At first, they were called "flickers" … "actualities" … and entertainment for "common folk." Then they grew in stature. Bold epics, poignant dramas, slapstick clowns - and MOVIE STARS. So why did Hollywood then proceed to tamper with success and reinvent the wheel by adding sound? What did "talking pictures" do for both the art and the business sides of the film industry? And what does Singin' in the Rain have to do with it? Hey, we may not have much playing in movie theaters right now, but there's plenty of older stuff to discover. As Lauren Bacall famously said, "It's not an old movie if you haven't seen it."

A lifelong lover of cinema, Frank Mandosa hosts talks on a wide variety of film topics. A high school English and Film teacher, he also co-hosts Reel Life for Stoughton Media Access Center (SMAC). Twitter: @filmbuff1974 / Facebook film page: “Silver Screeners” / Instagram: frankmandosa1974 / www.frankmandosa.weebly.com