Soundies Musical Movies
           |
short history
Soundie Musical Movies year 2010 • year 2020 ¯
¯
|            |
     No kidding: The first filmed musical was silent. George Gershwin's hit Broadway musical "Lady Be Good" was made by First National Pictures as a silent film in May 1928; a much-revised sound feature version was released by M.G.M. in September 1941. Most musical films in the 1930s & 1940s had a dramatic plot that took place within an orchestra on tour or behind the scenes at a Broadway or local theater show.
     The nearly 2,000 Vitaphone short subjects produced by Warner Bros. Pictures and its sister studio First National from 1926 to 1930 included vaudevillians, opera singers, Broadway stars, dancers, bands, and popular vocalists; these one- and two-reel short films were popular attractions in movie theaters.
     Soundie Musical Movies were produced from 1940 to 1946, available to the public on 'Panorams': coin-operated, 16mm rear projection machines manufactured by the Mills Novelty Company of Chicago that were typically located in businesses like nightclubs, bars, and restaurants. Each Panoram worked thru eight musical numbers for 10¢ per song; the content was replaced weekly. More than 1,800 Soundies mini-musicals were made before broadcast television made them obsolete.
     Snader Telescriptions were musical shorts made for television from 1950 to 1953/54; there were thousands of these three- and four-minute films, covering various genres from jazz and pop to R&B and country.
     The Cinebox machine was unveiled in April 1959 in Rome; the Scopitone machine was presented at the Paris Fair in April 1960. Both were connected to companies that used top secret electronic technology for clarifying military intelligence aerial footage during WWII.
     Concert films, per se, began with the "T.A.M.I." filmed show in 1964.
     The one-night concert event began around 2000 with the availability of satellite broadcast technology; music concerts are popular, as are theater productions, opera performances, ballet, and stand-up comedy shows.
Ina Archer (National Museum of African American History & Culture)
Matt Barton (curator of Recording Sound at the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center at the Library of Congress)
Mark Cantor, author of The Soundies: A History and Catalog of Jukebox Film Shorts of the 1940s
Susan Delson, author of Soundies and the Changing Image of Black Americans on Screen: One Dime at a Time
Mike Mashon (head of the Moving Image Section of the Library of Congress)
Thousands of 'soundies' were made capturing rare performances by some of the decade’s biggest musical acts, making them
extraordinary historical documents as well as toe-tapping entertainment.
"Rare pre-Soundie: Sally Rand - Bubble Dance" [Official Films 1938]
watch short b&w film - restarts at 1:00 [3/2021 upload; 3:50] online at YouTube
watch short b&w film with modern music [3/2014 upload; 2:40] online at YouTube
"Come The Rewolution" [1941 Soundie]
“Come the rewolution you will eat stromberries and cream - and like it!” - Willie Howard [1883-1949] in his vaudeville act with Al Kelly [1896-1966]
watch 1941 Soundies video [1/2023 upload; 3:05] online at YouTube
"Rare Soundie: Sally Rand - Fan Dance" [1942]
watch short b&w film [6/2022 upload; 2:56] online at YouTube
"Rare Soundie: Hot Chocolate" [1942, restored 2024]
One of the jumpin’est soundies, featuring Duke Ellington & His Orchestra swinging “Cotton Tail” while the members of Arthur White's Lindy Hoppers (aka The Harlem Congaroos) jitterbug in gravity-defying style; bright and bold, this 3-minute b&w short is liable to have you dancing in the aisles, too! Directed by Josef Berne; restored from a 16mm print in 2024 by the UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Packard Humanities Institute; laboratory services by The Packard Humanities Institute; special thanks to the Library of Congress.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3240302/
"Paper Doll" [1942 Soundie] by The Mills Brothers, with Dorothy Dandridge, Juanita Moore
watch short b&w film [12/2021 upload; 2:29] online at YouTube
"Zoot Suit" [1942 Soundie] with Dorothy Dandridge, Paul White, Ted Fio Rito Orchestra
watch short b&w film [10/2008 upload; 2:35] online at YouTube
"Fats Waller: Ain't Misbehavin' " [1943 Soundie]
with Lena Horne, dancer Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson
watch short b&w film [11/2009 upload; 2:46] online at YouTube
"Minnie The Moocher" [1942?] by Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
watch short b&w film [1/2017 upload; 3:08] online at Internet Archive
  | "The Three Suns - Swinging The Classics!" [1945 Soundies] by Official Films accordian-piano-guitar trio The Three Suns [1939-66] plays "Wm. Tell Overture", "The Anvil Chorus", and "The Song of India" (riding on a small carousel) "Soundie: The Three Suns - The Anvil Chorus" [1944] watch song clip [1/2016 upload; 2:28] online at YouTube "Soundie: The Three Suns - Swinging The Classics!" [1945] watch 3 song clips [1/2022 upload; 7:43] online at YouTube |
