Groves at a 1925 electrical disc-cutting lathe for sound movies

Born in Liverpool, England. Electrical engineer who, along with fellow Brit Stanley S. A. Watkins, was one of the two men mainly responsible for the research and development of the sound-on-disc method at Bell Laboratories that became Warner Bros.' Vitaphone. He was the recording engineer for DON JUAN (1926), the first successful commercial sound feature, made with a synchronized music score and sound effects. Groves was also the uncredited sound recordist and sound re-recording mixer for THE JAZZ SINGER (1927), the first real talkie, which used the Vitaphone sound-on-disc method. The best way to tell Groves' story is to quote the citation given with the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers Samuel L Warner Memorial Award in 1972: "It is the purpose of this award to do honour to the individual by recognizing outstanding contributions in the design and development of new and improved methods and/or apparatus for sound-on-film motion pictures including any step in the process. "George R. Groves graduated from Liverpool University, England and came to the United States in 1923. From 1923 to 1925 he was at Bell Telephone Laboratories, New York during the period of development of electrical recording of phonograph records and synchronization of sound in motion pictures. "In 1925 he transferred to Warner Brothers with the first Vitaphone installation and recorded the first Vitaphone public showing August 6, 1926, which included the recorded musical score for 'Don Juan' and various Vitaphone short subjects. In April 1927 he moved to Hollywood to record the original 'Jazz Singer' with Al Jolson and in 1928 recorded the first all-talking picture 'Lights of New York'. "Mr Groves has participated actively and in a supervisory capacity on all Warner Brothers productions to date, including 32 productions that have received Academy nominations for sound, three of which received Oscars. "From 1942 to 1945 Mr Groves served as officer in charge of sound recording for the Army Air Force. He is presently engaged as consultant on modernization and extension of recording, re-recording and music scoring facilities for the Burbank Studios." Groves retired in 1972 after 49 years in the business just shortly after his planned modernized scoring stage and sound dept at Warners was completed and named in his honor. He died in 1976. Other notable recording credits include THE GLORIOUS BETSY, THE LION AND THE MOUSE and THE SINGING FOOL (all 1928), THE DESERT SONG, SAY IT WITH SOUNGS and GOLD DIGGERS OF BROADWAY (all 1929), MAMMY, SONG OF THE FLAME, SWEET KITTY BELLAIRS, BRIGHT LIGHTS, VIENNESE NIGHTS and CAPTAIN THUNDER (all 1930), ILLEGAL (1932) and TWENTY MILLION SWEETHEARTS (1934). He consulted and worked as a sound re-recording mixer for several features: THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS (1953), THE MUSIC MAN (1962), MY FAIR LADY (1964) and WOODSTOCK (1970).  Nominated for Sound Recording 1929-30: SONG OF THE FLAME  Sound 1957: SAYONARA - as head of Warner Bros. Sound Dept. 2 nominations, 1 Award