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Description
Close-up view of early type of de Forest portable Phonofilm Reproducer Projector (the projector is labeled "Acme Motion Picture Projection Co."), which recorded both picture and sound. Lee de Forest first began experimenting with recorded sound on film in 1920; In November 1922, he organized the de Forest Phonofilm Corporation, which held his patents for sound recording and reproducing. Phonofilms, including Eddie Cantor and Lillian Powell, were first shown to the public at the Tivoli Theater, New York, in April 1923. By 1925, 34 theaters were "wired for sound" but de Forest was soon overshadowed by better financed imitators.
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