Soundies

(1940-1948)

Musical / Soundies

Before music videos as we know them today, there were the Soundies.

Usually about three minutes long, these small films were made to be played on a machine created just for them, the Panoram.  With the advent of Soundies, the coin operated Panorams could be found in restaurants, bars, and amusement centers, especially near military bases.

Soundies featured well-known artists of the time, and the not-so-well-known also.  Most often musical, there were some comedic Soundies made but they were not nearly as popular.


Bugle Woogie (1941)

Musical Soundies 1940's

Black and Tan Fantasy (1924)

Jitterbug Party (1935)

Compilation: Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Nat King Cole, Mills Brothers, Cab Calloway

Murder in Swingtime (1937)

Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake - a 1923 DeForest Phonofilm

Cocktails and Oo-La-La (1946)

Symphony in Black (1935)