Category: A

Stars of the past who were not necessarily working regularly, and new talent on the way up: In both cases, Soundies producers could get experienced

In the World of Soundies, racism and racial/gender/religious stereotyping range from ugly and virulent, to obscure and what today we call “dog whistles.” One of

Cartoonist Robert Crumb was, and continues to be, one of my cultural heroes, not the least because he is a huge fan of music from

While variety was a major cornerstone in Soundies production, there are reasons that classical music is rarely represented on the Panoram screen. For one thing,

“A Zoot Suit” is a far more important song than the jaunty melody and hip lyrics might suggest. True, the tune is always played as

While I continue to investigate how Ghana television is able to claim the rights to the Fats Waller Soundie The Joint Is Jumpin’, here is

Once again let’s board the Soundies Time Machine for a late evening musical treat. Head south on Central Avenue from downtown Los Angeles, turn right

       Johnny “Shadrach” Horace’s career is covered in a previous post, “Lazy River” by the Shadrach Boys. After a screening of this Soundie, Teddy Edwards, a

Bebop Spoken Here (as the song title goes) … with “just a little sex” (quote Porter Hall in Sullivan’s Travels). Well, yes and no on

            Although no one knew it at the time, the United States entry into the Second World War signed a death knell Soundies, although that