"Hollywood Boogie" [1946 Soundie] by Thelma White & Her All-Girl Orchestra
watch short b&w film [5/2003 upload; 2:32] online at Internet Archive
"Turkey In The Straw" [1949 Scopitone Soundie] unnamed jug band
watch short b&w film [2/2022 upload; 2:19] online at Internet Archive
               
¯                ¯
"Soundies: Images of An Era" on VHS [undated]
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-Images-of-An-Era-VHS/dp/B00004UXJN/
"Soundies: Rhythmania" on VHS [undated] featuring Mabel Mercer, Dorothy Dandridge
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-Rhythmania-VHS/dp/B00004UXJJ/
  | "Snappy Video Presents Soundies, Volume 1" on Blu-ray [2018] 24 musical shorts from the era, with many well-known stars, all scanned from original 16mm prints; featuring Jerry Stewart & Ceci Eames, three car-hops ("At Your Service"), Ted Lewis ("The Sunny Side of The Street", "Me and My Shadow"), Three Blind Mice ("Isn’t She Pretty, I’m The Leader of The Band"), Spike Jones, Jerry Grey Orchestra, Barry Wood, Larry Clinton, Jonny Long Orchestra, Louis Armstrong ("Shine"), Gene Krupa & Anita O'Day ("Thanks For The Boogie Ride"), Fats Waller ("Ain't Misbehavin' "), Cab Calloway ("Minnie The Moocher"), Patty Page, Bobby Troup, June Valli, Rose Marie, Frank Yankovic (incomplete), David Rose Orchestra, Pepepedo, and a few more Snappy Video b&w Blu-ray [2018] for $15.95 |
"The Soundies" TV documentary [P.B.S. 1986], hosted by Cab Calloway; . . Don McGlynn produced and edited
  | "Soundies: Music Video From The '40s, Volume 1" direct-to-video VHS tape [1987] Producer Dewey Russell compiled an hourlong history, narrated by Michael Sollazzo; featuring Ozzie Nelson, Larry Clinton & Orchestra, Spade Cooley, Lawrence Welk & Orchestra Burbank Video b&w VHS tape [12/2004] for $7.99 |
"Leonard Maltin's Movie Memories" [syndication 1990]
  | "Soundies, Volume 1: The 1940's Music Machine" [1990]
"Soundies, Volume 2: Singing Stars of The Swing Era" [1990] on VHS Tape
"Soundies, Volume 3: Big Band Swing" [1990] on VHS Tape
"Soundies, Volume 4: Harlem Highlights" [1990]
|
"Soundies" [1991-2007] from Something Weird Video
'Big band song & dance numbers from the Fabulous Forties'
  | "SWV Soundies Volume 1: Music With Spice" on DVD-R [1991]
Something Weird Video b&w DVD [2013] out of prodn/SOLD OUT ! "SWV Soundies Musical Film Revues, Volume 2: Music That's Nice" on VHS tape [1991] Something Weird Video b&w VHS [7/1991] for $45.95 {sic} "SWV Soundies Volume 2: Music That's Nice" on DVD [1991] Something Weird Video b&w DVD-R [7/1991] out of prodn/SOLD OUT ! "SWV Soundies Musical Film Revues, Volume 3: Big Band Swing" on DVD [1991] Something Weird Video b&w DVD-R [7/1991] for $23.99 | |
  | "SWV Soundies Volume 6: Silly Songs !" on DVD-R [1991]
28 short b&w music films: "Sweet Hawaiian Dreams", "Dear Old Donegal", "The Eyes Of Texas", "She Looks Cute In Her Bathing Suit", "I've Gotta Get Hot", "The Marines' Hymn", "Freedom Can Can", unidentified instrumentals (3), Day, Dawn & Dusk (3), Deuce Spriggins Band, Bonnie Compana & Iona Orchestra, Nick Lucas, Jimmy Newell & Tut Mace, Bob Hannon, The Elm City Four (Stephen Foster Melodies), Judith Gibson, The Jansley Acrobats, Cotton Club Tramp Band, Walter O’Keefe, Bing Crosby ('We’ve Got Another Bond to Buy' 1945), Mark Warnow Orchestra, Georgia Gibbs, Hormel Girls, Dizzy Gillespie ('Date With Dizzy' 1958) DVD/Blu-ray not available • | |
  | "SWV Soundies Volume 8: The Exotic World of Korla Pandit!" on DVD-R [2007] Korla Pandit [1921-98] starred in a ground-breaking TV series "Adventures In Music" [1948-51]: it was the first all-music television show; his trademarks were the jeweled turban, the three keyboard instruments, and never speaking on film; some shows featured dancer Bhupesh Guha; over 900 15-minute episodes were produced and shown on KTLA-TV 5 in Los Angeles; in 1956 he moved to San Francisco and performed on KGO-TV official fansite • Korla Pandit credits at IMDb • Korla Pandit entry at Wikipedia bare DVD-R credits at IMDb 80-minute Something Weird Video b&w DVD-R [2012] out of prodn/SOLD OUT ! |
"Jazz Legends: Big Bands - The Soundies, Volume 1 [2004]
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Bands-Soundies-Various-Artists/dp/B000RNUFV4/ [7/2007]
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Bands-Vol-Soundies/dp/B000228SWI/ [6/2004]
"Jazz Legends: Big Bands - The Soundies, Volume 2 [2005]
http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Legends-Bands-Vol-Soundies/dp/B000W1V5RY/ [10/2007]
http://www.amazon.com/Big-Bands-Soundies-2/dp/B0007VF2CS/ [3/2005]
