Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Emerson Romero, a Cuban-American silent film actor who made movies easier to watch for Deaf people. This doodle is part of Hispanic Heritage Month and is illustrated by Derek Abella, a Cuban-American artist. The picture shows Romero adding captions to films.
Emerson Romero was born on August 19, 1900, in Havana, Cuba. At the age of six, he lost his hearing due to whooping cough. A year later, his parents sent him to Wright Oral School in New York City, where he received an education. After finishing school, he worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
In 1924, Romero’s brother started a film company in Cuba and invited him to join. Romero began working backstage, but his brother encouraged him to act. His physical skills helped him do his own stunts, and he soon starred in a film called A Yankee in Havana. His acting got the attention of Hollywood, and he moved to California to pursue more film roles.
Over the years, Romero acted in over 20 short films, including hits like Great Guns, Sappy Days, and The Cat’s Meow. But in 1927, sound films, or “talkies,” became popular. This change made it hard for Deaf actors like Romero to find roles. The new films also stopped using subtitles, which made it difficult for Deaf people to enjoy them.
After leaving Hollywood, Romero returned to his bank job and became active in the Deaf community. He helped start the Theatre Guild of the Deaf in New York City and acted or directed in many of their plays. He also became the editor of Digest of the Deaf and wrote a weekly column for the Farmingdale Post.
Romero didn’t stop there. In 1947, he developed a new way to add captions to films. He sliced film strips and placed caption images between the frames, allowing Deaf people to follow the dialogue in movies. This technique inspired future advancements in captioning for films.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we remember Emerson Romero for his lasting impact on both the Deaf and film communities.
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