Music Videos Through the Ages
1920’s Music videos in the 1920’s were called ‘talkies’, Sound Films or Vitaphones. These were produced by the Warner Bros. and First National Studios. They were mainly used for feature films. Shown on the Television. Example: ‘The Jazz Singer’, Al Jolson (1927) 1930’s In the early 1930’s music videos were featured in cartoons mainly made by Walt Disney. They were known as ‘Silly Symphonies’ or ‘Merrie Melodies’. These showed famous Jazz and Blues musicians with animated characters. Shown on the Television. Example: ‘St. Louis Blues’, Bessie Smith (1930) 1940’s Music videos in the 1940’s were called ‘Soundies’. These were three minute short musical films. Each contained dancing, live orchestra etc. They were all Jazz and Blues songs. They were shown on Jukeboxes and Music Machines in restaurants, bars, pubs etc. They cost about $12,000 to manufacture. Example: ‘Boardwalk Boogie’, Will Bradley (1943) 1950’s Many music videos in this era were made as a r...