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Soundies was a trademark name for 16mm music shorts shown on a coin-operated jukebox-like device called a Panoram that was placed in bars, diners, et al. It was made by Mills in Chicago, they of the slot-machine fame. Most of the soundies were produced by RCM productions, a venture of James Roosevelt (son of FDR), Sam Coslow (songwriter), and Herb Mills (slot king). Others also produced soundies like Snader Productions. Roosevelt started the company in 1940, but the machine was not ready until 1941. Popularity peaked during the war because the reels usually included some burlesque acts, and fell of after the war. A dispute with the projectionists union sealed their fate.
Many of them are available on DVD and are quite a tour through the lesser known artists of the day in some truely historic performances. No other place to see Meade Lux Lewis
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