ORANGE COUNTY ALMANAC : Breaking the Sound Barrier
Even before “talkies,” Santa Ana cinema operator Doc Roberts offered talking films at his Temple Theater. He stood behind the screen and narrated.
Roberts also added sound effects. For gunshots, he struck a bag of sawdust with a whip. If there was to be an automobile on screen, he engaged a friend to stand behind screen and rev up his motorcycle.
Source: “This Was Mission Country” by Warren Morgan
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
