Tweet New Warner Archive Vitaphone Shorts Set out Tuesday, 12/14!

Hi all. Ironically we were in the midst of posting the latest issue of VITAPHONE NEWS, updated FAQ's, and a list of restrorable shorts, when I read this. Should all be up by this weekend at www.vitaphoneproject.com

But here is a list of Vitaphone shorts that are restorable, taha is disk and film both exist. Funding goes directly to UCLA at $4500 for a one reel short and id fully deductible.

Updated July 27, 2010

#279 Ephraim Zimbalist & Harold Bauer Duet (violin/ piano) 1926
#2142 The Monastery Quartet in "In A Monastery Cellar" 1927
#2513 The Klein Brothers in "Jest Moments" (comedy team) 1927
#418 Miss Pauline Alpert in ‘What Price Piano?’ 1927
#420 The Rollickers (close harmony pop group) 1927
#423 Margaret McKee 1927
#425 Rex Schepp Famous banjo player 1927
#434 Fleeson & Baxter 1927
#435 Fleeson & Baxter 1927
#436 John Barclay, Impersonator 1927
#483 The Revelers (pop singing quartet) 1927
#490 Moscow Art Ensemble in "A Russian Wedding Celebration" 1927
#492 Johnny Marvin 1927
#503 Utica Jubilee Singers (black gospel group) 1927
#524 Rosa Raisa 1927
#544 The Four Aristocrats (top harmony group) 1927
#571 The Four Aristocrats (top harmony group) 1927
#2147 Sally Fields, America’s Greatest Comedy Entertaininer
1927
#2233 Hobart Bosworth in ‘A Man of Peace’ 1927
#2279 Irene Rich in ‘The Beast’ 1927
#2280 The Imperial Ruissian Cossacks 1927
#2290 ‘Papa’s Vacation’ with William Demarest 1927
#2296 Billy & Elsa Newell (comedy team) 1928
#2299 Xavier Cugat and his Gigolos 1928
#2693 Larry Ceballos Crystal Cave Revue 1928
#2736 The Croonaders in "Melodious Moments" (singers) 1928
#2755 Timblin & Raymond (comedy team) 1928
#2758 Ulis & Clarke (comedy team) 1928
#715 The Original Hillbillies 1928 (incomplete film)
#3280 DIck Henderson in "At The Church Festival" 1929
#3300 "Head of the Family" with Little Billy 1929
#707 Mexican Tipica Orchestra 1929
#712 Jim and Betty Morgan in ‘Songs as You Like Them‘ 1929
#750/751 Willie & Eugene Howard in ‘My People‘ 1929
#760 Raymond Hitchcock in ‘An Evening At Home
With Hitchy’ 1929
#761 Sessue Hayakawa in ‘The Man Who Laughed Last’
(first reel of 2 only) 1929
#763 Harry Horlick and his A&P Gypsies 1929
#793 Carolina Seguera, The Cuban Nightengale with
Don Alberto & His Argentines 1929
#803 Sympathy" w/ Hobart Cavanaugh 1929
#837 Riva Reyes, The Piquant Senorita (singer) 1929
#840 The Big Paraders 1929
#863 Nan Halperin, America’sFavorite Satirist 1929
#878 The Kiddies Kabaret 1929
#929 Summers and Hunt in "Some Pumpkins" 1929
#1045 "Fashion"s Mirror" musical fashion show 1930
#946 Jack McLallen and Sarah in ‘Oh Sarah!’ 1929
#965 "Gym Jams" with Lew Mayor (Juggler) 1930
#969 Chester Conklin in ‘The Master Sweeper’ 1930
#2554 Daphne Pollard in "Wanted - A Man" (comedienne) 1928
#1177 Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy in ‘Donkey Business’
1931
#1195 Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy in ‘Hocus Pocus’
1931
#3238/3239 Harrison Ford in ‘The Flattering Word’ 1930






Operatics & Classical shorts:

Beniamino Gigli in “Cavalleria Rusticana” 1927
Charles Hackett & Rosa Low in “Romeo et Juliette Tomb Scene” 1927
Gigli in selections from “Opera La Gioconda” 1927
Giuseppe De Luca singing “Largo al Factotum” 1927
John Charles Thomas in two selections 1927
Marion Talley, DeLuca, Gigli and Jeanne Gordon in quartette from “Rigoletto” 1927
Martinelli in “Celeste Aida” 1927
Martinelli in duet from Act IV of “La Juive” 1927
Martinelli in Selections from “Carmen” 1927
Rosa Raisa & Giacomo Rimini duet from “Trovatore” 1927
Schumann-Heink in three selections 1927
Schumann-Heink singing “By The Waters of the Minnetonka” & others 1927
Schumann-Heink singing “Danny Boy and others” 1927
Pasquale Amato in “A Neopolitan Romance” 1928
Charles Hackett in “Faust”, asst. by Chas. Baromeo 1929
Charles Hackett singing “Il Mio Tesoro Intanto” & “O Paradiso” 1929
Martinelli singing “M’Appari” from “Martha” 1929
Francis Alda singing “Ave Maria” 1930
Martinelli in “Prison Scene from ‘Faust’” 1930
Martinelli in Temple Scene from “Aida” 1930
Martinelli singing “Celeste Aida” 1930

And if it isn't too much, here is a list of 1926-30 Vitaphone shorts for which film exists, but no disks are currently known. When a disk turns up, they will then be restorable. Some tantalizing titles!

