Final answer:
The silent film era ended with the introduction of sound films, specifically marked by the release of 'The Jazz Singer' in 1927, which initiated a new era of mass media culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The silent era in film began with the advent of feature films and concluded with the emergence of sound films, also known as "talking pictures." The definitive end of the silent film era is often attributed to the 1927 New York release of The Jazz Singer, which was the first prominent talkie and represented a significant shift in the film industry. This transition to sound films marked the creation of mass media culture as audiences across the country were able to experience films in a uniform way, despite geographical distances.