Now You See It, Now You Don't!
TellzAll's subject for March is Fox Movietone News
Fox produced the Movietone News for several decades in the United States, from 1919 to 1963, although the British version continued until 1979. When Fox began issuing Movietone Newsreels, Americans did not have televisions. Most people got their news from either the radio or the newspapers. While both of those sources provided much good information to their listeners and readers, they still had some limitations. Americans had to use their imaginations to illustrate the news stories. Although newspapers might have some photographs, the images were still very limited. Fox recognized that the movie theater could provide another outlet for news coverage. Americans went to the movie theaters on a regular basis during this time period. If Fox could create newsreels with moving picture images of the news, they could disseminate these newsreels to the theaters for public viewing. As a result, Movietone News became a regular part of most people's theater-going experience, along with the featured movie and additional items like cartoon shorts.
There were other companies who also began producing newsreels during this time period, although Fox was the most successful. Other countries, such as Great Britain and Australia, also had their own versions of Movietone News. These subsidiaries were also owned by Fox, which was an American company.
Prior to the late 1920s, movies were made without sound. Fox was able to produce its first newsreel with synchronized sound in 1927, revolutionizing the way in which people could see the news. The first Movietone News story with sound was about Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic. Viewers were able to hear as well as see Lindbergh’s flight take off from the United States. The first newsreels with sound were of rather poor quality, but over the years, the sound quality improved. Fox also introduced commentators who put the news into context for the viewers. In the 1930s, as color was introduced to the motion picture industry on a more widespread basis, some newsreels also contained color footage.
Moviegoers saw Movietone News films about many different topics, including presidential campaigns and inaugurations, war accounts, major events and tragedies, as well as many stories that were mostly for entertainment value.
As television became more popular in the 1950s, television news programs began to compete with Movietone News and other companies that produced cinema newsreels. Fewer people went to the movies each week, as they were able to stay home and watch shows on television instead. As a result, the American version of Fox Movietone News ceased in 1963. The era of cinema newsreels was over.
More recently, many people are becoming interested in Movietone News again. Fox has given a significant portion of its newsreel collection to the University of South Carolina’s Newsfilm Library, where archivists are working to preserve the film for future generations. Unfortunately, the film used for newsreels and feature movies throughout much of the twentieth century deteriorates rapidly. Without protective measures being taken much of the collection would have been lost forever.
