Adoption of synchronized sound in Hollywood (1926–1932)

1. Vitaphone debuts with Don Juan premiere

   Aug 6, 1926Labels: Vitaphone, Warner Bros

   • Don Juan 1926
   • Sound film

2. Fox demonstrates Movietone sound-on-film publicly

   Jan 21, 1927Labels: Movietone, Fox

   • Phonofilm
   • Sound film

3. Movietone captures Lindbergh takeoff with sound

   May 20, 1927Labels: Movietone, Charles Lindbergh

   • Movietone News
   • Fox Archives

4. The Jazz Singer premieres with spoken sequences

   Oct 6, 1927Labels: The Jazz, Warner Bros

   • The Jazz Singer
   • WIRED

5. Studios sign ERPI deals to convert for sound

   May 1, 1928Labels: ERPI, Western Electric

   • Sound film

6. Warner releases first all-talking feature film

   Jul 6, 1928Labels: Lights of, Warner Bros

   • Lights of New

7. The Singing Fool expands audience exposure to talkies

   Sep 19, 1928Labels: The Singing, Warner Bros

   • The Singing Fool

8. RCA-driven RKO forms to promote Photophone

   Oct 23, 1928Labels: RKO, RCA

   • RKO Pictures
   • FTC Report

9. In Old Arizona shows outdoor all-talking production

   Dec 25, 1928Labels: In Old, Fox

   • In Old Arizona
   • AFI Catalog

10. MGM’s The Broadway Melody popularizes all-talking musicals

    Feb 1, 1929Labels: The Broadway, MGM

    • Broadway Melody

11. City Lights shows silent-style filmmaking still viable

    Jan 30, 1931Labels: City Lights, Charlie Chaplin

    • City Lights

12. Sound becomes the norm as silent production fades

    Jan 1, 1932Labels: Sound Adoption, Hollywood

    • Sound film