I am now very close to the end of the Silent era. The sumptuous State Theatre formally opened playing The Patriot in 1929. the first Oscar winner of the best film of 1927, Wings was also shown in The State Theatre in 1929. Wings had a full score composed for it, not bits and pieces […]
This was the time when serious shows felt they might be turning the audience away and they had to create something fun. Added to the show was the comedy short, usually before the main feature. These comedies were a drawcard in themselves. Not only were popular numbers played but once again the sound people were encouraged […]
The structure of a whole show was now developing. The main film was working out a system of music that brought it to life. The problem of assuring quality music without losing an audience who wanted popular music and the latest hits was being addressed. The show was split into several sections. It started with […]
All of the music below is still recognized as a link to an image or emotion today. The two clips above are spoofs using that music, true. The first one, Hearts and Flowers was so recognized as a sad theme that by 1920 it was relegated to just being used for melodrama. Still is […]
This was when the producers of the silent film shows realized that with their growing popularity odd lists of appropriate classics plus bits and pieces of composed pieces and some popular pieces were not enough. All they had were the cue sheets and were […]
