Record #:

34734

Author(s):

Paul, Grayden

Abstract:

Davis, North Carolina, was home to the first movie theater in Carteret County. Beaufort soon followed the trend and in 1911 opened the Sea Breeze Theatre. A family business, the Sea Breeze was operated by William Luther Paul and his children. Projected by hand, films were shown at the theatre once per week. As they were silent, subtitles were included. To aid in the movie going experience, Paul designed a number of sound effects which could be operated in the projection booth including train whistles, horses running, and horns playing. When sound was finally incorporated into movies, a Victrola would play the associated record as the movie ran. By 1916, movies had expanded to include serial films with episodes playing over a number of weeks. Paul continued to experiment with sound and by 1928 had a working model of a Vitaphone system. The theatre operated through World War II.

Source:

The Researcher (NoCar F 262 C23 R47), Vol. 23 Issue 2, Fall-Winter 2007-2008, p8-11, il

Subject(s):

Movie industry; Theaters; Beaufort--Social life and customs--20th Century