  | "Soundies: A Musical History" [2007] from Liberation Ent. 76-minute TV documentary shown on Turner Classic Movies in September 2022 • Co-produced by Antonia Lianos & Jay Boberg; co-written & co-produced by Jennifer Sneider; co-written, exec produced & directed by Chris Lamson; music & hosted by Michael Feinstein; featuring Soundies historian Mark Cantor, Stan Ridgway, George Duke, film historian Leonard Maltin, Wynton Marsalis (Jazz at Lincoln Center), talk show pioneer Joe Franklin, Hugh Hefner (Playboy Magazine), cultural historian Delilah Jackson, Dan Morgenstern (Institute of Jazz Studies), film archivist Russell Scholl; Soundies performers Van Alexander, Les Paul, Kay Starr, Hugh Martin, Ginny Mancini, Irving Fields, Jackie Parton, Eleanor McQueen (dancer); and archival footage of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Nat 'King' Cole, Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Mills Brothers, Fats Waller • full credits at IMDb Adrenaline Music b&w DVD [10/2007] out of prodn/used Adrenaline Music b&w DVD [10/2007] out of prodn/used Amazon Instant Video [2019] SD rental $1.99, SD purchase $7.99 watch 2007 Multicom official trailer [2/2019 upload; 3:40] online at YouTube |
  | "Star Spangled Soundies" [2008] 43-minute compilation of fifteen songs for the Soundie Panoram machine: "Liberty On Parade", "America, I Love You", "Parade of The Wooden Soldiers", "Semper Fidelis", "Defend America", "Bugle Woogie", "If There Were Girls Like You In The Army", "If He Can Fight Like He Can Love", "Dot Dot Dot Dash", "She's The McCoy", "Don't Be An Absentee", "He's My Pin Up Boy", "Duel Dance", "The U.S.A. By Day and The R.A.F. By Night", "You're A Grand Old Flag" Oldies Video b&w DVD [6/2008] out of prodn/scarce |
"1940's Soundies [2011] from R.P.G. Collection in 4 parts on YouTube
Compiled by Howard Rye; narrated by Nick Coady
(1/4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2oJUlpm6uI 13.57
Will Bradley & Orchestra (5)
(2/4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G03zsCEWsiw 13.48
Claude Thornhill & Orchestra (3), Charlie Spivak & Orchestra
(3/4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2QsKqqOHEI 11.15
Charlie Spivak & Orchestra (3), Will Bradley & Orchestra
(4/4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTJWoBv5Ecc 5.45
Will Bradley & Orchestra
"Soundies: Classic Music Videos From The 1940s - A Great Glimpse At The Golden Age of Music" DVD-R [2013]
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-Classic-Videos-Glimpse-Golden/dp/B000QSJ0CA/
"Soundies Festival 1945" on DVD [1/2015] featuring Ethel Walter, Dusty Flecher, Gene Ware
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-Festival-Adams-Bubbling-Richard/dp/B00SJ9XD3A/
  | "Soundies" on Prime Video [2022] Each of the 50 episodes is one 3-minute video recording; watch FREE after $15.99/month signup to Max watch Season 1 = 10 Episodes: Amazon Instant Video [1/2022 watch Season 2 = 12 Episodes: Amazon Instant Video [1/2022] watch Season 3 = 13 Episodes: Amazon Instant Video [1/2022] watch Season 4 = 7 Episodes: Amazon Instant Video [1/2022] watch Season 5 = 8 Episodes: Amazon Instant Video [1/2022] |
  | "Soundies: The Ultimate Collection" [July 2023] Curated & hosted by Susan Delson   10-hour compilation of 200 3-minute 'Soundie' videos produced for coin-operated jukeboxes in neighborhood bars & taverns • Performers include pianist Lynn Allbritton, Gracie Barrie, bandleader Count Basie, bandleader Cab Calloway, Hoagy Carmichael, Me Chee (real name Machiko Takaoka), Nat 'King' Cole, Dorothy Dandrige, vocal trio Day, Dawn & Dusk, Doris Day, bandleader Duke Ellington, bandleader Ted Fio Rito, The Four Ginger Snaps, Harry 'The Hipster' Gibson, The Hoosier Hot Shots, bandleader Spike Jones, Louis Jordan, the Kim Loo Sisters, The King’s Men, dancer Marian Lawrence, (Walter) Liberace, Ricardo Montalbán, Les Paul, Maurice Rocco, Vanita Smythe, The Sportsman Quartet, Gale Storm, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Merle Travis, country music legend Cindy Walker, Fats Waller; genres also include boogie-woogie, Irish tenors, Russian dancers, and Hawaiian war chanters; extras on the Blu-ray collection are illustrated 44-page booklet with essays by Susan Delson, Ellen C. Scott, and Mark Cantor; filmed intro-ductions by Susan Delson and Ina Archer (National Museum of African American History & Culture); "Inside The Panoram", a filmed interview with author Mark Cantor; "From The Vaults", a filmed interview with Matt Barton & Mike Mashon (both of the Library of Congress) Kino Classics b&w Blu-ray [7/2023] 4 disks for $29.99 |
Other Companies
Several independent production companies filmed the Soundies shorts: James Roosevelt's Globe Productions (1940-41), Cinemasters (1940-41), Minoco Productions
(1941-43), RCM Productions (1941-46), LOL Productions (1943), Glamourettes (1943), Filmcraft Productions (1943-46), and Alexander Productions (1946).
