I totally agree about the importance of music for silent films. (Some films even had foley artists adding sound effects during showings, at major theatres (like clacking wooden spoons, for horse steps, and such)).
And never forget that cartoons (often the old silent ones contained themes/scenes that would get banned or “restricted” ratings today.) were originally produced to sell sheet music. We were into full color and sound, before cartoons specifically targeting children audiences, hit the theatres. Racism, drunkenness, smoking, sexual inuendo, and violence were popular with Walt, and Warner Bros., long before “Snow White” hit the theatres.
