The Family Album | 1929 | Animation, Sponsored Film

Title: The Family Album | 1929 | Animation, Sponsored Film Studio: Audio-Cinema Inc. Starring: Billy Murray Release Date: 1929 Runtime: 10 Format: Sound-on-film, black-and-white; 35mm Country: United States Language: English Genres: Animation, Sponsored film, Short, Nonfiction --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to Tel E. Phone 00:02:00 The Radio Twins: Microphone and Loudspeaker 00:04:30 Public Address Demonstration 00:06:30 Electrical Stethoscope and Heartbeat 00:08:30 Talkie Showcase and Finale --- Summary: An animated industrial short, The Family Album presents “Old Father Tel E. Phone” guiding a press tour through his technological “family.” Each segment introduces a descendant—microphone, loudspeaker, public address system, electrical stethoscope, and the “talkie”—to illustrate how telephone-era innovations extend sound transmission into everyday life. Narrated by singer Billy Murray, the film blends demonstration and light humor to explain new sound technologies to general audiences, culminating in a musical finale that ties the devices together under the Bell System umbrella. --- Background: Produced by Audio-Cinema Inc. for Western Electric Company, this sponsored film was created to popularize sound technologies at the dawn of the talkies. Animators Paul Terry and Frank Moser contributed animation, Charles W. Barrell provided the scenario, and composer Philip A. Scheib supplied the musical score. The Library of Congress holds a 16mm copy, and preservation notes identify it as an early animated sound film circulated in both 35mm and 16mm prints. --- Trivia: The film includes what has been cited as the first sound-on-film recording of the human heartbeat, presented during the electrical stethoscope segment. The opening identifies it as “A Bell System Picture,” reflecting Western Electric’s role in developing and promoting sound equipment for theaters and industry. The Library of Congress copy is incomplete, ending abruptly with end titles and part of the closing section missing. Composer Philip A. Scheib later became closely associated with American theatrical cartoons, but this short shows his early work for sponsored films. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: 1929 Original Studio / Distributor: Audio-Cinema Inc. for Western Electric Company Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: PublicDomain Animation 1929 WesternElectric BellSystem SponsoredFilm ShortFilm LibraryOfCongress Source page: https: //www.loc.gov/item/2023600642/ Direct media URL: https: //tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/mbrs/ntscrm/00046871/00046871.mp4