¯                ¯
Color-Sonic video jukebox []
¯                ¯
Scopitone [France, U.K., USA 1960-1978]
Scopitone was first presented at the Paris Fair in April 1960; it was designed by Fréderic Mathieu who at that time was the General Director of Compagnie d’Application
Mécaniques à l’Eletronique au Cinema et à l’Atomistique (the company of electric mechanical applications in cinema and atomistics) that was an affiliated company
of the gigantic Paris-based electronics company T.S.F. (Telegraphie Sans Fil: telegraph without wires). A late 1960s sting
revealed that the France-based Scopitone business had deep ties to the Sicilian Mafia.
http://www.scopitonearchive.com/ • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopitone
photo & text about the Scopitone machine (in new window)
  | "Scopitonic Jukebox Movie Dance Party" [2010] 'Scopitone & Cinebox films From The U.S., U.K., France, Italy, and Parts Unknown' 36 short musical videos: five Cinebox films by The Milords, Fred Bullo, Fred Adison, Peppino Di Capri, Riccardo Rauchi Complesso; 31 Scopitones films by Les Ballets Stefani (3), Les Ballets Jackson (in French) (2), Line Renaud ('Le Hully Gully') + another, Vince Taylor (2), Richard Anthony, April Stevens & Nino Tempo, The Psyrcle, Greenwood County Singers, Colette Deréal, Johnny Hallyday (in French), Henri Salvador, Claude Bolling, Francis Linel (in French), Beny Benett, Sylvie Vartan (in French), Guy Marchand, Glenn Jack & Ses Glenners (in French), Pedro de Linares, Les Dangers (in French), Miguel Cordoba, Ruddy Castel, Vigon, Gerard La Vigny (in French), André Verchuren (in French), Pepe Luiz, Jean Segurel (in French) not listed at IMDb • DVD/Blu-ray not available at Amazon • detailed 2010 fan page | |
  | "Scopitone Party! 16mm Cocktail Lounge Music Films, 1960-1966" on DVD-R [2018] 39 Scopitone films lovingly transferred directly from the original 16mm prints! No analog tape, just crystal clear digital video! There is some mild (1960s) nudity in two of the Scopitones, so this volume is for adults only! Performers are January Jones (3), Gale Garnett (2), Danyel Gerard (2), Sylvie Vartan (2), Dick & Dee Dee, Kay Starr, Big Couch Girl, Hanna Ahroni, Ricardo, Joi Lansing, Billy Eckstine, Jodi Miller, Lesley Gore, Barry Young, Richard Anthony ('Itsi Bitsi, Petit Bikini'), Bobby Vee, The Casualeers, Donna Theodore, Les Dangers, Audrey Arno, Claude François, Les Parisiennes, Colette Renard, Françoise Hardy, Line Renaud ('The Hully Gully'), Sue Raney, Sheila, Dominique, Francis Linel, Annie Cordy Volume 1: 30 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 | |
  |
Volume 1: 30 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99
Volume 2: 30 Scopitone films lovingly transferred directly from the original 16mm prints! Performers are Betty Claire ('Scopitone Party'), Vivi Bach (in German), Heidi Briihl (in German), Dominique ('L’Amour est Dans Ta Rue (On The Street Where You Live)'), Della Reese, Nancy Sinatra, Julie London, Mary Kaye & Company, Karen Jensen, Tiajuana Brass, Nai Bonet, Diane Wisdom, Joi Lansing (2) §, January Jones §, Freddie Bell & Roberta Linn, Bobby Vee, Jody Miller §, Donna Theodore §, Lesley Gore §, April Stevens & Hino Tempo, Ethel Ennis, Princess Leilani & Alex, The Hassles, Shani Wallis, Buddy Greco, Les Surfs (in French), Danyel Gerard §, Frank Sinatra Jr., Donna Theodore §, Richard Anthony ('Itsi Bitsi, Petit Bikini') §, Francis Linel §, Juliette Greco (in French), Audrey Arno, Buddy Caste Orchestra {{ '§' symbol means duplicate of track on Scopitone Party DVD-R }} Volume 2: 30 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 Volume 3: 30 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 Volume 4: 28 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 Volume 5: 30 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 Volume 6: 30 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 Volume 7: 30 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 Volume 8: 35 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 |
       
¯                ¯
Solo-Vue
Solo-Vue was a new single-choice music video jukebox sold by Soundies, Inc. / Mills Novelty from 1944
¯                ¯
Cinebox Productions [Italy & USA 1959-2010]
Cinebox was unveiled in April 1959 in Rome and manufactured by O.M.I. Ottico Meccanica Italiana di Roma (Italian Optical Mechanics in Rome)
based on the designs of its inventor Pietro Granelli [1918-75].
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinebox
http://www.scopitonearchive.com/cinebox/a_to_m.html
http://www.scopitonearchive.com/cinebox/n_to_z.html
articles about Italian musical jukeboxes on Michele Bovi's website - in English
  |   | "The Best of Cinebox" on DVD-R in two volumes [2020]
2 full hours of American, French, Italian, and U.K. hit records on each volume • not available on Amazon; available from producer website, payment options Amazon Pay, PayPal, Venmo Volume 1: 39 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 Volume 2: 39 short musical videos Mr. FAT-W Video color DVD-R [3/2020] for $11.99 |
¯                ¯
Snader Telescriptions [1950 to 1953/54]
there were thousands of these three- and four-minute musical short films made for television, covering various genres from jazz and pop to R&B and country.
