The Silent Film Era

The Silent Film Era had to truly be a thrill and a exciting experience as a director or an actor. 

Can you imagine living during the time of the first film reel? Can you imagine the wide-eyed anticipation of every cinematic adventure? Can you imagine what the actors had to endure to make films in the 1890’s? Imagine what it was like for actors with the introduction of “talkies” in the 1920’s era.  

But we’re talking about the silent film era. 

I can see myself dressed in my finest attire, walking down the aisle, listening to the orchestra as they play the opening dramatic score. Taking my seat in anticipation as a hush comes over the theater. The giant velvet curtains open to reveal an announcer that awakens our curiosity even to the point of … dare I say it … fainting. 

Special care is taken to make sure your experience is memorable with the first flicker of the flash of light coming from the back of the theatre, and there it appears, the intro! Wow! What an experience as the orchestra correlates the dramatic music to fill each and every possible void that might happen without music. 

The actors in all of their glory, sits in the audience reveling in the ooooo’s and aaaa’s that radiates from the excited and sometimes stunned audience. What a time it must have been. 

As times changed and talkies were introduced, some actors faded away, mainly because their voices did not seem to match their look. It was a new era. It was a new day. It was the closing of a chapter. It was a wrap. 

Just a little reflection on a time long passed. 

Written by Tahiera Monique Brown