The Soundies Book: A Revised and Expanded Guide [Paperback]

Scott MacGillivray (Author), Ted Okuda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 2007

“Soundies” were the granddaddies of music videos: single-song musical movies that played in special jukeboxes during the 1940s. Some of the biggest musical stars (and stars of the future) appeared in these films: Louis Armstrong, Spike Jones, Liberace, Fats Waller, Stan Kenton, Cab Calloway, and many others. Thanks to Soundies, hundreds of unique musical performances were photographed for posterity. These mini-musicals were originally nothing more than a ten-cent novelty. Today, to film and music fans, they’re a priceless part of history.

Scott MacGillivray and Ted Okuda, authors of the landmark resource book The Soundies Distributing Corporation of America, now offer this revised and expanded guide to the Soundies musicals. This all-new book picks up where the original left off: more than 1800 titles are classified by performer, title, and date—many with new, individual annotations and all with new cross-references for easy reading and consultation. There is also a historical account of the prolific Soundies production companies, a look at Soundies’ many competitors and descendants (including telescriptions and Scopitones), a checklist of the dozens of Soundies home-movie editions, and a listing of alternate titles to help collectors identify the films more easily. All in one handy volume: The Soundies Book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Like one big index, with histories and information galore. If you're interested in Soundies, this new edition is a MUST. [emphasis theirs] -- Classic Images, March 2008

About the Author

Scott MacGillivray wrote Castle Films: A Hobbyist’s Guide, Laurel & Hardy: From the Forties Forward, and (with Jan MacGillivray) Gloria Jean: A Little Bit of Heaven. Ted Okuda wrote The Monogram Checklist, Charlie Chaplin at Keystone and Essanay (with David Maska), and Chicago TV Horror Movie Shows (with Mark Yurkiw).

Product Details

• Paperback: 427 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (February 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595420605
• ISBN-13: 978-0595420605
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,614,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful book, June 22, 2008

By 

Nikica Gilic - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soundies Book: A Revised and Expanded Guide (Paperback)

Although one might wish for additional information on the featured artists and entertainers (as well as the information on particular films), this is a very useful guide through a very interesting portion of american entertainment industry... It's a good start for a more serious study.

The book gives listing of artists featured in the "soundies", list of titles and short but informative essay on this cinematic and cultural phenomenon...

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed masterwork, September 16, 2008

By 

Larry Billman (Brea, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Soundies Book: A Revised and Expanded Guide (Paperback)

Finally, someone (actually two "someone's": Mr. MacGillivray and Mr. Okuda) have committed the previously unknown facts about an incredible piece of film history to print in this revised edition. As a film dance historian, this book is invaluable - as well as educational - and I cannot thank the authors enough for the [obviously] years-worth of research and hard work. For fans of music, big bands, vocalists, short films and dancers, it is a "Must Have" for your libraries and enjoyment. The personal comments are the "icing on the cake" and make the endless names, dates, facts and figures human.

I salute you!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sound value, July 14, 2008

By 

John Lazar - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soundies Book: A Revised and Expanded Guide (Paperback)

If you love Soundies -- as I do -- this is the perfect book for you. A fun, lively, meticulously-researched volume packed with a ton of information you won`t find elsewhere. Perhaps someday soon these amazing little films -- which preserved the performances of many historic musical artists -- will receive an "official" release on DVD.