Snader Telescriptions entry at Wikipedia
"TV's First Music Videos: The Snader Telescriptions" [FilmRise 2002]
http://www.amazon.com/TVs-First-Music-Videos-Telescriptions/dp/B01CIO1SII/
This 51-minute collection of Snader Telescriptions musical shorts features some of the top jazz, pop, and country stars of the time, including
Duke Ellington, Mel Torme and Peggy Lee • Produced by Patricia Friedman; directed & hosted by Don McGlynn
http://www.amazon.com/TVs-First-Music-Videos-Telescriptions/dp/B01CIO1SII/ prime
This video is currently unavailable in USA
¯                ¯
Soundies Central Channel [est. 6/2015] on YouTube
Soundies Central@soundiescentral1077?825 subscribers?19 videos
http://www.youtube.com/@soundiescentral1077
Soundies on DVD from Mr. Fat-W Video [2014]
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-1-Various/dp/B00NTAUIBO/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-2-Various/dp/B00OAI239O/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-3-Various/dp/B00OAI28ZI/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-4-Andres-Almeida/dp/B00OAI27OU/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-5-Various/dp/B00OMCLQJ6/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-6-Michael-Dante/dp/B00OMCM2A8/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-7-Roger-Carel/dp/B00OMCLLD2/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-8-Various/dp/B00OYJEC9I/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-Volume-9/dp/B01EGQ45KE/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-9-Various/dp/B00OYJDP9G/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-10-Various/dp/B00OYJEDJW/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-Volume-11/dp/B01EGQ66SS/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-12-Various/dp/B00OYJDPPU/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-13-Various/dp/B00P9ILFVG/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-14-Various/dp/B00P9IMDQW/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-15-Various/dp/B00P9ILI86/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-16/dp/B00QN6HFCG/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-Volume-16/dp/B01EGQCFQ0/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-17/dp/B00QN6HAEE/
http://www.amazon.com/Soundies-18/dp/B00QN6HCII/
Soundies, Volume 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVbeqVsq-vo 56:06
1. I Want To Go Home, 2. Ana Lani, 3. You've Got Everything, 4. They're Going To Build A Monument, 5. Faust, 6. There Won't Be A Shortage Of Love, 7. Phil The Fluter's Ball, 8. Loretta, 9. Tenement Symphony, 10. Manhattan, 11. You're Unfair To Me, 12. I Wanna Foof On A Fife, 13. Showbar Frolics, 14. Hot In The Groove, 15. Pipe Dreams, 16. That's All Brother That's All, 17. Lazybones, 18. Rug Cutters Holiday, 19. Legs Ain't No Good
Soundies, Volume 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK26_6xOaW4 53:40
1. Chi Chi Castenango, 2. Say Si Si, 3. I Look At You, 4. Ya' Sure-Ya' Betcha, 5. I Love You Much Too Much, 6. Delilah, 7. Hungarian Dance, 8. Paris Is Gay Again, 9. Rain On The Roof, 10. Hats Off, 11. Sailboat In The Sky, 12. Salome, 13. Conga Loca, 14. I Wanna Make Him Whistle, 15, The Freedom Can Can, 16. Heaven Help A Sailor, 17. Five Foot Two, 18. There's a Pampas Moon On The Campus, 19. Sticks and Stones
Soundies, Volume 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7e8kbUxWHw 54:13
1. Joseph 'n His Brudders, 2. Big Fat Butterfly, 3. Shine, 4. Ozzie Nelson Blues, 5. Hold That Tiger, 6. Boardwalk Boogie, 7. Coax Me A Little Bit, 8. Say Si Si, 9. Carry Me Back To The Lone Prairie, 10. Where The Mountains Meet The Sky, 11. I'm An Old Cowhand, 12. On The Campus, 13. Ding-A-Lay-O, 14. Showboat Melodies, 15. Waiting For The Robert E. Lee, 16. Dear Old Southland, 17. Minnie From Trinidad, 18. The Biggest Aspidastra In The World, 19. Fan Dance
Soundies, Volume 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAzMr75HGEQ 1.00.27
