Events Carl Laemmle of Paramount experiments with combining audio from phonographs with film. Laemmle's experiements lead to the German development of "Syncroscope." "Syncroscope" had several successful demonstrations, but was eventually abandoned. First Ben-Hur film, directed by Sidney Olcott November 28 - In Haverville, Massachusetts, scrap-metal dealer Louis B. Mayer opens his first movie theater (in a few years he had the largest theater chain in New England and in 1917 he founded his own production company, which eventually became part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). Births January 3 - Ray Milland, actor († 1986) January 19 - Lilian Harvey, actress († 1968) January 20 - Barbara Stanwyck, actress († 1990) January 20 - Paula Wessley, actress († 2000) May 12 - Katharine Hepburn, actress May 22 - Laurence Olivier, actor († 1989) May 26 - John Wayne, actor († 1979) September 15 - Fay Wray, actress Deaths