the great escape a way to forget the hardships of life in the great depression
Post on 17-Jan-2016
219 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
The Great Escape
A Way to Forget the Hardships of Life in the Great Depression
The Golden Age of Hollywood
The Golden Age of Hollywood
Forget the harsh realities of life for 25 ¢Popular films:
Gone With the WindWalt Disney’s Mickey Mouse filmsKing KongThe Wizard of Oz
There were a number of Canadian stars who became internationally renown
King Kong (1933)
One of the first horror/adventure filmsMovie director meets a young girl stealing
an apple during the DepressionOffers her a starring role in a film
Filmmakers encounter a giant gorilla named “Kong” on a mysterious islandThey capture him and bring him to NYC
Made a hit for its special effects
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Ahead of its time: musical fantasy, filmed in colour
Dorothy (and Toto) are whisked away from her aunt’s farm by a tornado to the magical and mysterious kingdom of Oz
Dorothy has many adventures as she tries to reach the Wizard who is supposed to help her get back home
Do You Know Who This Is?
Shirley Temple
Beloved child star of the 1930s1934: her first film – at the age of 4!
She was the box office hit for the next 4 years!
She sang and danced her way into the hearts of North Americans
Shirley Temple dolls, doll clothes, soaps, books, and ribbons added to her salary
The Radio Reinvented
1930s: people gathered around the radio to listen to popular programs
Most radio programming originated in the USA: left many Canadians concerned about the amount of American contentCreation of the CRBC (CDN Radio
Broadcasting Commission) in 1932 by BennettDesigned to broadcast CDN radio programs in
French and English and to regulate broadcasting
The Radio – Cont’d
1936: the CRBC evolved into the CBC (CDN Broadcasting Corporation) as designed by PM KingThe CBC demonstrated its power in 1939 when
it broadcasted – to even the most remote areas – the first royal visit to Canada by England’s monarchs, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
It demonstrated its ability to establish a sense of national unity in Canada
Canadian Radio
CDN-made radio programs copied the formats of popular American shows: The Happy Gang: comedic entertainment with easy-listening
music
Other uniquely CDN shows: Hockey Night in Canada: first broadcast from Toronto’s Maple
Leaf Gardens in 1931
Musical Trends
“Big Band” sound by artists such as Guy Lombardo, Glenn Miler, and Jimmy DorseySome songs reflected the harsh economic
times:“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love”“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”
Others offered an escape from reality:“Walking in a Winter Wonderland”“Moonlight Serenade”
Musical Trends – Cont’d
Artists of African-American descent began to make their markBillie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald: soulful blues,
powerful religious songs
Singers and songwriters of African-American descent had a profound influence on the development of modern North American pop music
Newspapers and Magazines
Daily life in CAN was looking more like daily life in the USA
American publications dominated the magazine industry in CAN1931: Bennett responded by issuing a hefty
tariff on US magazines1935: King takes office and cuts the tariff as
part of a trade agreement with the USAmerican magazine sales rapidly increase and
easily outsell CDN magazines
Newspapers – Cont’d
American press services provided most foreign news coverage: news stories always had an American slantLittle or no coverage about CAN or CDNs
The influence of the US on CAN through films, radio, magazines, and fads did not really become an important political issue until the 1960s
The most popular magazines during the Depression reported on the lives of the rich and famous. Why do you think these magazines were so popular? Is this type of magazine popular today?
A Media Sensation
Newspapers of the 1930s downplayed the harsh conditions of the Depression: people had become tired of reading bad newsLots of space for human interest stories
Birth of the Dionne quintuplets in Corbeil, ON in 1934 – first quintuplets to survive!Quickly became a major tourist attraction: were
looked at through a one-way screenProvided upbeat stories about the girls’ progress
Questions
The movies discussed are Hollywood classics. Why do you think each one was so appealing in the 1930s? Why do you think some movies are able to maintain their appeal across generations?
What is escapism? Many forms of 1930s’ entertainment falls under this category.
Answer the following questions in your notes. These will be checked on Wednesday and will go towards your letter grades.
Questions Continued
How have the changes and developments in movies, radio, music, and news print that we see in the 1930’s shaped the Canada we see today?
top related