VITAPHONE SHORTS - FILM BUT NO DISCS KNOWN


AL ABBOTT IN “SMALL TOWN RAMBLES”
AL LYDELL & BOBBY HIGGINS IN “A FRIEND OF FATHER’S”
AL TRAHAN IN “TH MUSICALE”
ALBERT CARROLL IN “IMPRESSIONS”
ALBERT SPAULDING, CONCERT VIOLINIST
ALBERT MORRISON, ASSISETED BY WALTER WEEMS
AMATEUR NIGHT
ANDERSON & GRAVES IN “FISHING AROUND”
ANN CODEE & FRANK ORTH (7 shorts in all)
ANNA CHANDLER IN “POPULAR SONGS”
ARCHIE GOTTLER, HIS SONGS ARE IN MILLIONS OF HOMES
THE ARNAUT BROTHERS
ARTHUR & MORTON HAVEL IN “PLAYMATES”
ARTHUR “PAT” WEST IN “SHIP AHOY”
AT THE PARTY
AT YOUR SERVICE
AUNT JEMIMAH, THE ORIGINAL FUN FLOWER MAKER
BAILEY & BARNUM IN “THE GLOBE TROTTERS”
BAILEY & BARNUM IN “WITHOUT A BAND”
BARRY & WHITLEDGE IN “JEST FOR AWHILE”
BARTRAM AND SAXTON IN “THE LAND OF HARMONY”
BEATRICE LILLIE AND HER BOYFRIENDS
BEN BARD IN “THE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLFER”
BEN RYAN AND HARIETTE LEE, WEBSTERIAN STUDENTS
BENNETT TWINS, LITTLE BARE-KNEED SYNCOPATORS
BERT SWOR IN “DUCKS AND DEDUCTS”
BILLY LYTELL & TOM FANT IN “TWO OF A KIND”
BOBBE ARNST & PEGGY ELLIS IN “RHYTHMS IN BLUE”
BOBBY FOLSOM, A MODERN PRISCILLA
BOBBY GILETTE WITH DORIS WALKER IN “SYNCOPATED BREEZES”
BORN & LAWRENCE IN “THE ARISTOCRATS”
BORN & LAWRENCE IN “THE SIDE SHOW”
BRITT WOOD, THE BOOB AND HIS HARMONICA
BROOKS AND ROSS, TWO BOYS AND A PIANO
BROWN AND WHITAKER, IN THE PARK
BRUCE BOWERS IN “ARTISTIC MIMICRY”
BUDDY DOYLE, THE SINGING GEORGIAN
BUDDY DOYLE SINGING “TAKE IN THE SUN” AND OTHERS
BURKE & DURKIN IN “A TETE A TETE OF SONGS”
CAROLINA SEGRERA, THE CUBAN NIGHTENGALE
THE CAVE CLUB
CECILIA LOFTUS IN HER FAMOUS IMPERSONATIONS
CHARLES C. PETERSON, BILLIARD CHAMPION
CHARLES IRWIN, THE DEBONAIR HUMORIST
CHARLES ROGERS IN “THE ICE MAN”
CHARLES RUGGLES AND COMPANY IN “WIVES, ETC.”
CHIC YORKE AND ROSE KING IN “TINTYPES”
CHIEF CAUPOLICAN, THE INDIAN BARITONE
CLAIR OMAR MUSSER
CLARENCE TISDALE, THE SOUTHLAND’S SPRITUAL TENOR
CLAUDIA COLEMAN
CODEE AND ORTH IN “STRANDED IN PARIS”
CLYDE COOK IN “LUCKY IN LOVE”
COLETTA RYAN AND DUKE YELLMAN IN “SONGOLOGY”
THE COLLEGIATE FOUR IN “CAMPUS CAPERS”
COYLE & WEIR IN “SONGS AND DANCES”
THE CROONADERS IN “JUST CROONING ALONG”
THE CRUSE BROTHERS, THE MISSOURI SHIEKS
DAPHNE POLLARD IN “CLEO TO CLEOPATRA”
DAVE APOLLON AND HIS RUSSIAN STARS
DAVE BERNIE’S ORCHESTRA
DE LA PLAZA AND JUANITA WITH THEIR SPANISH SERENADERS
DEAD OR ALIVE WITH HUGH O’CONNELL
DEVIL’S PARADE
THE DIPLOMATS
DIXIE DAYS
DOLLY CONNNOLLY AND PERCY WENRICH
DON ALBERTO Y SU ORQUESTA ARGENTINA
DONALD BRIAN, AMERICA’S FOREMOST MUSICAL COMEDY STAR
DORA MAUGHAN IN “SONG IMPRESSIONS”
DORA MAUGHAN, THE BAD, BAD WOMAN
DORIS DUNCAN, HERRING AND ZEH
DOROTHY AND ROSETTA RYAN IN “MIRTH AND MELODY
DOROTHY WHITMORE, THE POPULAR PRIMA DONNA
