Soundies – A soundie is a three minute black and white musical film. They were produced between 1940 and 1946 in New York City, Hollywood and Chicago. The 1940’s were considered the ‘Golden Age’ in America. Soundies covered a variety of genres including classical, big-band swing, hillbilly novelties and patriotic songs. The soundies were projected in several places such as bars, restaurants, nightclubs, factory lounges and amusement centres on coin operated jukeboxes. Various companies produced soundies including Minoco, RCM Productions (managed by James Roosevelt, FDR’s son). Sam Coslow worked as a pioneer in development of arcade music machines and he came up with the link to display the soundies on panorams.
Scopitone – In the 1960’s scopitones were produced which were a type of jukebox which needed a 16mm film component. Scoptione films were an early form of the music videos we have today. The scopitones were distributed in colour. It originated from France in the early 1960’s and by 1964 there were around 500 scopitones in the USA, and they were becoming popular around Europe too. Scopitones were the ancestors of today’s music videos. Unknown artists sang popular English songs with 36 different titles.
Experimental film – Experimental films were around in the 1920’s. A small number of people were interested in the experimental films. Some of the characteristics of experimental films are formed by the absence of linear narrative. Most experimental films consisted of abstract images, out of focus shots and rapid editing. It was known as an individual genre with its own codes and conventions. The longest experimental film was 8 hours, made in the 1960’s.
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