Silent movie!?
       The movie, of course, was this year's
Academy Awards Best Picture winner, "The
Artist."
       True, there was music. Of course there
would have been music back in the "silent era"
too.....provided by someone watching the
screen while they played the piano.
        I was impressed with both the movie and
the audience. Both were silent! That was
unusual. We usually end up in seats near some
talkers.
        I think my Dad would have liked this
movie too.
        I think the thought of people enjoying
a Silent movie in 2012 would have made him
chuckle just a little bit.
        Seems like there are times when Silence
really is golden!
         Hope you enjoy some quiet time, and
that all your NEWS is good!
         (Today's blog is dedicated to my late
Dad ,Tony DeCosmo!)