Google dedicated its Thursday doodle to Emerson Irving Romero, a Cuban-American actor who pioneered the creation of subtitles for the deaf. Known during the silent film era under the stage name Tommy Albert, Romero transformed the cinematic experience for those with hearing impairments.
Born on August 19, 1900, in Havana, Emerson Romero developed the first technique for subtitling sound films, revolutionizing the entertainment industry. His legacy continues in modern subtitling techniques.
Despite losing his hearing at age six due to a fever from whooping cough, Romero had a distinguished career in film and technology, becoming a symbol of personal triumph. A cousin to film and TV actor César Romero, Emerson had to leave university due to financial hardships but later secured a job at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
From New York to Hollywood
Inspired by his older brother, who founded the Pan-American Film Corporation in Cuba, Romero starred in "A Yankee in Havana," penned by his brother. Though not commercially successful, his acting talent caught the eye of American director Richard Harlan, who invited him to Hollywood in 1926.
While in Hollywood, Romero appeared in over 24 short comedies and worked with notable actors like W.C. Fields. At the request of distributors, he adopted the more "American" stage name, Tommy Albert. However, the advent of sound films in 1927 led to the exclusion of deaf actors, as intertitles critical for silent films were eliminated.
This prompted Romero to return to New York in 1928, where he resumed his job at the Federal Reserve but never abandoned his artistic passion. In 1934, he co-founded the Theatre Guild of the Deaf with John Funk and Sam Block, which remained active for twenty years. He also edited the Digest of the Deaf magazine between 1938 and 1939. During World War II, he shifted careers to work on metal fabrication for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.
Innovative Subtitling and Legacy
Romero's career peaked in 1947 when he developed the first subtitles for a film. Though his method was rudimentary and affected the soundtrack for hearing audiences, it allowed the deaf community to enjoy cinema. Romero would rent his subtitled films to schools and clubs for the deaf, inspiring others like Edmund Burke Boatner to create more efficient methods.
Beyond cinema, Romero continued to innovate products to improve the lives of deaf individuals. In 1959, he designed the Vibralarm, a vibrating alarm clock, and created various adapted products such as doorbells, smoke detectors, and baby alarms.
In 1970, the Civic Association of the Deaf of New York City awarded him their annual Civic Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions. Emerson Romero passed away in Boulder, Colorado, on October 16, 1972.
In recent years, Google has honored several notable Cubans including Carlos J. Finlay, María Teresa Vera, and Cuban-American musician Tito Puente.