1. Lullaby, 2. Sticks and Stones, 3. Conga, 4. Now, 5. I Like A Balalaika, 6. I Wanna Be Loved, 7. At A Little Country Tavern, 8. Rhumba New York, 9. I Got Spurs, 10. Take Me Back To My Boots and Saddle, 11. When It's Springtime, 12. Deep In The Heart Of Texas, 13. Put Your Little Foot Right Out, 14. Goin' To The Barn Dance Tonight, 15. I'm A Tough Hombre, 16. Montana Plains, 17. Buffalo Gals, 18. My Chickashay Gal, 19. Jiveroo, 20. Shame On You, 21. Merry Go Roundup, 22. Swing Shift Swing
Soundies, Volume 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhSODfnT2DQ 52.47
1. Oh Susana, 2. Ballroom, 3. Jive, Little Gypsy, Jive; 4. A Jazz Etude, 5. could not identify, 6. could not identify, 7. Rotary Swing, 8. Wileing Away The Time, 9. Side Street, 10. Maharaja, 11. Block Party Masquerade, 12. Sophisticated Hula, 13. The Magic Carpet, 14. Fancy To You, 15. The Bubble Dance, 16. Hoops My Dear, 17. Cave Man, 18. The Big Rock Candy Mountain, 19. The Tinkle Song
Soundies, Volume 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML7cZljTS9A 1.08.26
1. Three In One Revue, 2. How To Die Quick, 3. K.P. Serenade, 4. Margie, 5, Our Teacher, 6. Sterling Serenade, 7. My Reverie, 8. Grand Pianos, 9. I Can't Get Started With You, 10. Darn That Dream, 11. Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat, 12. Take Me Back To Tulsa, 13. Blow, Gabriel, Blow; 14. Arthur Murray, 15. Baby Are You Kiddin?, 16. The Night We Met, 17. Jitterbug Senorita, 18. Pudgy Boy, 19. I've Got To Get Hot, 20. Once Overy, 21. Shepherd Serenade, 22. I Got Her In The Mail, 23. Buffalo Gals
Soundies, Volume 7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teIJY0nGBc4 45.29
1. Why Don't You Do Right, 2. Sophisticated Lady, 3. Hawaiian War Chant, 4. Georgie Porgie, 5. The Man That Comes Around, 6. Let Me Off Uptown, 7. Twelfth Street Rag, 8. Cielito Lindo, 9. Banjo Mania, 10. Jammin' In The Panoram, 11. Oh Marie, 12. Ti-Pi-Tin, 13. Penthouse Serenade, 14. Stars and Stripes Forever
Soundies, Volume 8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wbt7i33qqY 47.12
1. Comes The Revolution, 2. Boxcar Rhapsody, 3. The Lamp of Memory, 4. How Come You Do Me Like You Do, 5. Dinah, 6. Bowery Medley, 7. Breakfast In Rhythm, 8. Arabian High Jinks, 9. I Wish That I Could Hide Inside This Letter, 10. Will Ya Be My Darling, 11. Shy Anne From Old Cheyenne, 12. Dry Bones, 13. Jazzy Joe, 14. Orange Bowl Bounce, 15. Harriet
Soundies, Volume 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zeyXQU24Nc 40.52
1. Blushing Bride, 2. I Would Love To Know You Better, 3. Dance of Shame, 4. One Look At You, 5. Man Mose, 6. Rhythm Sam, 7. Ave Maria, 8. Tyrone Shapiro, 9. The Minute Waltz, 10. Rhumba Rhythm, 11. Snowtime Serenade
Soundies, Volume 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ldqg5j_woY 49.45
1. Minnie The Mermaid, 2. Treasure Chest, 3. El Rancho Grande, 4. I Am An American, 5. Jack, You're Playing The Game, 6. His Rockin' Horse Ran Away, 7. Scotch Boogie, 8. Ti-Yi-Yippee-Aye, 9. The Singing Hills, 10. Texas Home, 11. The Calgary Kid, 12. When The Circus Comes To Town, 13. Side Show, 14. Swingeroo Circus, 15. Sweet Hawaiian Dreams, 16. The Right Kind Of Girl, 17. Dancing In A Harem, 18. At Your Service
Soundies, Volume 11 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovCdvCQ-N9U
1. Able Mabel, 2. Wiggle Mad, 3. Shakes Alive, 4. Hipsy Dipsy, 5. Twirling Tassels, 6. Peppy Steps, 7. Afro-Mood, 8. Fire Dance, 9. Jump Children, 10. Ferry Boat Serenade, 11. You Are My Lucky Star, 12. On The Mall, 13. Kiss The Boys Goodbye, 13. May I Have The Next Trance With You, 14. A Little Jive Is Good For You, 15. I'm Stepping Out With A Memory Tonight, 16. Boardwalk Boogie
Soundies, Volume 12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aleckTT5X0g 48.52
1. They're Tough, Mighty Tough In The West, 2. Back In The Saddle Again, 3. The Covered Wagon Rolled Right Along, 4. Au Reet, 5. Sports Ala Mode, 6. The Heats On Again, 7. Hop, Skip, And Jump; 8. La Rosita, 9. Broom and Pan, 10. Bottoms Up, 11. Glorious Dylemna, 12. Hot Lips, 13. Do Nothin' 'Till You Hear From Me, 14. 'Leven Thirty Saturday Night, 15. I Don't Know Why, 16. Oh, Frenchie, 17. Dreaming Out Loud
