VITAPHONE Meaning and
Definition
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Vitaphone refers to a sound-on-disc system that was developed in the early 20th century as an early form of synchronized sound in motion pictures. The term "Vitaphone" is a combination of two words, "Vita" meaning "life" in Latin, and "phone" referring to sound or voice.
The Vitaphone system was introduced by Warner Bros. in 1926 and quickly became a fundamental breakthrough in the movie industry. It involved recording sound directly onto large-sized phonograph records, which were synchronized and played along with the film projection. This method allowed for the inclusion of synchronized musical scores, sound effects, and, ultimately, voices in films.
The process involved the usage of a separate turntable that synchronized with the film projector, ensuring that the sound matched the visual scenes. This innovation brought a new dimension to the cinema experience, as audiences now had the opportunity to hear, as well as see, the action on the screen.
The use of Vitaphone persisted until the late 1920s when sound-on-film technology became more prevalent, paving the way for the development of sound systems like the Movietone and RCA Photophone. However, the introduction of Vitaphone set the stage for the transition to "talkies" and revolutionized the film industry by opening up vast possibilities for storytelling and audiovisual entertainment.
In contemporary usage, the term "Vitaphone" might also refer to the historical sound archives of Warner Bros. films, containing many unique recordings that offer insights into early audiovisual history and the cultural significance of that era.
Etymology of VITAPHONE
The word "Vitaphone" is a portmanteau of two words: "vita" and "phone".
The term "vita" is derived from the Latin word "vita" meaning "life".
The word "phone" is short for "telephone", which comes from the Greek words "tele" meaning "far" and "phone" meaning "voice" or "sound".
Therefore, when combined, "Vitaphone" can be understood as "life sound" or "sound of life".
Vitaphone was the name of a sound film system developed by Warner Bros. in the 1920s, which used a method of recording sound on a synchronized phonograph record attached to the film.
