Date with History: October 6

Cinema found its voice the same date a Bible translator was burned centuries before.

One paperback for one calendar date: what happened on October 6, and who was born on it.

What happened on October 6

1927: The Jazz Singer brings synchronized sound to cinema

"The Jazz Singer" premiered at Warner's Theatre on October 6, 1927, becoming the first widely released feature with synchronized dialogue. Al Jolson's line, "You ain't heard nothin' yet," marked the end of the silent-film era.

1536: William Tyndale is executed for translating the Bible

William Tyndale was strangled and burned at the stake on October 6, 1536, for translating the Bible into English without church authorization. Within a year, Henry VIII authorized an English Bible built largely on Tyndale's own translation.

Famous birthdays on October 6

1846 — George Westinghouse
George Westinghouse, born 1846, championed the alternating current that powers homes today.

1914 — Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl, born 1914, sailed a handmade raft 4,300 miles across the Pacific Ocean.

Nearby dates

October 5 · October 7 · All October dates

Part of Date with History, a 366-book collection with one book for every date of the year. 5″×8″ paperback, cream paper.

Historical selections are editorially researched. This is a date-specific book, not a personalized or custom-made product.