William Edward Garity was an American inventor and sound engineer, who was instrumental in crafting the multiplane camera that would be used for many of Disney's early animated features as well as a key figure in the invention and development of one of the earliest stereophonic sound systems, "Fantasound", used for Fantasia.
Early Life[]
Born in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Garity was a Pratt Institute of Art before serving two years in the U.S. Signal Corps during World War I. Relived of duty in 1919, he soon met radio pioneer Lee DeForest and, for the next seven years, helped develop early sound for film known as "Phonofilm". After De Forest went bankrupt in 1926, his invention was taken over by Fox under the name "Movietone". In June 1927, he installed an audio sound system in New York's Capitol Theatre to accommodate the first newsreel with sound; it featured footage of aviator Charles Lindbergh's Washington reception after his successful Atlantic crossing. Pat Powers soon employed him to create a copy of "Photofilm" known as "Powers Cinephone".
Walt Disney, one year later, purchased Garity's recording system for his small Hollywood studio and asked if he would install it and train a technician. The system allowed for the completion of Steamboat Willie, starring Mickey Mouse. The success of the short followed many more shorts and Silly Symphonies as well as films outside of Disney Studios, such as Firebrand Jordan, Beyond the Rio Grande, and Ridin' Law.
The Multiplane Camera[]
Garity was soon approached with another challenge by Walt, to design a new system to provide new depth into films. The innovation became known as the Multiplane camera. He headed a department of 18 skilled engineers, who helped design, build, and extend the capabilities of the animated cartoon.
Early forms of the camera were developed by Lotte Reiniger and Carl Koch for experimental animated works in the 1920s. Others began improving the design and technique for their own works, such as the Fleischer Brothers studio and Walt's friend and colleague Ub Iwerks. Garity developed a more advanced form of the camera for the production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Employing the parallax glass illusion for more dimensional effect, Garity's camera used up to seven layers of artwork shot under a vertical and moveable camera set for successive frame Technicolor. This allowed it for more sophisticated uses than the Iwerks or Fleischer versions. The camera was completed in early 1937 and tested in The Old Mill, before being used for Snow White. The innovation earned Walt an Honorary Academy Award (Oscar) for the film.
Garity's camera would be used for several decades up to 1989's The Little Mermaid.
Fantasia[]
After the success of Snow White, Garity became involved with what was originally to be a Mickey Mouse short with a live orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski which soon blossomed into Fantasia. He first helped Edward H. Plumb and Leigh Harline prepare the recording of the music pieces under Stokowski's arrangements which were at the pace not set by the animators, much to the dismay of Garity, Harline, Plumb and Walt.
Next, by 1940, Garity collaborated with mixer John N.A. Hawkins and RCA engineers to design a sound system capable of enchanting the audience as if they were sitting in a real live theater. To create this illusion, the two technicians invented a new process, "Fantasound". It consisted of two sets of speakers placed behind the screen and all around the room. Amplifiers and subwoofers were added. Each of the speakers then emitted the sound of one of the three optical tracks on which all or part of the music had been printed. Although difficult to use at the time, as not all movie houses could afford this expensive new equipment, "Fantasound" marked the birth of stereophonic sound in all movie houses. Walt Disney was awarded the Medal of Progress and Garity, Hawkins, and RCA were awarded an Honorary Oscar in 1942 "for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of the use of sound in motion pictures through the production of Fantasia."
Garity soon left the studio to pursue other ventures.
Later Years[]
During World War II, he served in the Navy, reaching the rank of Captain before the war's end. He later became a technical director and production manager for several Woody Woodpecker shorts through Walter Lantz Productions where which he later served as vice president of the company.
Garity passed away in 1971 and, in 1999, was posthumously honored as a Disney Legend.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Garity was responsible for producing the trailer for Snow White as well as the documentary A Trip Through the Walt Disney Studios, in which the secrets of making Disney films were revealed.
External links[]
William Garity on Wikipedia- William Garity on IMDb
- William Garity at Find a Grave
- William Garity at D23, The Official Disney Fan Club
- Chronique Disney - Bill Garity
