The Vitaphone Project!

In 1991 a group of film buffs and record collectors met to discuss the possibility of seeking out the shellac soundtrack discs that accompanied early 1926-1930 Vitaphone (and other) talkie shorts and features. The Vitaphone Project was formed to accomplish this goal as well as to partner with the studios (particularly Turner/WB), film archives (UCLA, LOC, BFI), and private collectors worldwide in order to get these films restored and seen again. Of particular interest were the nearly 2,000 talkie short subjects, featuring vaudevillians, bands, opera singers, and comedians made by Vitaphone from 1926-1929. In many cases 35mm picture elements exist without an accompanying soundtrack.

Since its inception The Vitaphone Project has located over 3,000 12- and 16-inch shellac soundtrack discs in private hands, has assisted on the restoration of over 35 shorts and 12 features, and has developed nearly $300,000 in private funding for restorations. There are still over 80 shorts for which picture, but no sound, exists.

We need your help to continue to locate soundtrack discs, mute film elements, underwriters, and relatives of people who worked on these films. Loaners of discs get their own copy of the completed restoration, and underwriters of restorations (currently a tax deductible $4,500 through UCLA) also get a copy as well as on-screen credit.

Read all about the progress the Vitaphone Project has made over the past seven years in the Vitaphone Newsletters!

Vitaphone News - Volume 1, #1 #3 #4 Vitaphone Sheet Music!

Vitaphone News - Volume 2, #1 #2 USA TODAY Article

Vitaphone News - Volume 3, #1 #2 #3 Vitaphone Pictures!

Vitaphone News - Volume 4, #1 #2 #3 #4 Complete list of Restorable Vitaphone Shorts!!

Vitaphone News - Volume 5, #1 #2 #3 #4 Frequently Asked Questions!! - VERY INTERESTING!

Vitaphone News - Volume 6, #1 #2 #3 #4 Visit with Bob Gitt at UCLA

Vitaphone News - Volume 7, #1 #2 #3 #4 Vitaphone DataBase

Vitaphone News - Volume 8, #1 #2 #3 #4

NEW VITA SOUNDTRACK CD GIFTS FOR DONATIONS OVER $50!
ALL ARE WELCOME!

We are very grateful to all of the readers (both hardcopy and on the web) of VITAPHONE NEWS for financial support of our efforts. Large donations are redirected to UCLA for specific restorations. But your contributions of $20, $50, etc. are used to pay for the printing and distribution of this newsletter, and for stationery, postage and supplies. As each issue now costs us about $750 to print and distribute, you can see why all of the donations go into this important networking activity. If you’ve contributed already, THANKS! If not, please consider doing so.

We appreciate the continued support of The Vitaphone Project and like to show our thanks by sending donors of $50 or more their choice of custom made CD's with rare soundtracks.

We've added a few more CD's, so those of you who have contributed in the past may want to consider these available Vitaphone CD’s. # CD’s available are in () :

VICTOR PICT-UR-MUSIC DISCS Vol. 1 (1)
VICTOR PICT-UR-MUSIC DISCS Vol. 2 (1)

