UNIVERSITY CLUB ADDRESS

Evening Star, Issue 20255, 16 August 1929, Page 12

UNIVERSITY CLUB ADDRESS

1 ROMANCE OF TALKIES ’ ‘ The Romance of the Talkies ’ was the subject of an address at the university Club luncheon this afternoon by Mr E. R. Greenfield, who said that it the story of the amazing development of moving pictures were one ot the greatest romances in the commercial history of the world, the. romance of the talkies was even greater. Mr Greenfield traced the history of the talkies, stating that to Earner Brothers was dne the success pi the talkies to-day To them, P' x^ k perseverance the great change ha been effected in the entertainment world. He pointed out, however, that experiments had been made m regard to talking pictures long before moving pictures had become a tact. . These had not been a success, but again, in 1910, Gumont had brought but a vocal picture, and in 1912 Edison had done likewise. They were prematme, beiiit made before the inventions weie per fected, and the result was that .he public had been prejudiced against talk’"lomfvahant men continued experimenting in regard to talking picture but not a film company m the world would listen to their suggestions mini Warner Brothers invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in trying a success of what might teinied impractical possibility. The speaker went on to detail some of the scientific developments of the .last fifteen years v which bad assisted in the S xi“ Iktli the talkies, and said, that the birti of the present-day. talkie had take place at a theatre in New vea“ ago. The place we. packed by an audience which was prepared to mnre amused than entertained by the newmiSe, but in the hall were three ine'n Harry Warner and Ins co-dnec-tors.’who waited for the audience s verdict which meant to them ruination or .uewss. Nothing went wrong with the T ,ro«amme, and at i its conclusion the andience rose and cheered. There was SB that the talkies were a suecess; the three men had, won! Ihey knew, however, that the battle had jus begun, and that millions of movie lans ■ would haye tp bo educated to the talkies; 'and' that, the producers themselves would have to be won over, the success of their efforts being shown in the

The talkies were still in their infancy, proceeded the speaker, and while they meant a revolution in one of the most prosperous and flourishing industries in the world; there was no doubt that they would be an agent for much good, and that they were going to mean a lug thing to Great Britain, in that English would probably become the standard language of the world. This was realised in America, where an endeavour was now being made to see that pictures ■would bo produced in which the English of the British people would be spoken. . ~ At the conclusion of his address Mr Greenfield was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.