Popular Culture And Affect On British Society 1918-79 Flashcards
What event significantly increased cinema’s popularity during World War I?
The Battle of the Somme (1916) was seen by 20 million people in its first six weeks.
How many cinemas were there in Britain in 1914?
3,000 cinemas.
What was the number of cinemas in Britain during the 1930s?
Almost 5,000 cinemas.
What technological advancement in 1928 further increased cinema’s popularity?
‘Talkies’ were introduced.
What was the average number of cinema visits per person in 1950?
28 times a year.
Which war led to a boom in cinema attendance due to demand for escapism?
The Second World War.
Name one of the most popular British films during the Second World War.
In Which We Serve (1942) or The Way Ahead (1944).
What was the record high ticket sales in Britain in 1946?
1.635 billion tickets.
What major factor contributed to the decline in cinema attendance after the late 1940s?
The rise of television.
What years saw over half of the cinemas in Britain forced to close?
Between 1955 and 1963.
What opened in 1985 that contributed to a recovery in cinema attendance?
State-of-the-art multiplexes.
What type of films were popular among audiences in the late 1940s?
Films that explored wartime problems for women and workers.
Fill in the blank: The BBFC’s duty was to protect _______.
[the public from harmful content in films].
True or False: The majority of cinema audiences were upper middle-class.
False.
What was the impact of the BBFC on film releases?
It classified films and could ban content.
What is one example of a popular American film about Britain during the war?
Mrs Miniver (1942) or The White Cliffs of Dover (1943).
What was a significant change in the nature of cinemas from 1914 to the 1930s?
They changed from small venues seating 200-400 to national chains seating up to 2,000.
What was the total cinema admissions in 1946?
1,635 million
What was the total cinema admissions in 1954?
1,276 million
What was the total cinema admissions in 1964?
343 million
What was the total cinema admissions in 1974?
138 million
What was the total cinema admissions in 1984?
53 million
What was the total cinema admissions in 1994?
106 million
What was the typical profile of a regular cinemagoer in 1946?
Young, urban, working class, and for those over 19, female.
What percentage of 16-19-year-olds went to the cinema weekly in 1946?
69 percent
What percentage of over-60s went to the cinema weekly in 1946?
11 percent
How did cinema attendance differ between the north and south of England?
People in the north went almost twice as often as those in the south.
What types of films did British audiences enjoy?
Comedy, musical romances, drama, tragedy, history, crime, nature, and reality.
What was the purpose of Saturday morning cinema shows?
To provide age-specific films and cheap seats for children.
What concerns did the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) have?
Concerns about the potential impact of films on impressionable audiences.
What was the perception of most cinemagoers regarding films?
They saw films as a form of escapism and appreciated the difference between real life and films.
What were the ‘43 rules’ established in 1917?
Guidelines accepted by local authorities for acceptable films to show.
How many films did the BBFC ban between 1928 and 1939?
140 films
What did the 1959 Obscenity Act and 1968 Theatres Act lead to?
Greater permissiveness at the BBFC.
What types of films were classified with stronger content in the early 1970s?
Films with much stronger violent or sexual content.
What was the impact of the First World War on the British film industry?
It led to a collapse due to funding uncertainty and production disruption.
What did the 1927 Quota Act ensure?
That British-made films made up 20 percent of those shown by 1936.
What was the Eady Levy introduced in 1950?
A small charge on ticket sales to subsidise film-making in Britain.
What was the trend in British film production in the 1970s?
British film production collapsed, leading to American dominance.
What was the reach of radio compared to cinema between 1922 and 1939?
The percentage of households with a radio receiver increased from 1 to 71 percent.
What was the BBC’s role as a public service broadcaster?
To serve the public interest rather than for profit.
What is a ‘quango’?
A quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation.
What does monopoly mean?
The position of having no competition in a given trade or market.
What is the source of the text?
The text is from Lord Reith’s autobiography, Into the Wind, published in 1949.
What did historians David Cardi and Paddy Scannell argue about radio programmes?
They argued that radio programmes acted as ‘social cement’ that reinforced the sense of belonging to the country.
What was the purpose of the Home Service during the Second World War?
The Home Service replaced National and Regional Programmes to prevent enemy aircraft from using regional broadcasts for navigation.
How did radio promote the domestication of leisure time after the war?
