Alternate Tracks: Photophone and the Film Industry's Conversion to Sound

ABSTRACT: Histories of sound film often emphasize a cautious approach by unaligned studios, which analyzed two technically equal systems (RCA and Western Electric) and then chose ERPI for nontechnical reasons. This view bolsters a narrative of stability during the transition. However, GE/RCA's late entry into the market without a finalized design enabled major studios to explore alternate approaches to sound. While GE/RCA's experiments kept open alternate visions for film sound, they delayed the refinement of its system. The decision to sign with ERPI was really a choice to commit to sound in 1928 rather than waiting for GE/RCA to finalize its system.