Sound film
The primary steps in the commercialization of sound cinema were taken in the mid- to late 1920s. At first, the sound films which included synchronized dialogue, known as "talking pictures", or "talkies", were exclusively shorts. The earliest feature-length movies with recorded sound included only music and effects. The first feature film originally presented as a talkie was "The Jazz Singer", released in October 1927. A major hit, it was made with Vitaphone, which was at the time the leading brand of sound-on-disc technology. Sound-on-film, however, would soon become the standard for talking pictures.
Englert Theatre
Englert Theatre screened the first talkie motion picture displayed in Iowa City on June 9, 1928, of a first run (film) titled "The Jazz Singer" featuring Al Jolson, the first sound film to be originally presented in that format. It had been premiered in New York City in October 1927. Early road show movies presented at the Englert such as "The Covered Wagon" (1923) and "All Quiet on the Western Front (1930 film)" were accompanied by up to 60-piece orchestras.