Afrikan Poetry Theatre hosts weekend events Oct 9, 2009
The jazz singer, whose African name, Tulivu, translates to beautiful in Swahili, has been compared to Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. Special guest poet and performer Lisa Muhammad is also expected to be in attendance. (Queens Chronicle, NY)
Today in History - Oct. 6 Oct 6, 2009
In 1927, the era of talking pictures arrived with the opening of "The Jazz Singer," starring Al Jolson. In 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed the Mutual Defense Assistance Act, providing $1. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
AVATAR: The movie that will change cinema forever? Aug 22, 2009
Remember that when the Jazz Singer introduced sound cinematography was pushed back a couple decades because the camera couldn't move any longer. Many cinematographers lament the introductiong of color to this day. (The Drudge Report)
Boss keeping up with the downturn Jul 27, 2009
Although "The Jazz Singer," with Al Jolson, had a partial soundtrack, the year the first movie with a full-length soundtrack, "The Lights of New York," about the murder of a crime boss, opened in New York, according to the U.S. Census Bureau: 1928. In 1928, number of times weekly the average American went to the movies: 2. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Bob Mitchell, 96; organist who played in silent films Jul 11, 2009
With the arrival of talkies and Al Jolson in the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, Mr. Mitchell s first silent-movie career ended. He was 16 years old. (Boston Globe)
U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 6 Jul 6, 2009
Most movie buffs know the first film with a partial soundtrack was "The Jazz Singer," with superstar Al Jolson ... After "The Jazz Singer" stunned the country, movie studios scrambled to change over from silent films to what were then called the "talkies." It was a technical revolution that completely changed the making and viewing of movies. (PR Newswire)
Organist takes on lofty project Feb 23, 2009
All that changed in 1927 with Al Jolson's "The Jazz Singer." The first "talkie" triggered a revolution in film-making that eventually silenced theater organs across America. As the years passed, most ended up in disrepair and ultimately were junked, as impressive movie houses gave way to impersonal multiplexes. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
FACTBOX: Facts about the Oscars Feb 22, 2009
film "The Jazz Singer" was honoured with a special award as the "pioneering outstanding talking picture, which has revolutionized the industry." The Academy had ruled that it was ineligible for competition for best picture because it was thought it would be unfair to let sound films compete with silents. 1939 AND "GONE WITH THE WIND". (Reuters)