Soundies, Volume 13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17C1i1O0PwI 48.05
1. Oh Marie!, 2. I'd Like To Set You To Music, 3. I'm Looking Out The Window, 4. Clap, Clap for Rhythm; 5. Come Back To Sorrento, 6. Java Jive, 7. Pavanne, 8. Musical Stairs, 9. Pickle Puss, 10. A String of Pearls, 11. Mi RhumbaîRhumba Serenade, 12. Moon Over Miami, 13. Moonlight Becomes You, 14. Tangerine, 15. Poi My Boy, 16. Hilo Hattie, 17. Hawaii Isn't What It Used To Be
Soundies, Volume 14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biK5VBXenLE 55.15
1. Turn Out The Lights, 2. Come To Baby Do, 3. Blues In The Night, 4. A Gay Ranchero, 5. could not identify, 6. Johann Strauss' Blue Danube, 7. Romance, 8. Stardust, 9. Two Guitars and Dark Eyes, 10. Love's Own Sweet Song, 11. Sleepy Lagoon, 12. Side By Side, 13. Siboney, 14. My Little Grass Shack, 15. Maria Elena, 16. Sentimental Journey, 17. There's Nothing Like That Smile of The Irish, 18. Who Threw The Overalls In Mrs. Murphey's Chowder, 19. It's A Great Day For The Irish
Soundies, Volume 15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWhNlXqE0yw 53.20
1. Sweet And Lovely, 2. Luluby of Broadway, 3. Don't Cry, 4. Two Pair of Shoes, 5. Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well, 6. Miss Johnson Phoned Again, 7. Amapola, 8. Who's Been Eating My Porridge, 9. Broadway Caballero, 10. In An Eighteenth Century Drawing Room, 11. Shoo Shoo Baby, 12. Imua Ailuni, 13. Sweet Leilani, 14. Hawaiian War Chant, 15. Blue Hawaii, 16. Tropical Kiss, 17. Song Of The Islands, 18. Come To Baby Do, 19. Blues In The Night
Soundies, Volume 16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzOZE5mnixE 47.00
1. I'd Like To See Some More of Somoa, 2. Cow-Cow Boogie, 3. Born To Swing, 4. Nobody Makes A Pass At Me, 5. Don't Get Around Much Any More, 6. I Left My Heart In Texas, 7. Babalu, 8. Crazy Quiz, 9. I Like It Cause I Love It, 10. Silhouettes, 11. An Indian Rhapsody, 12. The Night Is Young, 13. I Ain't Got Nobody, 14. Could not identify, 15. La Cucaracha, 16. Take It and Git, 17. Sawdust Canary, 18. Rock It For Me
Soundies, Volume 17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zl63-uQ6VE 57.32
1. Back In The Old Routine, 2. Come To The Mardi Gras, 3. Swell, Wasn't It; 4. For Me and My Gal, 5. Kerry Dance and Irish Washerman, 6. Luluby of Broadway, 7. Dancing With a Deb, 8. El Cumbachero, 9. Girl At The Typewriter, 10. Tying Applies On A Lilac Tree, 11. I Don't Want To Walk Without You, 12. On To Victory, 13. I Don't Want to Set The World On Fire, 14. Miss You, 15. A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square, 16. It Was Wonderful Then, 17. Pan AmeriConga, 18. Say Si Si, 18. Mi Linda Amor
Soundies, Volume 18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWBXT3GENXE 54.09
1. Who Dunit To Who, 2. Half Past Jump Time, 3. The Perfect Powers Girl, 4. Never Too Old To Swing, 5. I'm Just Wild About Harry, 6. Poppin' The Cork, 7. Fifty Thousand Dollars, 8. The Nadocky, 9. I Hear Music, 10. How About You, 11. You're A Shot In The Arm, 12. Walking On Air, 13. Stupid Little Cupid, 14. Struttin' To Sutton Place, 15. If You Treat Me To A Hug, 16. Jim, 17. No Romance In Your Soul, 18. could not identify, 19. He Took Me For A Sleigh Ride
"The Amram Soundies" from Soundies Central [2009]
jazz French horn player & composer David Amram [b. 1930] comments on 14 b&w Soundies, which include Bob Howard ("Shine"), Buddy Rogers ("Twelfth Street Rag"), Cab Calloway, King Sisters & Alvino Rey ("Cielito Lindo"), Duke Ellington & Orchestra ("Sophisticated Lady"), Vincent Lopez & Orchestra ("Minute Waltz"), Nat 'King' Cole Trio, Jimmy Dorsey & Orchestra ("All Reet"), Peggy Lee, vaudevillian Willie Howard ("Tyrone Shapiro" novelty song), DeCastro Sisters ("El Cumbanchero"), Erskine Hawkins ("Hot In The Groove"), "Ozzie Nelson Blues", drummer Gene Krupa & singer Anita O'Day ("Thanks For The Boogie Ride")
Mr. FAT-W color/b&w DVD [12/20142] out of prodn/SOLD OUT !