DOUGLAS STANBURY
DOUG AND GAMBY O ROXY’S RADIO GANG
ED LOWRY WITH HIS ORCHESTRA
EDDIE CONRAD, BROADWAY’S FAVORITE COMEDIAN (two shorts)
EDDIE GREEN AND CO. IN “SENDING A LETTER”
EDDIE LAMBERT, AMERICA’S FOREMOST CONCERT PIANIST
EDDIE MILLER IN “THE ONE MAN QUARTETTE”
EDDIE NELSON AND CO. IN “STOP AND GO”
EDDIE PEABODY ASSISTED BY JIMMY MAISEL “IN A MUSIC SHOP”
EDDIE QUILLAN AND FAMILY
EDISON AND GREGORY IN “THE TWO COLLEGE NUTS”
ELEANOR PAINTER, THE LYRIC SOPRANO
ETHEL GREY TERRY IN “SHARP TOOLS”
FANNIE WARD IN “THE MIRACLE WOMAN”
FANNY AND KITTY WATSON IN “BIGGER AND BETTER”
THE FASHION PLATES OF HARMONY
FIELDS AND JOHNSTON IN “TERRY AND JERRY”
FLO LEWIS IN “GIVE US A LIFT”
FLORENCE BRADY IN “CHARACTER STUDIES”
FLORENCE MOORE
THE FLORENTINE CHOIR OF FLORENCE
FLORRIE LAVERE WITH LOU HANDMAN OFFERS “PERSONALITIES”
THE FOUR ARISTOCRATS (two shorts)
THE FOUR SYNCO-PETS IN “MUSICAL MOMENTS”
FRANK BROWNE AND KAY LA VELLE IN “DON’T HANDLE THE GOODS”
FRANK CRUMIT, THE ONE MAN GLEE CLUB
FRANK MOULAN, THE MUSICAL COMEDY & LIGHT OPERA COMEDIAN
FRANK ORTH AND COMPANY IN “MEET THE WIFE”
FRED ARDATH (3 shorts)
FRED KEATING IN “ILLUSIONS”
GENE MORGAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA
GEORGE FISHER AND HONEY HURST IN “APARTMENT HUNTING”
GEORGE GIVOT AND LEONARD & HINES
GEORGE ROSENER IN “THE FALLEN STAR”
GEORGE WHITING AND SADIE BURT IN “SONG SAYINGS”
GEORGES CARPENTIER IN “NAUGHTY BUT NICE”
GIL WELLS IN “A BREEZE FROM THE SOUTH”
GRACE HAYES AND NEVILLE FLEESON IN “DIAMOND LIL”
GUY ROBERTSON IN “HIGH WATER”
HARRINGTON SISTERS IN “A GARDEN OF SONGS”
HARRY AND DAN DOWNING IN “HIGH UP AND LOW DOWN”
HARRY DELF IN “SOUP”
HARRY LANG AND BERNICE HALEY IN “WHO’S WHO”
HARRY TATE IN “MOTORING”
HARRY TATE IN “SELLING A CAR”
HARRY TATE IN “THE PATENT OFFICE”
HEARST PAPER RADIO KIDS
HELEN YORKE AND VIRGINIA JOHNSON IN “CRINOLINE CLASSICS”
HENRY HALSTEAD’S BAND IN “CARNIVAL NIGHT IN PARIS”
HERBERT RAWLNSON, THE MONOLOGIST OF THE SCREEN
HERE COMES THE SHOWBOAT
HERMAN TIMBERG IN “THE LOVE BOAT”
HERSCHEL HENLERE IN “THE MADCAP MUSICIAN”
HOBART BOSWORTH IN “A MAN OF PEACE”
HOPE HAMPTON IN THE FOURTH ACT OF “MANON”
HOPE VERNON, THE SUNSHINE GIRL
HOW’S YOUR STOCK?
“THE HUNT” WITH VERNON RICKARD
HURLEY, PUTNAM AND SNELL
HURST ANG VGT IN “BEFORE THE BAR”
IMPERIAL RUSSIAN COSSACKS
“IN THE MINES” WITH VERNON RICKARD AND THE BLACK DIAMOND FOUR
IN THE NICK OF TIME
IRENE RICH AND CO, IN “THE BEAST”
IRENE RICH IN “LEAD KINDLY LIGHT”
IRENE STONE IN “SONGS AS YOU LIKE THEM”
ISA KREMER (3 shorts)
JACK AND JOHNNY TRIGG
JACK GOLDIE IN “THE ACE OF SPADES”
JACK McLALLEN AND SARAH IN “OH SARAH”
JACK NORWORTH IN “SONGS AND THINGS”
JACK WALDRON IN “A LITTLE BREATH OF BROADWAY”
JACK WHITE AND HIS CHATEAU MADRID CLUB ENTERTAINERS
