Soundies: Black Music from the 1940s

[mahatmakanejeeves]

In honor of Fred Douglas and Black History Month....

Seriously, I caught a TV show years ago, surely public TV, about "soundies." I had never heard of them before.

What are Soundies?

Soundies were three-minute American musical 16mm films, produced in New York City, Chicago, and Hollywood, between 1940 and 1946, each containing a song, dance and/or band or orchestral number. The completed Soundies were generally made available for rental within a few weeks of their filming, in film collections of eight to a reel, primarily by the Soundies Distributing Corporation of America, from which the name "Soundies" was generalized to any similar film, including later, single pieces shot as "filler" for early television. The last true Soundies group was released in March 1947. The films were displayed on the Panoram, a coin-operated film jukebox or machine music, in nightclubs, bars, restaurants, factory lounges, and amusement centers{.}

They are a real joy. Here's a Youtube video:

I'm being logged off. Prepare to be delighted.

[AllaN01Bear]

1. thanks for sharing