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SOUND ISSUES - A few thoughts Mike Trickett
The introduction of sound films in the late 1920s saw major changes to the Industry and in
particular for projectionists.
Equipping of cinemas for sound was a major financial undertaking, the equipment being quite
expensive, with many owners being unsure about the viability of this new innovation and whether
the added cost would be worthwhile.

Those fears were soon seen to be unfounded, as the public clambered for more sound films and
the Industry was quick to oblige
For exhibitors, the major delimer was to choose between the two competing systems, sound of
film and sound on disc. As we all know, it was sound on film that prevailed in the end, but the
early years of sound saw two competing systems in operation.
The larger theatres chose the very expensive Western Electric Universal system - a base unit on
which a suitable projector head could be mounted. As the name implies, the universal base could
accommodate both sound on disc and sound on film.

In the early 1930s, it was common for the film companies to release films in two different
versions - sound on film and sound on disc, with many of the formerly sound on disc films being
reworked as sound on film, once that system became the standard.

Below: A Western Electric Universal Base, with Below: Frames from a re-release of the Jazz Singer
Simplex motion head. Note the turntable at the rear (originally sound on disc) with sound on film - note
for sound on disc and the optical sound head be- the image has been centralised and the frame lines
tween the motion head and the lower spool box for between images have been made wider to
sound on film sound on film. maintain the same aspect ratio of the original.

10 REEL DEALS March 2020