JANET ADAIR IN “HERE COMES THE BRIDESMAID”
JAY VELIE IN “SONGS OF LOVE”
JEAN BARRIOS IN “FEMININE TYPES”
JESSE STAFFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA
JIM AND BETTY MORGAN IN “SONGS AS YOU LIKE THEM”
JIM MILLER AND CHARLES FARRELL
JIMMY DUFFY AND HELEN GLEASON IN ‘FRESH FROM HOLLYWOOD”
JIMMY LYONS, THE UNOFFICIAL DIPLOMAT
JOE BROWNING AS THE REFORMER
JOE LEWIS, THE NIGHT CLUB FAVORITE
JOE MAY AND DOROTHY OAKS IN “A PERFECT UNDERSTANDING”
JOE WESTON AND COLETTE LYONS IN “EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE”
JOHN BARCLAY
JOHN CHARLES THOMAS, OUTSTANDING AMERICAN BARITONE
JOHN HYAMS AND LEILA McINTIRE IN “ALL IN FUN”
JOHN MILJAN IN “HIS NIGHT OUT”
JOHN T. MURRAY AND VIVIENE OAKLAND IN “SATIRES”
JOHN T. MURRAY AND VIVIENE OAKLAND IN “ THE HALL OF INJUSTICE”
JOHNNY HYMAN IN “PLAYING PRANKS WITH WEBSTER”
JOLLY FANNY RICE IN “TYPES”
JOSEF KALLINI
JOSEPH DISKAY , THE HUNGARIAN TENOR
JOSEPH REGAN, AMERICA’S FOREMOST IRISH TENOR
JOSIE HEATHER, THE CHARACTER COMEDIENNE
JULIA SANDERSON AND FRANK CRUMIT IN “WORDS OF LOVE”
JUNE PURSELL, HOLLYWOOD’S RADIO GIRL
JUNE, THE ENGLISH MUSICAL COMEDY STAR, WITH JOHN HUNDLEY
KARYL NORMAN, THE CREOLE FASHION PLATE
THE KAUFMAN BROTHERS, IRVING AND JACK
THE KIDDIE’S CABARET
KJERULF’S MAYFAIR QUINTETTE
KNIGHT MACGREGOR
THE KOUNS SISTERS
KUZNETZOFF AND NICOLINA IN “A RUSSIAN RHAPSODY”
LARRY CEBALLOS REVUE
LEO CARILLO IN “THE FOREIGNER”
LEO CARILLO IN “THE HELL GATE OF SOISSONS”
LERDO’S MEXICAN ORCHESTRA
LIPTON AND TERRILL IN “THE HUMAN MUSIC BOX”
LITTLE BILLY, THE FLAMING YOUTH
LOBO, THE DOG OF DOGS
LOOMIS TWINS
LORRAINE HOWARD AND FLORENCE NEWTON IN “WEDDING BELLES”
LOW DOWN, A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF HARLEM
LUANA ALCANIZ, “DONDE ESTAS CORAZON”
LYNN COWAN COMMUNITY SINGING (4 shorts)
MAL HALLET AND HIS ENTERTAINING ORCHESTRA
MAL HALLETT AND HIS WAY DOWN EAST BAND
MARCHING HOME
MARGARET McKEE
MARIE VERO
MARLOWE AND JORDAN
MASTER GILBERT,SENSATIONAL CHILD ARTIST
MAY McAVOY IN “SUNNY CALIFORNIA”
McKAY AND ARDINE IN “BACK FROM ABROAD”
MEXICAN TIPICA ORCHESTRA
MEYERS AND HANFORD, THE ARKANSAS TRAVELLERS
MIKE AMES IN “THE VARSITY VAMP”
MILLER AND LYLES IN “THE MIDNIGHT LODGE”
MILLER AND LYLES IN “THEY KNOW THEIR GROCERIES”
MILTON C. WORK
MINSTREL DAYS
MISS BOBBY FOLSOM IN “TYPICAL TYPES”
MISS KITTY DONER IN “A BIT OF SCOTCH”
MISS KITTY DONER, THE FAMOUS IMPERSONATOR
MISS MARCELLE, SINGING SOUTHERN SYNCOPATED SONGS
MOLLY PICON, THE CELEBRATED CHARACTER COMEDIENNE
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
MONTAGUE LOVE IN “CHARACTER STUDIES”
MR. AND MRS. JACK NORWORTH IN “ODDS AND ENDS”
MR. FRANK GABY, THE TOUT
NAN HALPERIN, AMERICA’S FAMOUS SATIRIST
NATT CARR, CHARACER COMEDIAN
THE NEWSBOYS’ HARMONICA BAND
