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This Week in Princeton University History for February 23-March 1

By April C. Armstrong *14

In this week’s installment of our recurring series, students are not impressed with new technology, faculty appeal to the U.S. president, and more.

February 24, 1977—The Forum for Interracial Communication sponsors a discussion of the “Roots” miniseries in Wilcox Hall. About 20 students attend, as well as a few other members of the broader local community. Willie J. Smith of Rutgers University, who attended the forum, says, “I felt insulted by ‘Roots’ because they were trying to show my soul, but they can’t, and yet people go away thinking they know me.”

February 26, 1929—Princeton students, having been exposed to movies with sound, are not impressed with “talkies.” “Dialogue as used so far has been very flat; inevitably it tends to become mere exposition, to consist of type phrases, or gang parlance for local color.”

The top of the page reads: "The Garden Theatre" Below that: "SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 SEE AND HEAR THE ALL TALKING PICTURE 'LIGHTS OF NEW YORK' A Warner Bros. Vitaphone Production ALSO Selected Vitaphone Acts" Left column header: "Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, February 25-26-27" Large heading: "SEE–HEAR A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer MOVIETONE PICTURE Norma Shearer in A LADY OF CHANCE" Below: "ROBERT Z. LEONARD production AROUND the beautiful person of Norma Shearer spins such a swift and racy story of gangs, girls and gun-play as you've ever gasped at! Inside revelations of the Broadway "racket!" Underworld and society as the background to an amazing love story. SEE THE SOUND SENSATION! With LOWELL SHERMAN, JOHN MACK BROWN, GWEN LEE" Underneath: "ADDED ATTRACTIONS SELECTED VITAPHONE ACTS M–G–M NEWS" Right column header: "Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 28 – March 1-2" Boxed advertisement: "SEE AND HEAR WARNER BROS. 2nd ALL-TALKING PICTURE ‘THE TERROR’ WITH MAY McAVOY, LOUISE FAZENDA, EDWARD EVERETT HORTON, ALEC FRANCIS MATTHEW BETZ – HOLMES HERBERT JOHN MILJAN Based on the play by Edgar Wallace Scenario by Harvey Gates Directed by Roy Delruth You SEE and HEAR every character in the picture A WARNER BROS. VITAPHONE PICTURE" Below the illustration: "ADDED ATTRACTIONS HARRY J. CONLEY In The Vitaphone Presentation ‘THE BOOKWORM’" Further down: "WARING’S PENNSYLVANIANS In Their Vitaphone Act INTERNATIONAL NEWS" Bottom of the page: "EVENINGS AT 7 and 9 MATINEES: TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY at 2:30 P.M."
These movie ads appeared in the February 22, 1929 issue of the Princeton Herald. In addition to the “all-talking picture” advertised on the right side of the clipping, several shows used “Vitaphone,” a technology that synced sound effects and music to pictures, but did not necessarily have audible dialogue. With these films, the selling point included being able to both “see and hear” the action, whether or not one could hear the actors speak.

February 27, 1889—To thank their Washington’s Birthday orators, the Class of 1892 have presented them with bound copies of “Princeton Views,” an album of photos taken by William Libbey, Class of 1877.

March 1, 1965—History professor Arno J. Mayer has recruited more than 350 signatures from colleagues at Princeton University and elsewhere for an ad that appears in the New York Times today. The ad calls upon U.S. President Lyndon Johnson to pursue peace in Vietnam.

Did you read the previous installment in this series?

Fact check: We always strive for accuracy, but if you believe you see an error, please contact us.

April C. Armstrong *14

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