Thomas Edison intended to marry images to sound as far back as 1885. The problem was he couldn’t get his phonograph and kinetoscope to synchronize. When others inventors finally did, rather than admit defeat, Edison declared in 1926 that Americans would always prefer silent movies over talkies anyway. Hollywood movie-makers felt the same, with the exception of Warner Bros., who in 1925 were eager to make their popular theaters even more popular. Sam Warner suggested to his brothers Harry, Al, and Jack, that they give sound a try. Read more about the era of silent films and the evolution of talking pictures in BEHIND THE STORY.