THE NINETY-NINTH AMENDMENT
NON-SUPPORT
THE NOTRE DAME GLEE CLUB
O’NEIL AND VERMONT
ONLY THE GIRL
PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES, WITH DOUGLAS STANBURY
THE PALM BEACH FOUR
“PAPA’S VACATION” WITH WILLIAM DEMAREST
THE PARAGONS IN THE TROPICS
PASQUALE AMATO IN “A NEOPOLITAN ROMANCE”
PAT WEST AND HIS MIDDIESPAUL CUNNINGHAM AND FLORENCE BENNETT, THE POULAR SINGING COMPOSERS
PAULA TRUMAN IN “A GLIMPSE OF THE STARS”
PAULINE ALPERT IN “WHAT PRICE PIANO?”
PAULO, PEQUITA AND CHIQUITA
THE PAY OFF, WITH HENRY B. WALTHALL
POLLY MORAN, THE MOVIE CHATTERBOX
THE PREDICTION
THE RANGERS IN “AFTER THE ROUNDUP”
RAY HUGHES AND PAM IN “THE FALL GUY”
RAYMOND EISMAN, THE LITTLE ARTIST
RAYMOND HITCHCOCK IN “AN EVENING AT HOME WITH HITCHY”
THE RECORD BOYS (two shorts)
RED DONAHUE AN U-NO IN “A TRAFFIC MUDDLE”
REDMOND AND WELLS IN “THE GYP”
REEVA REYES, THE PIQUANT SENORITA
RENEE TUMANOVA AND COMPANY
RICHARD CARLE IN “THE WORRIER”
RIN TIN TIN AND HIS OWNER AND FRIEND,
MR. LEE DUNCAN
ROBERT EMMET KEANE AND CLAIRE WHITNEY IN “ROOM 909”
ROBERT T. HAINES IN “TEN MINUTES”
ROY AND DOT DEAN IN “HE’S A DEVIL”
RUTH BRETON, THE CELEBRATED VIOLINIST
RUTH ETTING IN “BROADWAY’S LIKE THAT”
RTH GLANVILLE, AMERICA’S PREMIERE SAXOPHONIST
SALLY FIELDS IN “THE HOSTESS”
SAM COSLOW, THE BROADWAY MINSTREL
SAMMY COHEN, IN “WHAT PRICEBURLESQUE”
SARAH PADDEN IN “SOUVENIRS”
SARAH PADDEN IN “THE ETERNAL BARRIER”
THE SERENADERS IN “RED HOT HARMONY”
SHAKE IT UP, WITH MORAN AND CHALLIS & THEIR CHEERFUL STEPPERS
SHAKESPEARE WAS RIGHT 
SHERRY LOUISE MARSHALL AND THE THREE BAD BOYS
SOLOMON’S CHILDREN
STELLA MAYHEW, THE HALLELUJAH LADY
STEVE FREDA AND JOHNNY PALACE IN “BARTCH A KALLOOP”
STEWART BRADY, THE SONG BIRD”
STRANDED
THE SUBSTITUTE
SUMMERS AND HUNT IN “SOME PUMPKINS”
THE SUNSHINE BOYS (two shorts)
SYLVIA CLARK IN “SEEING SARAH OFF”
SYLVIA FROOS, THE LITTLE PRINCESS OF SONGS (2 shorts)
SYMPATHY
TAJADO’S TIPICA ORCHESTRA
TED DONER AND HIS SUNKIST BEAUTIES
THE THREE BROX SISTERS IN “GLORIFYING THE AMERICAN SONG”
THE THREE COLONIAL GIRLS
TIMBLIN AND RAYMOND IN “THE TWO BLACK ACES”
TINY TOWN REVUE
THE TWO DOVES IN “DARK DAYS”
THE TWO DOVES IN “FLYING HIGH”
THE TWO DOVES IN “SCARED STIFF”
TWO ROUNDS OF LOVE
ULIS AND CLARK “IN DUTCH”
VENITA GOULD, FAMOUS STAR IMPERSONATOR
VINCENT ROSE AND JACKI TAYLOR AND THEIR HOLLYWOOD
MONTMARTE ORCHESTRA (two shorts)
VOICE OF VITAPHONE
WAITE HOYTE WITH J. FRED COOTS
WELLMAN AND RUSSEL IN “THE SWEET LONG AGO”
WILL AND GLADYS AHERN “ON THE RANCHO”
WILL AUBREY AND COMPANY IN “ A NIGHT ON THE BOWERY”
WILL OAKLAND, RADIO ENTERTAINER (two shorts)
WILLIAM HALLIGAN AND MARY MULHERN IN A NEW SKTCH
WILLIE AND EUGENE HOWARD IN “MY PEOPLE”
THE YACHT CLUB BOYS (two shorts, 1927 & 1929)