watch full interview & clips [7/2015 upload; 1:01:52] online at YouTube
  |
"The Soundies Distributing Corporation of America: A History and Filmography" [1991] by Maurice Terenzio, Scott MacGillivray & Ted Okuda McFarland Publng 9½x6½ hardcover [1991] out of print/used McFarland Publng hardcover [1991] out of print/scarce | |
  | "The Soundies Book: A Revised and Expanded Guide" [2007] by Scott MacGillivray & Ted Okuda includes a short history of Snader Telescriptions [1950-54], and lists telescriptions made by Soundies performers iUniverse 9x6 pb [3/2007] for $26.68 iUniverse 9x6 hardcover [2/2007] for $31.99 |
"Da Carosone a Cosa Nostra, Gli Antenati del Videoclip (From Carosone to Cosa Nostra, Ancestors of the Music Video)"
(Coniglio Editore, 2007) by Michele Bovi
"Rewind, Play, Forward: The Past, Present, Future of The Music Video" [Germany 2010]
by Henry Keazor, Thorsten Wübbena
"L’Aventure Scopitone, 1957-1983" [France 2010] by Jean-Charles Scagnetti
  | "Soundies and The Changing Image of Black Americans On Screen: One Dime At A Time" [2021] by Susan Delson Uses previously-unknown archival materials - including letters, corporate memos, and courtroom testimony - to trace the precarious path of Soundies, presenting an incisive pop-culture snapshot of race relations during and just after World War II. Kindle Edition from Indiana Univ Press [12/2021] for $33.25 Indiana Univ Press 9x6 pb [12/2021] for $35.00 Indiana Univ Press 9x6 hardcover [12/2021] for $70.76 | |
  | "The Soundies: A History and Catalog of Jukebox Film Shorts of The 1940s" [2023] by Mark Cantor, Forewords by Leonard Maltin & Will Friedwald Complete and detailed filmography of 1,880 Soundies: the musicians heard & seen on screen, recording & filming dates, arrangers, soloists, dancers, entertainment trade reviews, and more; additional filmo-graphies cover more than 80 subjects produced by other companies; there are 125 photos taken on film sets, along with advertising images, and production documents; also more than 75 interviews . . . 3,220-page Kindle Edition from McFarland Publng [4/2023] for $56.49 {sic} 893-page McFarland Publng 11x8½ pb [5/2023] for $125.00 {sic} |
Movies & Television, Other Media
  | "Ebony Parade" [Astor Pictures Corp. 1947]
Mantan Moreland hosts a series of filmed b&w song, dance, and band numbers by various artists, '20 great stars' mostly released previously as individual 'soundies' • featuring June Richmond {as Wesley Eeps}, Pat Flowers, Ruby Hill, with archive footage of Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Dorothy Dandridge, Day Dawn & Dusk, Francine Everett, The Jubalaires, Mable {sic} Lee, Vanita Smythe • credits at IMDb watch b&w 'Jubalaires' song clip [12/2021 upload; 2:37] online at YouTube watch colorized 'Jubalaires' song clip [10/2022 upload; 2:37] online at YouTube |
  | "Soundies: A Musical History" TV documentary [2007] hosted by Michael Feinstein watch official trailer [2/2019 upload; 3:40] online at YouTube |
"Generazione De Sica, Canzoni da Guardare (The De Sica Generation, Songs To Watch)"
[R.A.I. Tg2 Dossier March 2008] by Michele Bovi
A documentary televised in Italy on Tg2 (Telegiornale del Secondo Programma) that researched and documented the earliest music videos
not listed at IMDb • VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available •
article about the episode on Michele Bovi's website - in English
"The Spy-Story of Music Videos" interview/article [2015]
The fascinating spy-story of Cinebox and Scopitone music videos - interview of Michele Bovi by Johnny Charlton
article/transcript about the interview on Michele Bovi's website - in English
Image  Gallery
       
L i n k s
JJ's 'Class Act' Movie Musicals website
I Dream of Hollywood
¯
http://www.soundie.net/ [est. 10/2022]
app for organizing personal music playlists based in Munich, Germany
Visit Our Other Online Film Festival Pages
Afro-American Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Atomic Film Festival at Spirit of America Bookstore
Auto-Racing Movies Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Ayn Rand Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Baseball Movies Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Beatnik Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
'Biker Movies' Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Boxing Movies Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Circus Film Festival at Spirit of America Bookstore
Classic Movies & Cinema Masters Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Culver City, California Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Cyber Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Economics Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Education Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Existentialist Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Films Noir Festival at BlackHat Mystery Bookstore
Football Movies Film Festival at Magic Lantern
47 Rônin / Chüshingura Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Gangster Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Hollywood Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Horse-Racing Movies Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Human Rights Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Kings & Queens Film Festival at Magic Lantern
'Knights of Yore' Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Labor Movement Film Festival at Spirit of America Bookstore
Movie Musicals Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Muscle-Head Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Native American Film Festival at 'Readers of the Purple Sage' Bookstore
Oscar-Winning Western Movies Page at 'Readers of the Purple Sage' Bookstore
Philosophy Film Festival at Maison d'Être Philosophy Bookstore
Pirate Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Political Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Railroad Film Festival at Spirit of America Bookstore
'Rat Race' Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Road Movies Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Rock Music Film Festival at Spirit of America Bookstore
Samurai Films at Magic Lantern
Science Fiction Film Festival at Magic Lantern
Shakespeare On Film at Magic Lantern
Sherlock Holmes Film Festival at BlackHat Mystery Bookstore
Magic Lantern's Soundie Musical Movies Festival   « « you are here  
Sports Film Festival Pages at Magic Lantern
War [& Anti-War] Film Festival Pages at Magic Lantern
Western Movies Film Festival at 'Readers of the Purple Sage' Bookstore
... and others on the Online Film Festivals Index Page
here on Magic Lantern's Soundie Musical Movies Page
top of page • short history • Soundie Musical Movies • other companies •
books • movies & TV, other media • image gallery • links
¯                ¯
on Magic Lantern's Musical Concerts & Filmed Performances Film Festival Page
top of page  ¯  
short history  ¯  
links
selected musical concert films • from 1960 • from 1980 • from 2000 • from 2010 • NEW movies & coming soon
on Magic Lantern's Movie Musicals Film Festival Pages
short history • books • video & DVD collections • links •
other media about movie musicals • Broadway/movie music albums
selected movie musical films: films to 1940 • films from 1941 on
1950 • 1960 • 1970 • 1980 • 1990 • 2000 • 2010 • recent movies & coming soon
¯                ¯
Visiting this webpage from outside the U.S.A.? It is possible to make purchases from these coded Amazon (USA) links
via other Amazon sites: just follow these instructions.
Online sales in association with 
                         
top of this page    ¯    back to Magic Lantern homepage