[Dixielandjazz] Soundies

[Bert Joss]

     During WWII when I was stationed at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in late
1944, the local soda bar had an unusual juke box.  As well as playing
music, there was a viewing screen which showed the musicians playing the
tune. There were lots: Nat King Cole Trio, Will Bradley /Ray McKinley,
Fats Waller, etc. etc.This was long before the advent of television, so
the synchronized music and visuals had to be by sound on film. Many
years later I learned that they were 16mm sound films, (in cartridges, I
think)
 and because they were projected on to the surface of a mirror, they had
to be printed in mirror-image so the sound track would be on the correct
side for the projector.
      The film cartridges eventually became available to collectors and
they could be projected on to large screens, if you accepted all the
captions appearing backwards. I have some VHS copies back in Montreal
which a friend in Toronto gave me. They would make great DVD's If
someone could get the necesary copyright clearances!

jaroberts at webtv.net