It may seem rudimentary by today’s standards, but for many decades, the only way Americans visually witnessed the news was in weekly newsreels, screened before feature motion pictures at local theaters. That’s the way Americans saw Lindbergh’s Atlantic flight, the fiery end of the airship Hindenburg, and the unfolding developments of World War II. The first newsreel in the U.S. was shown on this day in 1911, as the French company Pathe made its first weekly release. Over the years, the most popular newsreels were those of Movietone. Now, about 93 percent of the 240 million or so Americans over the age of 18 watch television, including news programs and updates, from the convenience of their own homes. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.