From the moment movies learned to talk, they learned to sing. Audiences back in 1927 were electrified when they heard Al Jolson belting out top tunes of the day in The Jazz Singer, and since then some of the greatest vocalists have been star attractions in Hollywood musicals.
The film industry showcased these performers with a variety of creative techniques, from elaborate production numbers to imaginative camerawork, all designed to enhance the emotional power of seeing and hearing singers like Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Lena Horne, and Frank Sinatra come alive on the big screen. Media historian Brian Rose looks at the ways Hollywood captured its star vocalists through the decades and provided audiences with an invaluable record of indelible performances.
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