Thanks for the info sir! Man, that's a lot of titles without discs. Do you also have a list of shorts for which discs are known, but no film is known to exist?

I see that Pauline Alpert's "What Price Piano" is on both lists.

I see that Pauline Alpert's "What Price Piano" is on both lists.

Yes, the lists seem to need some updating. I noticed a few titles appearing on both lists. And the short FASHION'S MIRROR is on the first list, but was just released on the recent set of Vitaphone Shorts.

As Rich knows, discoveries occur continuously, but unfortunately my free time to update every list does not! The neat story on Pauline Alpert is that late last summer, in Australia a guy sent me a list of about a dozen Vitaphone disks he had for which film was previously not known. I contacted LoC to see if they had found any Vitaphone shorts film since their list was put together many years ago. The Pauline Alpert, Mexican Tipica Orchestra, and several others were now known, and hence restorable.

We report new discoveries, including these, in our twice a year Vitaphone News. Once I hit the lottery, I will have my new hire Rich Finegan on full pay to do daily updates! But rest assured the lists, even if slightly out of date, are not our sole guide on restoration possibilities.

Next issue has just been sent to those on our mailing list and the on-line version expected to be up this weekend.

And to Waver Boy's request, here s a list of Vitaphone shorts for which disks exist (either in archives or private hands) but currently no picture element is known:

DISKS EXIST - NO FILM (PICTURE) ELEMENTS - Vitaphone Shorts

FLONZALEY QUARTET
ADELE LENARR, JUVENILE SONGSTRESS
THE ADMIRALS, FOUR BOYS AND A UKELELE
ANN PENNINGTON IN “HELLO BABY”
AURIOLE CRAVEN OFFERS “SUPPOSE I HAD NEVER MET YOU”
BENNY RUBIN IN “SEVEN MINUTES OF YOUR TIME”
BERNIE CUMMINS AND HIS ORCHESTRA
BERT LEWIS, ACCOMPANIED BY JACK CARROLL AT THE PIANO
BERT LEWIS, POPULAR COMEDIAN
BOB MAC GREGOR
BUDDY TRAPS IN SOUND EFFECTS
BURLESCO POMPOSO
BUSINESS IS A PLEASURE
BY WIRELESS – GALOP
CANTOR JOSEF ROSENBLATT AND CHOIR
CAROLYNNE SNOWDEN AND COMPANY
CHARLES ROGERS IN “THE MOVIE MAN”
CINDERELLA BLUES
CLIFF NAZARRO AND THE TWO MARJORIES
CLIFFORD AND MARION IN “JUST DUMB”
A CLOISTER EPISODE
COSCIA AND VERDI IN “ MUSIC GLORIFIED, CLASSIFIED AND MORTIFIED
THE CRUSE BROTHERS, THE ARKANSAS TRIO
THE DEAD LINE
DERICKSON AND BROWN IN “A SONG DRAMA”
DICK HENDERSON IN “THE MUSIC SHOP”
DON CUMMINGS, THE DRAWING ROOM ROPER
DOROTHY MURRAY AND EARL LA VERE
DOUBLE MALE QUARTETTE OF RUSSIAN SINGERS
EDDIE BUZZELL IN “HELLO THAR”
EL BRENDEL AND FLO BERT IN “BEAU NIGHT”
THE ENGLISH SINGERS OF LONDON
EVOLUTION OF THE DANCE
THE FLORENTINE CHOIR OF FLORENCE
THE FOUR ARISTOCRATS
THE FOY FAMILY IN “FOYS FOR JOYS”
FRANCES SHELLEY, THE GIRL WITH THE GUITAR
FRANK AND TEDDY SABINI
FRANK X. SILK IN “THE MAN ABOUT TOWN”
THE FREEMAN SISTERS
FRENCH LEAVE
FUNICULI FUNICULA
GALE BROTHERS, JUVENILE COMEDIANS
GEORGE JESSEL IN A COMEDY MONOLOGUE
GIRL TROUBLE
GOD SAVE THE KING
HARRY DELF IN “CHARACTER SONGS”
HARRY MONTGOMERY, HUMORIST, IN HIS ORIGINAL MONOLUGUE
HJLAN BIRDS, COCKATOOS AT THEIR BEST
HOLIDAY IN STORYLAND
HOLLINGSWORTH AND CRAWFORD IN “BED TIME”
THE HOOT GIBSON TRIO”
IN A BLACKSMITH SHOP
IRENE FRANKLIN, AMERICAN COMEDIENNE, WITH JERRY JARNAGIN
ISA KREMER
JACK HALEY AND FLO MACFADDEN IN “HALEYISMS”
JACK HAZZARD IN “THE DARLING BRUTE”
JACK NORTH, TH BAN-JOKESTER
JACK SMITH IN A COMEDY AND POPULAR SONG ACT
JAN RUBINI, THE VIOLIN VIRTUOSO
JANE AND KATHERINE LEE
JANE GREEN AND COMPANY, SINGING THE BLUES
JANE GREEN IN “THE MELODY GIRL”
JAY VELIE IN “A GROUP OF SONGS”
JAY VELIE IN “ A JOURNEY OF SONGS”
JOE WEBER AND LEW FIELDS, BROADWAY’S FAVORITE COMEDIANS
JOE WONG, THE CHINES JAZZ BOY
JOHN CHARLES THOMAS
KARYL NORMAN IN “TYPES”
THE LAVALLES IN A SPANISH SERENADE
LEON NAVARA IN “PIANOLOGUE”
LINCOLN’S GETTYSBURG ADDRESS
LOIS WILSON AND EDWARD EVERETT HORTON IN “MISS INFORMATION”
LOTTI LODER IN “LONELY GIGOLO”
LOUISE KLOSS, HARPIST
MADAME FRANCES ALDA
MARCIALE REALE OF ITALY
MAY USHER, COMEDIENNE
THE MERLE TWINS, BELLE AND CECILLE
MOON MAID
NEAL SISTERS, BLONDES THAT GENTLEMEN PREFER
A NIGHT AT COFFEE DANS
NOBLE SISSLE AND EUBIE BLAKE
THE ORIGINAL HILLBILLIES WITH AL HOPKINS
THE ORIGINAL SIX BROWN BROTHERS
PLANTATION TRIO IN “LAND OF HARMONY”
PROFF MOORE AND HIS ORCHESTRA
THE QUESTION OF TODAY
REB SPIKES AND HIS FOLLIES ENTERTAINERS
REINALD WERRENRATH
ROSE PERFECT, THE GIRL WITH THE GOLDEN VOICE
ROSE AND MACK
RUSS WILDEY AND BILLY SHEEHAN
RUTH ETTING, GLORIFYING THE AMERICAN SONG
SEGAR ELLIS AND HIS EMBASSY CLUB ORCHESTRA
THE SERVANT PROBLEM
SPEED MANIACS
STANLEY AND GINGER IN “A FEW ABSURD MOMENTS”
THOSE PULLMAN PORTERS
VICTOR MOORE IN “BABY FACE”
VINCENT LOPEZ AND HIS ORCHESTRA
WATTS AND GILBERT
THE WEDDING OF JACK AND JILL
WESTON AND LYONS
ZELDA SANTLEY, LITTLE MISS EVERYBODY

