In January 1926, the Colonnade Theatre in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, introduced new sound equipment to play music associated with silent-film showings. The Brunswick Panatrope was introduced in mid-1925 as a rival to the Victor Orthophonic. It was an electrically operated phonograph that was capable of producing hi-fidelity sound. A story found in the Elizabethville Echo, January 7, 1926, told of the installation of the panatrope at the Colonnade – believed to be the first such equipment installed anywhere in the Lykens Valley.
Early silent films were produced with scores that were usually played on a theatre piano by a local pianist. Paper rolls were also made so the music could be produced on a player piano. The use of recorded music followed.
The ad pictured above is from the Saturday Evening Post, November, 1928. It shows a panatrope in a cabinet – designed for home use. A radio, or “Radiola” was also included in the cabinet.
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PANATROPE INSTALLED IN NEW COLONNADE
ADDS GREATLY TO SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT
Lester G. Hoffman, proprietor of the Colonnade Theatre, Millersburg, gave the large audiences of this popular moving picture house, an agreeable surprise on Monday evening. Aside from showing the wondeful 11-reel picture, “Abraham Lincoln,” the music for the setting was produced in an extraordinary way on the Brunswick Panatrope, an entirely new invention, capable of producing the clearest notes of music in the tones and volume best adapted to the picture. Additional inspiration and life were given the production on Monday evening, but the panatrope, which will hereafter pruduce the music, along with a high grade Ampico plyaer-piano in the Colonnade.
The theatre itself has recently been reconstructed along most modern lines with the installation of the latest product in science in a musical instrument.
Millersburg may well be proud of the Colonnade. The character of pictures shown by Mr. Holtzman is of a high order and his picture house deserves a just reputation as one of the very best in this section of the state. Hear the panatrope – see the pictures at the Colonnade for a delight evening’s experience.
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Article from Newspapers.com.
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