U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 6

WASHINGTON, July 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile
America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

MONDAY, JULY 6: FIRST FULL SOUND MOVIE

Profile America -- Monday, July 6th. Most movie buffs know the first film with
a partial soundtrack was "The Jazz Singer," with superstar Al Jolson. But not
too many can name the first movie with a full-length soundtrack, which opened
on this date in New York in 1928. It was "The Lights of New York," about the
murder of a crime boss, a film which has faded into obscurity. 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. In 1928,
Americans went to the movies an average of about twice a week. Now, we each
take in about 5 films a year in a theater. You can find these and more facts
about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at www.census.gov.

Sources: American Speakers Calendar of Events
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 400
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, t. 1203

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S.
Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready
to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look
under the "Newsroom" button).

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

Rick Reed of the U.S. Census Bureau, +1-301-763-2812, fax: +1-301-763-3762,
Richard.Thomas.Reed-at-census.gov