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Description
1) Print of three frames of Phonofilm of President Calvin Coolidge recorded on the White House lawn in 1924 with variable density sound track. This was the first presidential film with sound recording and the film itself is preserved by the Library of Congress from the AFI/Maurice Zouary Collection. It was recorded and produced by Theodore Case and Lee de Forest and shown in New York, one of three films they made of Presidential candidates (Coolidge was the incumbent). There is some controversy over whether de Forest's Phonofilm technology was used, or Case's own camera, and whether de Forest took credit for Case's inventions. Note on back reads, "The Coolidge Film that burst Elliott's stock bubble." Donated by Vance Phillips to the Foothill Electronics Museum in 1971. (The author of the note was possibly mistaken; the print is of the 1924 film; however, the 1925 film strip is the one that caused trouble for De Forest Phonofilm) 2) Four original frames from the second, 1925 Phonofilm recording of President Coolidge's address filmed on the South Portico of the White House in April 1925. The "Elliott" referred to in the note on the back of the print above is likely James Elliot, hired as head of the Phonofilm sales force, and a stock promoter. In 1925 Coolidge was filmed a second time for Phonofilm, and the Phonofilm Company sales personnel were using the film of President Coolidge to promote their stock sales. According to Mike Adams, Coolidge was unhappy with his image being used to promote the company, the Department of Justice was ordered to investigate the reports, and the New York Attorney General's office seized the books of the Phonofilm Sales Company and de Forest Phonofilm Corporation, causing a setback for sales of stock. See "Lee de Forest: King of Radio, Television, and Film," by Mike Adams (Springer : New York, 2012).
Type
Image
Format
Negative, Film|Black & White
Identifier
9BBA1295-F9AA-42AB-BD94-264548785099 2003-59-375
Subject
De Forest Phonofilm Corporation Presidents Sound--Recording and reproducing (LCSH) Motion picture film (LCSH) Sound motion pictures (LCSH) Speeches, addresses, etc. (LCSH) Coolidge, Calvin De Forest, Lee Case, Theodore W
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