Additions:

ABE LYMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA (#2274 only.)
ALBERT SPALDING
THE ALL GIRL REVUE
AND HOW
BABE EGAN AND HER HOLLYWOOD REDHEADS
BAILEY AND BARNUM IN “TWO WHITE ELEPHANTS”
BELL AND COATES IN A SINGING ACT
BERT WHEELER IN “SMALL TIMERS”
BRIDAL NIGHT
BURNS AND KISSEN IN “DANK YOU”
COLLEGE CAPERS
CONTRARY MARY
CORA GREEN, THE FAMOUS CREOLE SINGER
DANCE OF THE PAPER DOLLS
DAVE DREYER WITH NOLA SCHILLER
ED LOWRY, THE HAPPY JESTER
EDDIE FOY, JR. WITH BESSIE LOVE IN :THE SWELLED HEAD”
A FEW MOMENTS WITH GEORGE JESSEL
FOUR BUDDIES
FRANCES SHELLEY AND THE ETON BOYS
FRANCES WILLIAMS, SINGING COMEDIENNE
HARRY DELF IN “GIVING IN”
HARRY ROSETHAL AND HIS BATH AND TENNIS CLUB ORCHESTRA
THE HOLLYWOOD REDHEADS
KING AND BOLES
MR. ALLAN PRIOR, AUSTRALIAN TENOR
PHIL BAKER IN “A BAD BOY FROM A GOOD FAMILY”
ROGER WOLFE KAHN AND HIS ORCHESTRA (two shorts)
THE ROLLICKERS IN A COLLEGE CLUB ROOM SCENE
RUTH ETTING IN “BROADWAY’S LIKE THAT”
SARAH PADDEN IN “ACROSS THE BORDER”
WINNIE LIGHTNER, BROADWAY’s FAVORITE
WINNIE LIGHTNER, THE SONG A MINUTE GIRL

As Rich knows, discoveries occur continuously, but unfortunately my free time to update every list does not!

Hey, I wasn't sayin' Hurry up and get on it! I know you're a busy guy.

Thanks for the additional info!

it's always great to encounter a new edition of the Vitaphone News on the Vitaphone Project website. I was quite intrigued to read that "Record collector and auctioneer Alan Cooperman (www.jazz78s.com) recently came across a collection of over 400 Vitaphone soundtrack disks. Plans are to visit and catalog the collection in the spring in order to assess future restoration possibilities". Tantaliziing!

I noticed that RUTH ETTING IN “BROADWAY’S LIKE THAT” appears on the list of recent additions of extant discs as well as the list of picture elements. If that is the case, this would be a terrific find as I believe this short marks Humphrey Bogart's first film appearance.

I noticed that RUTH ETTING IN “BROADWAY’S LIKE THAT” appears on the list of recent additions of extant discs as well as the list of picture elements. If that is the case, this would be a terrific find as I believe this short marks Humphrey Bogart's first film appearance.

and Joan Blondell's second.

Louie and BixB,

RUTH ETTING in 'BROADWAY'S LIKE THAT" is on the film/no disk. Since it is more likely that a disk rather than nitrate film will turn up 80 years later, this is the preferred situation to have.

Louie and BixB,

RUTH ETTING in 'BROADWAY'S LIKE THAT" is on the film/no disk.

But it's also on the disc but no film list under additions. Is this perhaps an error?

Correct.

So, when did Warner go to combo Optical/Disc prints? Shouldn't some of these titles be found with optical tracks?

WB went to offering both disk and optical shorts beginning in the Spring of 1930. None of the listed titles, including this one, came out in optical. This title unfortunately is right at that transition period. This was shot in December 1929. We've checked all those transitional period shorts on list to see if any optical versions survive.

WB went to offering both disk and optical shorts beginning in the Spring of 1930. None of the listed titles, including this one, came out in optical. This title unfortunately is right at that transition period. This was shot in December 1929. We've checked all those transitional period shorts on list to see if any optical versions survive.

