The Jazz Singer Documentary from Warners

Monday, 09 July 2007      Blog Category:  George Groves News
Sparkhill
Sparkhill Productions of Burbank are completing production of a documentary on The Jazz Singer and the advent of motion picture sound technology for Warner Brothers and TCM. Sparkhill are a top producer of DVD programming for major motion picture studios and distributors. As one would expect, George Groves' contribution as recording engineer on the seminal film is being featured in the programme and I've been pleased to supply Sparkhill with some hi-res stills of George for inclusion. I hope to get a release date soon.

A Century of Sound DVD featuring George Groves
Talking of DVDs, I've been informed that the first part of A Century of Sound is close to being released. (See blog item below) This is the UCLA / Rick Chace three part documentary DVD series on the history of sound in motion pictures which extensively features George. The documentary's Wrap Party  in Burbank is scheduled for July 19th to which I've been invited but am unable to fly over from St.Helens. Well I've got to think of my carbon footprint haven't I! Instead I've arranged for two of George's relatives who live in LA to attend. Hope it all goes well.

The DVD will feature seventeen minutes of George's oral history which he made c.1974 to Irene Kahn Atkins, daughter of legendary Hollywood songwriter Gus Kahn on behalf of the American Film Institute. I've discovered that a full two hour recording of George's recollections do exist stored at UCLA in LA. I'm currently trying to obtain a copy on behalf of the Groves family and, of course, this web site. The oral history was made just a couple of years before George died and is clearly an invaluable record from someone who was in at the very beginning of sound films and made important contributions in their development until his retirement in 1972.

I'll keep you posted on any news on this.