Warnerlogo

History of Sound Film

By projecthistory8
  • Premiere of The Great Train Robbery

    Premiere of The Great Train Robbery

    The first narrative film of significant length
  • De Forest premieres 18 short films made in Phonofilm

    De Forest premieres 18 short films made in Phonofilm

    Lee De Forest premiered short movies made in his sound-on-film process, Phonofilm.

  • Western Electric Bell Laboratories acquired by Warner Brothers

    Western Electric had been experimenting with the sound film and was bought out by the Warner Bros.
  • Premiere of Don Juan

    Premiere of Don Juan

    The Vitaphone System had done introduced Vitaphone film shorts on this day, along with the premiere of Don Juan. This was the first sound film (no dialogue).
  • Premiere of Sunrise

    Premiere of Sunrise

    This was made by Fox using Movietone sound-on-film. It was the first Movietone film and had a sound track, but no dialogue.
  • Premiere of the Jazz Singer

    Premiere of the Jazz Singer

  • Period: to

    Hollywood's Golden Age

    This was an era of prosperity and success in Hollywood.
  • Period: to

    Major Film Companies sign with AT&T to produce sound-on-film movies.

  • Premiere of Lights of New York

    Premiere of Lights of New York

    The first all-talking film, released by the Warner Brothers.
  • The Premiere of Modern Times

    The Premiere of Modern Times

    Modern Times, starring Charlie Chaplin, was a silent film that marked the end to the silent era. It premiered in New York City.