OK, but on your webpage you list pretty much all Vitaphone discs found, and some of those are well into the 1930's, and I would assume, while it is great to find them, many of those sound films (shorts and features) will probably have optical tracks extant, as well as picture elements. Is there a sonic advantage to recover the sound from disc, if an optical track exists?

We show disks located, regardless of if there is an existing optical track or not. Could be both, especially non-WB and FN titles. When both exist and a restoration is done, very often the disks provide superior sound. That was the case with THE JAZZ SINGER, the Shaw and Lee short GOING PLACES, and ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT among other. Disks were issued by studios as late as 1936 as many smaller theatres converted to sound only in disk format. Those disks derived from the edited optical tracks and were not recorded directly.

If you have an old VHS of THE JAZZ SINGER and the restored DVD which used the disks for the soiundtrack, the difference is dramatic.

When both [an optical track and a disc] exist and a restoration is done, very often the disks provide superior sound.

Now I'm curious. Are you saying that compared to an original 1929-30 optical track, the original disc often provides better sound (and perhaps a wider frequency range)? I seem to recall that Scott Eyman implied as much in his book about the talkie revolution, "The Speed of Sound."

If so, maybe the "sound-to-disc" technology should win the "Betamax Award" for the "Best Obsolete Technology"!! [Some say the Betamax videotape system was technically superior to VHS, but as we know, the latter eventually won the war of the marketplace, only to be superseded by the DVD.] SETH

When both [an optical track and a disc] exist and a restoration is done, very often the disks provide superior sound.

Now I'm curious. Are you saying that compared to an original 1929-30 optical track, the original disc often provides better sound (and perhaps a wider frequency range)? I seem to recall that Scott Eyman implied as much in his book about the talkie revolution, "The Speed of Sound."

If so, maybe the "sound-to-disc" technology should win the "Betamax Award" for the "Best Obsolete Technology"!! [Some say the Betamax videotape system was technically superior to VHS, but as we know, the latter eventually won the war of the marketplace, only to be superseded by the DVD.] SETH

Yep. In the early days, Vitaphone was aurally superior to sound-on-film. Problem was editing, skips, breaks, worn out discs, etc. Sound on film was ultimately easier to deal with and the sound quality eventually caught up.

Yes, at least through 1929 the quality of disks was significantly superior and wider range than optical.

It has to be pointed out, however, that the format of origin will yield the best quality sound. During the transitional period, many of the optical dubs to disc sounded terrible and, in my opinion, the bad publicity surrounding these poor dubs were one of the major causes of the early downfall of sound-on-disc. Conversely, track negs that were made during that period from sound discs are also lacking.

Furthermore, while it is true that variable density tracks could not compare to sound-on-disc tracks from that period, the superiority of the latter format quickly dissipated as Western Electric made changes to their system for the better, and the superior RCA variable area system became more prevalent.

Is there also a list of motion pictures that have already been restored? So we know not to look for those discs?

And if it isn't too much, here is a list of 1926-30 Vitaphone shorts for which film exists, but no disks are currently known. When a disk turns up, they will then be restorable. Some tantalizing titles! (...)

You know, I've been thinking. Non-musical films for which the discs are missing could also be redubbed.
Suppose there is a much wanted film without sound, or 1 disc missing, and we have the script (or a lipreader), voice artists could faithfully speak the lines and create the other sounds (as if it were an animated feature).

Can't think of any good candidate now, but it's possible. Perhaps that serial King of the Kongo for example (here with original sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4CkV0HrMoQ).

A few weeks ago I added an almost completely unknown vitaphone film to the IMDB, "Nay, nay, Nero". Only evidence is a very short announcement in a newspaper and a few pages of script saved by the NY censor.
This made me wonder: Is it known for how many vitaphone movies NOTHING exists? No disc or film? A list of that would be interesting as well, just to get some perspective how much % we've lost.

Spiny, virtually all 1930 and later Vitaphones survive. NAY NAY NERO is a 1930 short. Roy Liebman's great VITAPHONE FILMS book lists all Vitaphone shorts and features. By 1930 disk recording had been discontinued. Between 1926 and the end of 1929, there were around 1000 disk recorded shorts made. There are about 320 for which film survives but no disks, and about 100 disks but no film. Our role at The Vitaphone Project is to help find then match films with disks. There is no list of lost Vitaphone films but I would say a little over half from that period.

There are about 320 for which film survives but no disks, and about 100 disks but no film.

Yes, you listed them a few posts back. So there's another 420 or more films that are lost completely (shorts & features)?

About "Nay, nay, Nero": Yes, it seems to still exist judging by the entry on worldcat., but no archives or institutions are listed and the LoC doesn't have it. Do you happen to know who holds a copy?

The University of Wisconsin has virtually all of the post-1929 Vitaphones in 16mm as they were released to television in the mid-fifties. WB has most in 35mm. 400-500 currently lost is about right for that period.

The University of Wisconsin has virtually all of the post-1929 Vitaphones in 16mm as they were released to television in the mid-fifties. WB has most in 35mm. 400-500 currently lost is about right for that period.

Thanks. Unfortunately it looks like this one isn't in Wisconsin and it isn't easy to get to see these.