Panorams used mirrors and were about the size of a refrigerator. The films shown were on a continuous loop and everything was housed in an art deco-style, high quality wooden cabinet.
They were first produced by the Mills Novelty Company of Chicago, Illinois which also made art deco-style, fancy slot machines.
With the beginning of World War II, production of "Soundies" and Panorams were drastically reduced due to wartime raw material shortages.
--GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label Mills Panoram "Soundies". Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mills Panoram "Soundies". Show all posts
Friday, October 21, 2016
Panoram and "Soundies"-- Part 2: Televison Killed It
The Mills Company built a vast library of short, 3-minute videos for their "Soundies." They featured the music stars of the era like Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Cab Calloway. Many of these videos survive and are considered priceless archives of music from the pre-war period.
The Panorams were priced at $10,000 in 2006 dollars and generally found in bars, cafes and upscale dancing establishments. They were quite a curiosity.
After World War II, they never regained their popularity due to competition from television.
--GreGen
The Panorams were priced at $10,000 in 2006 dollars and generally found in bars, cafes and upscale dancing establishments. They were quite a curiosity.
After World War II, they never regained their popularity due to competition from television.
--GreGen
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Panoram "Soundies"-- Part 1: Showed Early Music Videos in the 1940s
In the last post, there was a photograph of two Mills Panogram "Soundies" and mention that they were a sort of an early video jukebox. A little more research was necessary as I'd never heard of them.
Good old Wiki to the rescue.
Panoram was the trademark name of visual jukeboxes that played music accompanied by a synchronized, film image (like today's music videos). It was a jukebox playing a closed-loop 16 mm film reel projected out onto a glass screen.
They were popular in the United States in the 1940s.
--GreGen
Good old Wiki to the rescue.
Panoram was the trademark name of visual jukeboxes that played music accompanied by a synchronized, film image (like today's music videos). It was a jukebox playing a closed-loop 16 mm film reel projected out onto a glass screen.
They were popular in the United States in the 1940s.
--GreGen
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Shorpy Home Front Photos: Slots of Music
SEPTEMBER 25, 2016 LOTS OF SLOTS: 1944-- "Slot machine stockroom, Maser Music Co., Mission and Washburn streets, San Francisco. 1944. 40s One-Armed Bandits. Take My Money!!
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016, PLUG-AND-PLAY: 1944-- June 7, 1944. "Maser Music showroom, Mission and Washburn streets, San Francisco. "On display on D-Day Plus One, a selection of Wurlitzer jukeboxes and two Mills Panoram "Soundies" machines, a sort of early video jukebox that played 16 mm film loops of musical acts for a dime.
One comment says these "Soundies" were before MTV. Some mighty pretty machines. Wish i had one in my cave.
Even In war, Gotta Gamble and Tune In. --GreGen
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016, PLUG-AND-PLAY: 1944-- June 7, 1944. "Maser Music showroom, Mission and Washburn streets, San Francisco. "On display on D-Day Plus One, a selection of Wurlitzer jukeboxes and two Mills Panoram "Soundies" machines, a sort of early video jukebox that played 16 mm film loops of musical acts for a dime.
One comment says these "Soundies" were before MTV. Some mighty pretty machines. Wish i had one in my cave.
Even In war, Gotta Gamble and Tune In. --GreGen
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