And from our existing library

MORE VITAPHONE SOUNDTRACKS - 2007 EDITION - Includes 13 tracks from 1926-30 vaudeville and band shorts, not included on any previous CD. (1)
SOUNDTRAX STUFF #1 - 29 soundtracks of musical performances from 1930 - 1940, featuring tunes from Paramount features, Vitaphone and other studio shorts, and peppy credits music. (1)
WHEELER & WOOLSEY TUNES (2 CD's) - includes virtually every one of the songs from their 1929-37 features. For real fans! (2)
OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE, Vol. 1 - features musical selections from 1929-38 Paramount shorts and features. (1)
FOX MOVIETONE MUSICAL 78's - Prepared for audience entrance music at Film Forum's recent "Fox Before The Code" series, this CD features commercial 78's of songs from 1929-34 Fox Movietone musicals. Bands include George Olsen, The High Hatters, McKinney's Cotton Pickers and Anson Weeks. Toe tapping! (1)
GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY ('29) Vitaphone discs - 99% of the sound from this still substantially lost early Vitaphone feature. (1)
MY MAN ('28) - all available discs from the lost Fanny Brice feature, plus trailer disc and contemporary 78's of film tunes. (2)
BABY ROSE MARIE, THE CHILD WONDER ('29) - all known 1929-38 78's by this popular child star, plus tracks from her 3 Vitaphone shorts, features and even her 1938 radio show. (1)
MISS FRANCES WILLIAMS - 78's, radio transcriptions and film soundtracks by this popular and sophisticated singer, 1927 - 1937. (1)
VITAPHONE SOUNDTRACKS - Vol 1-4 Selections from soundtrack discs from vaudeville, band and feature films. (4)
WHY BE GOOD? Soundtrack - the complete jazzy Vitaphone discs for this soon to be restored 1929 silent starring Colleen Moore. Believed to feature Jimmy Dorsey, Phil Napoleon and Eddie Lang among others. (1)
Vitaphone Dance Band Favorites
Complete WHY BE GOOD? (‘29) track (1)
1926-34 Vitaphone, Educational shorts tracks (2)
Sylvia Froos 78’s & Soundtracks 1930 - 1950’s (1)
GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY (‘29) 95% of the full track plus trailer (2)
Warner Brothers 1932-36 Musical Radio Promos (1)(includes WONDER BAR, TWENTY MILLION SWEETHEARTS, GO INTO YOUR DANCE, GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935, much more)
Baby Rose Marie, The Child Wonder 1929-38. (1) Includes her three Vitaphone tracks, all her 78’s of this period, plus other film tracks and a full 15 minute ‘38 radio show.
Miss Frances Williams (1) - The great risqué songstress, include all but one of her 78’s, her ‘27 Vitaphone short, soundtracks to her 1930’s features, and radio shows.
MY MAN (2) - All 11 Vitaphone discs that exist, plus trailer, related pop 78’s of the featured tunes.
Vitaphone Shorts and features soundtracks 1926-31 (4). Vaudeville, bands, trailers, music & effects. Over 40 tracks.
Vitaphone shorts music tracks, 1932-38. (2)

You may select from a growing choice of “thank you” Vitaphone CD’s when making your (non-deductible) donation. Remember that these are unique, non-professional (but highly listenable) recordings of rare early talkie material. No fancy notes or packaging, but we are sure you will enjoy them. Contributions, while not deductible, are greatly appreciated and help us continue to get the word out on our efforts. Just let us know your pick:

$50 - Pick any one CD

$75 - Choose any two CD's

$100 - Pick any three CD's

$150 - Pick any six CD's

$200 or more - Pick any eight CD's

Donate to The Vitaphone Project securely with any major credit card through PayPal!

Checks (not deductible) should be made payable to:

Ron Hutchinson (NOT The Project)
5 Meade Court
Piscataway, NJ 08854

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN NEW ISSUES ARE ADDED TO THIS WEB SITE:

Add me to the Vitaphone Project E-Mail List!

VITAPHONE NEWS	ISSN 1066-5951
Corresponding Secretary & Editor	Ron Hutchinson	5 Meade Court Piscataway, NJ 08854 (732) 463-8521 FAX: (732) 463-8521 ron@vitaphoneproject.com
Database	Rich Markow	richmarkow@aol.com
Treasurer	Alan Cooperman	23 Clover Hill Road Willington, NJ 07946
Co-Founders:	John Newton	P.O. Box 7191 Wilmington, DE 19803
	Sherwin Dunner	P.O. Box 1992 New York, NY 10013
	Vince Giordano	1316 Elm Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11230
Vitaphone Project Web Page	http://www.vitaphoneproject.com	medusashaircut@erols.com

Vitaphone News - Volume 1, #1 #3 #4	Vitaphone Sheet Music!
Vitaphone News - Volume 2, #1 #2	USA TODAY Article
Vitaphone News - Volume 3, #1 #2 #3	Vitaphone Pictures!
Vitaphone News - Volume 4, #1 #2 #3 #4	Complete list of Restorable Vitaphone Shorts!!
Vitaphone News - Volume 5, #1 #2 #3 #4	Frequently Asked Questions!! - VERY INTERESTING!
Vitaphone News - Volume 6, #1 #2 #3 #4	Visit with Bob Gitt at UCLA
Vitaphone News - Volume 7, #1 #2 #3 #4	Vitaphone DataBase
Vitaphone News - Volume 8, #1 #2 #3 #4