Final answer:
United Artists was a film distribution company and was not responsible for creating the first sound films; those were pioneered by studios like Warner Brothers with 'The Jazz Singer.' United Artists did distribute many successful sound films later on, such as 'Rebecca' and 'Modern Times'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves a misunderstanding as it assumes that United Artists created sound films around the time of the first 'talkie,' The Jazz Singer, which was actually a Warner Brothers production. United Artists, founded in 1919 by D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, was a distribution company that allowed artists to maintain control over their works.
However, it is known for its subsequent successful sound films, though not specifically for being pioneers in the initial wave of talkies. If we move forward in time, some of the notable United Artists sound films include classics such as Rebecca (1940) and Modern Times (1936), although the latter was not a 'talkie' in the traditional sense.
In terms of the history of sound films, it's important to note that The Jazz Singer's release in 1927 marked a major shift in the film industry from silent cinema to one where sound became integral to the movie experience. This transition had a significant impact on the careers of silent film stars and led to the advancement of new techniques in filmmaking, scriptwriting, and acting that accommodated for spoken dialogue and synchronized music.