Overview

“An engineering graduate of Yale University, Theodore Case assisted Lee de Forest in developing sound-on-film called “Phonofilm.” Falling out with de Forest, Case and associate E.I. Sponable then built a laboratory behind Case’s family home in Auburn, New York, where they developed their own optical sound film system. Sold to William Fox, it was commercially exploited as “Movietone” with sensational results.” —David Shepard