BROADWAY TALKIE MAD

Evening Star, Issue 20253, 14 August 1929, Page 9

BROADWAY TALKIE MAD

PHONE GIRLS AS STARS ~'2XI SEARCH FOR IDEAL VOICE NEW YORK, J uly 20. Broadway, the liveliest street in the world, is talkie mad. If the silent film ever put up a fight against the seductive novelty of its younger sister, the sound film, not a murmur of protest has been heard. The silent screen was there oho day; on the nest it had gone. I walked down Broadway last night and counted twelve star talking films proclaiming their dazzling attractions in the glowing lights of New. York’s main street, hut no sign gleamed in favour of the once-popular voiceless films. It is sound, sound, sound all t,he way along the famous sector. Cinema theatre owners, keenly sensitive to the popular demand, knew a year ago that the novelty-loving Broadway public would want sound films. Without hesitation the vast organisation of one of the richest Amercau industries transformed all its complicated machinery to meet the craze for the new invention.

Hollywood has spent £4,000,000 in the last eight months on the construction of new' studios and on experiments for perfecting sound films. Where Broadway has led the way all the country has followed. One electrical company has within the year equipped 1,271 theatres with sound apparatus, and is installing machinery at the rate of 250 cinemas a month. When the job is finished it is estimated the cost to cinema owners will have been £8,000,000. £4O-A-VOICE TEST. Ilollyw'ood directors are frantically searching for voices suitable for talking films, and arc finding some among telephone girls. Recently four “ Hullo ” girls left their telephones and entered on a career which may make them as rich as the once-famous silent stars. New York has test studios, where for about £4O a voice is tested. Sometimes a voice is noted for future reference, and .suddenly its fortunate owner is called on to take part in a new production. There is, however, a sad side to this great change. The other day a girl musician committed suicide because talking films had driven her out of orchestral employment on Broadway. Deaf people, too; are making pathetic appeals that they shall not be deprived of their once perfect amusement —the, silent film. It is estimated that they lose exactly 90 per cent, of enjoyment when they attend p sound instead of a dumb film!