A soundie is a short American film displaying both the audio and video of a musical performance. Over 1,850 soundies were produced between 1939 to 1947,[1] regarded today as "precursors to music videos".[2] Soundies exhibited a variety of musical genres in an effort to draw a broad audience.
The shorts were originally viewed in public places on some 5,000 "Panorams",[3] coin-operated, 16mm rear-projection machines built by the Mills Novelty Company of Chicago. Panorams offered multiple selections of a constantly changing rotation of soundies, and were typically located in public venues like nightclubs, bars, amusement centers, and restaurants. As World War II progressed, soundies also featured patriotic messages and advertisements for war bonds. Hollywood films were censored but soundies weren't, so the films occasionally had daring content like burlesque acts; these were produced to appeal to soldiers on leave.[2]
0:12:13 Delta Rhythm Boys in "Take the 'A' Train" (1941). 0:14:46 Fats Waller in "Your Feet's Too Big (1941). 0:17:45 Count Basie Orchestra in "Take Me Back, Baby" (with vocal by Jimmy Rushing) (1941). 0:20:19 "Preacher and the Bear" featuring The Jubalaires (vocal quartet) 0:23:23 "Ring Those Bells" (Black children vocal quintet, unidentified; Possibly The Cabin Kids.) 0:24:22 The Ali Baba Trio in "Patience and Fortitude" (1946) (featuring Valaida Snow singing and playing jazz trumpet - with trio of guitar, bass and accordion!) 0:27:06 "Rocco Blues" featuring Maurice Rocco (piano and vocal) 0:30:00 Gloria Grey sings "Oh By Jingo" (looks later, circa 1950 or so) 0:32:42 "I Want A Man", sung by Annisteen Allen and accompanied by Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra (huge big band)(1943). 0:35:36 Woman jazz harpist (LaVilla Tulos) playing "Swanee River" (a title list of Soundies has this entry as
