Google dedicated its Thursday doodle to Emerson Irving Romero, a Cuban-American actor who was a pioneer in creating subtitles for deaf people, and who was known during the silent film era by the stage name Tommy Albert.
Born on August 19, 1900, in Havana, Emerson Romero developed the first subtitling technique for sound films, transforming the cinematic experience for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals.
Its innovation revolutionized the entertainment industry, and its legacy remains relevant in current subtitling techniques.
Cousin of the film and television actor César Romero, Emerson became deaf at the age of six after suffering from a fever caused by whooping cough.
Despite this challenge, he/she achieved a remarkable career in cinema and technology, becoming a symbol of personal overcoming.
Established in the United States, Romero had to leave university due to family financial difficulties.
Later, after obtaining a job at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, his older brother encouraged him to pursue his artistic vocation in the film company he had founded in Cuba, the Pan-American Film Corporation.
In that context, Romero starred in "A Yankee in Havana," written by his brother. Although the film was not a commercial success, Romero stood out for his acting skills, catching the attention of American director Richard Harlan, who invited him to move to Hollywood in 1926.
During his time in Hollywood, Emerson Romero appeared in more than 24 short comedies and worked with renowned actors such as W.C. Fields.
At the request of the distributors, he adopted the stage name Tommy Albert to have a "more American name."
However, with the arrival of sound cinema in 1927, deaf actors began to be excluded due to the elimination of the intertitles that had been key for understanding silent films.
In light of this exclusion, Romero returned to New York in 1928 and resumed his old job at the Federal Reserve Bank, although he never abandoned his artistic passion.
In 1934, alongside John Funk and Sam Block, he founded the Theatre Guild of the Deaf, a theater company for the deaf that remained active for twenty years.
Additionally, between 1938 and 1939, Romero was the editor of the magazine Digest of the Deaf. During World War II, he changed his professional path and worked in the manufacturing of templates and metal sheets for the production of the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.
The pinnacle of his career came in 1947 when he developed the first subtitle for a movie.
Although their method was rudimentary and affected the soundtrack for hearing listeners, it allowed deaf people to enjoy the cinema, marking a turning point in the inclusion of this community.
Romero rented his movies to schools and clubs for the deaf, which inspired others, like Edmund Burke Boatner, to create more efficient methods.
In addition to his work in cinema, Romero continued developing products to improve the lives of deaf individuals. In 1959, he designed the Vibralarm, a vibrating alarm clock, as well as a range of adapted products such as doorbells, smoke detectors, and baby alarms.
In recognition of his career, the Civic Association of the Deaf of New York City awarded him its annual civic achievement award in 1970.
Emerson Romero passed away in Boulder, Colorado, on October 16, 1972.
In recent years, several Cubans have been honored by Google. The group includes Carlos J. Finlay, María Teresa Vera, and Cuban-American Tito Puentes.
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