Because silent cinema is widely perceived as having been exactly that -- silent -- no one has fully examined how sound was used to accompany the films of this era. Silent Film Sound reconsiders all aspects of sound practices during the entire silent film period. Based on extensive original research and accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, the book challenges the assumptions of earlier histories of this period in film and reveals the complexity and swiftly changing nature of American silent cinema.

What you haven't heard about silent films -- a complete history of the role of sound in the silent-film era

Part I: Methodology1. The History of Silent Film Sound
Past Attempts to Write the History of Silent Film Sound
Assumptions and Limitations of the Current Project
2. Crisis Historiography
A New Kind of History
Anatomy of an Identity Crisis
Part II: The Late-Nineteenth-Century Soundscape
3. The Musical Scene
4. Lecture Logic
Part III: Early Film Sound
5. From Peep Show to Projection
6. Vaudeville
Part IV: Nickelodeon Sound
7. The Crisis of the Late Aughts
8. Lectures, Sound Effects, and the Itinerant Exhibition Model
9. Films That Talk
10. The Nickelodeon Program
11. Nickelodeon Music
Part V: The Campaign to Standardize Sound
12. Trade Press Discourse
13. Music for Films
14. Training Musicians, Training Audiences
Part VI: The Golden Era of Silent Film Music
15. Moving Picture Orchestras Come of Age
16. New Roles for Keyboard Instruments
17. Cue Sheets and Photoplay Music
18. Musical Practices
Conclusion