Soundies Promo Trailer
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Soundies were an early version of the music video. From 1940 to 1946, they were displayed on the Panoram, a coin-operated film jukebox, in nightclubs, bars, and restaurants.Soundies covered all genres of music, from classical to big-band swing, and from hillbilly novelties to patriotic songs. Jimmy Dorsey, Spike Jones, Liberace, Stan Kenton, and Lawrence Welk were a few of the Soundies stars. Approximately 1800 of the three-minute musical films were made, and today Soundies are perhaps best known for the performances of African-American artists who had fewer opportunities to perform in public venues. Louis Jordan, Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong and Stepin Fetchit all made Soundies.
