1926day.year
First public screening using the Vitaphone process
In 1926, the Vitaphone sound-on-disc system debuted in public, heralding the era of talking films.
By 1926, the film industry sought methods to add sound to silent pictures.
The Vitaphone system, created by Western Electric and Bell Laboratories, used large phonograph discs to record audio tracks alongside motion pictures.
On August 6, 1926, audiences in New York City witnessed the first public screening using Vitaphone technology, pairing recorded music and sound effects with live images.
Although spoken dialogue would not appear until the following year, this demonstration proved that synchronized sound could transform the cinematic experience.
Studios swiftly embraced emerging sound processes, leading to the rapid decline of silent films.
Vitaphone's innovation bridged silent cinema and the age of talkies, shaping the future of global entertainment.
1926
Vitaphone