Now We're Talking: The Story of Theodore W. Case and Sound-On-Film [Hardcover]

Antonia K. Colella (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 89 pages
• Publisher: Authorhouse (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410787702
• ISBN-13: 978-1410787705
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

The 2nd Edition of Now We're Talking was released June 2010.
(only at: www.TheodoreCase.com)

With new sources, documents, and bibliography, the enhanced biography further explains why Theodore Case has yet to receive worldwide recognition for the first commercially successful talking movie technology. Read why even Mickey Mouse owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Case.

Toni and Luke Colella, mother and son writing team, enjoy life in Case's hometown of Auburn, New York: The Birthplace of Talking Movies.

Contact the authors for speaking engagements on "The Life and Legacy of Theodore W. Case". [e-mail]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theodore W. Case - Loud & Clear!, April 9, 2004

By 

Karen Colizzi Noonan (Geneva, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Now We're Talking: The Story of Theodore W. Case and Sound-On-Film (Paperback)

It's about as far away from Hollywood as you can get, both geographically and philosophically, but Tinseltown owes a great debt to Auburn NY, nonetheless. It was here, in the unlikeliest of places, that Theodore W. Case invented the process of putting sound on film, and forever changed the Moviegoing Experience(...).

The story of Theodore Case is obscure to all but the most avid film buffs. From his days at Yale, Case had a fascination with light and sound waves. Using his sharply inquisitive mind, and working out of a backyard greenhouse that he converted into a laboratory, Case unlocked the mystery of synchronizing sound and motion into one remarkable process.

Sadly, his logical inventor's mind never imagined the devious lengths movie moguls would go to in order to deprive him of the process and the credit for this monumental discovery. To this day, many people still believe that the Fox Corporation invented the process of sound on film, indeed winning a special Academy Award for their "discovery".

Thanks to Luke and Toni, there is now solid, documented, accurate printed information to set the record straight and give Theodore W. Case his due. Although the text is written from an intermediate readers level, the book will delight anyone with a genuine interest in movies, inventions or underdogs. It is well worth the read and a must-have addition to any movie lover's library!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I beg to differ, Mr. Crank ..., September 6, 2009

By 

Antonia K. Colella "Toni K. Colella" (Auburn, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Now We're Talking: The Story of Theodore W. Case and Sound-On-Film (Paperback)

Dear Mr. Crank,
Now We're Talking is the best biography on Theodore W. Case available today. Fay Vincent, former Chairman of Columbia Pictures, commented that the book is "an important contribution to movie history". Our book on Mr. Case offers thorough research and provides the reader with insights into Mr. Case's personal life and professional accomplishments that exist no where else. In fact, we worked closely with Mr. Case's daughter and grandson who graciously wrote the Introduction to our book, making sure our book was a fitting tribute to Mr. Case. Yes, Mr. DeForest and Mr. Fox robbed Ted Case of recognition as the inventor of sound-on-film, but Mr. Case rose about this - see page 84 -. Your review must be referring to another book. You mentioned a lack of pictures ... our book has 25 photos and even presents a copy of an original letter from Thomas Edison to Case that has never before been made public.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Poor Theodore Case Book, March 11, 2009

By 

James D. Crank "Car Historian" (Redwood City, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Now We're Talking: The Story of Theodore W. Case and Sound-On-Film (Paperback)

Simplistic and childish and lacking so much information about Case and the development of sound-on-film movies, it isn't even funny. This book isn't even worth $2.00.
The fight with DeForest is totally missing in any detail, since DeForest tried to cheat Case and embezzled his funds. DeForest was a self serving liar, stock swindler, cheat and desperate for any publicity all his life. Claimed inventions, like Case's, as his own for stock sales purposes.
Other books on the era, "Speed of Sound" and others, had the detailed information, why not in this book too? DeForest did not invent sound-on-film as his biographers claim, Case was far ahead of him with a superior system that gave much better sound reproduction.
Photo content is the absolute minimum, should have had a lot more.
A cheap sleazy book and does Case no credit at all. He deserves a lot better than this one.
Very disappointing and returned to Amazon as just not good enough for the price.