Edwin B. DuPar

Henry Hadley (1871-1937) conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in the overture to Wagner's "Tannhäuser." Two cameras provide some visual variation: a stationary one that shows Hadley and the full orchestra of more than 80 musicians, and one that does a modest amount of panning and is closer to the musicians, usually showing us about 15 within the frame. All are men, in tuxedos. No words are spoken in this early talkie.

Eminent musicians Efrem Zimbalist Sr. (violin) and Harold Bauer (piano) perform the title work.

Metropolitan Opera star Giovanni Martinelli sings the aria "Vesti la giubba" from the opera "I Pagliacci".

Anna Case sings a song while the Cansino family dances in the background.

Roy Smeck (1900-1994) sits on a bench in a garden. He's wearing a bow tie, a white on white shirt, and a sweater. First he plays the guitar, which is lying across his lap - it's a steel guitar sound using a slide in his left hand. Next he picks up the ukulele for an up-tempo number. After a few choruses, he stops and adds a mouth organ, playing it while both hands continue to play the uke. He finishes with a piece on a four-string banjo. With all three instruments, he gets percussive as well as melodic effects. Roy smiles a lot but doesn't say or sing a word.

Metropolitan Opera star Marion Talley sings "Caro Nome" from Verdi's opera Rigoletto in a short film made in the Vitaphone process and shown before the feature Don Juan on 6 August 1926 at Warner's Theater in New York City.

Henry Hadley (1871-1937) conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in the overture to Wagner's "Tannhäuser." Two cameras provide some visual variation: a stationary one that shows Hadley and the full orchestra of more than 80 musicians, and one that does a modest amount of panning and is closer to the musicians, usually showing us about 15 within the frame. All are men, in tuxedos. No words are spoken in this early talkie.

Eminent musicians Efrem Zimbalist Sr. (violin) and Harold Bauer (piano) perform the title work.

Metropolitan Opera star Giovanni Martinelli sings the aria "Vesti la giubba" from the opera "I Pagliacci".

Anna Case sings a song while the Cansino family dances in the background.

Roy Smeck (1900-1994) sits on a bench in a garden. He's wearing a bow tie, a white on white shirt, and a sweater. First he plays the guitar, which is lying across his lap - it's a steel guitar sound using a slide in his left hand. Next he picks up the ukulele for an up-tempo number. After a few choruses, he stops and adds a mouth organ, playing it while both hands continue to play the uke. He finishes with a piece on a four-string banjo. With all three instruments, he gets percussive as well as melodic effects. Roy smiles a lot but doesn't say or sing a word.

Metropolitan Opera star Marion Talley sings "Caro Nome" from Verdi's opera Rigoletto in a short film made in the Vitaphone process and shown before the feature Don Juan on 6 August 1926 at Warner's Theater in New York City.