Radio programmes were targeted at listeners at home, enhancing national identity and providing immediacy to events.
What was the most popular channel after the war?
The Light Programme was the most popular channel, attracting around two-thirds of the 11 million daily listeners.
What types of shows were popular on the Light Programme?
Popular shows included comedies, soaps, and programmes aimed at women, such as Housewives Choice and Woman’s Hour.
What happened to pirate radio stations in 1967?
The 1967 Marine Broadcasting Offences Act banned pirate radio, although some stations like Radio Caroline ignored the ban.
What changes occurred in BBC radio in 1967?
The BBC split the Light Programme into Radio 2 and Radio 1, with Radio 1 dedicated to pop music and a younger audience.
What was the impact of the 1973 Independent Broadcasting Authority Act?
BBC radio had to compete with a range of UK-based commercial stations.
What was the audience trend for Radio 1 in the 1970s?
Audiences for Radio 1 rose throughout the 1970s, with DJ Tony Blackburn’s Breakfast Show attracting 20 million listeners.
What was the focus of Radio 3 and Radio 4?
Radio 3 focused on ‘highbrow’ culture and modern classical music, while Radio 4 catered to ‘middlebrow’ tastes with news and plays.
What types of music did the British prefer despite BBC efforts?
The British remained attached to ‘middlebrow’ and ‘popular’ music, including popular classical pieces and dance crazes.
What American music influences were significant in Britain?
Influences included ragtime, jazz, swing, bop, country, western, rhythm and blues, and rock’n’roll.
What role did dance halls play in British culture?
Dance halls became popular for social dancing, hosting styles like foxtrot, Charleston, swing, and jive.
Who were The Beatles and when did they start?
The Beatles started in 1957 as a skiffle band and later became a prominent rock band.
How did The Beatles gain popularity?
They secured a regular slot at the Cavern Club in Liverpool and produced numerous hit singles.
What was the significance of The Beatles in the 1960s?
They led the British Invasion of pop music and received an MBE for their services to British music.
What was the trend in British music during the 1970s?
The 1970s saw a rise in escapist music and performers with smooth styles, reflecting changing fashions.
What was the primary function of radio in the early 20th century?
Radio served as an instrument for public communication and entertainment, providing regional broadcasts and various programs to boost morale after the war.
What significant change occurred in British radio in 1967?
In 1967, British radio split into stations dedicated to pop music, allowing for competition with a range of musical genres.
What was the Mersey Beat scene?
The Mersey Beat scene was characterized by numerous bands in Liverpool during the early 1960s, with The Beatles being one of the most famous.
Who were the key figures that helped The Beatles achieve success?
Brian Epstein, their manager, secured a record deal, and George Martin, their producer, provided influential advice.
What was The Beatles’ first chart entry?
‘Love Me Do’ was The Beatles’ first chart entry in October 1962, written by Paul McCartney when he was only 16.
How many number one hits did The Beatles have in Britain between 1963 and 1969?
The Beatles had 17 number one hits in Britain between 1963 and 1969.
What was the significance of the ‘British Invasion’ in 1964?
In April 1964, The Beatles had 12 records in Billboard magazine’s Hot 100, leading the ‘British Invasion’ of the American charts.
What merchandise did The Beatles sell by 1970?
By 1970, Beatles merchandise, including hats, bags, badges, shirts, and more, had sold for over £100 million.
What music trend emerged in the early 1970s?
‘Glam rock’ emerged in the early 1970s with artists like Slade and Marc Bolan.
What was the punk movement characterized by?
The punk movement was characterized by raw music, provocative fashion, and a sense of rebellion, with bands like The Sex Pistols leading the way.
What role did female bands play in the punk movement?
Female bands like The Slits and X-Ray Spex promoted female independence and equality in the music industry.
What is skiffle?
Skiffle is a type of music influenced by folk, blues, and jazz, usually played using homemade or improvised instruments like jugs and washboards.
What impact did television have on British society in the 1950s?
Television changed home dynamics and leisure time usage, leading to a decline in verbal culture as families gathered around the TV instead of engaging in conversation.
When did television broadcasts begin in British homes?
Moving pictures were first broadcast in 1929, but television was not considered a mass medium until after World War II.
What was the percentage of households with a television set in 1950?
Four percent of households had a television set in 1950.
How did television ownership change from 1950 to 1969?
Ownership rose from 4% in 1950 to 95% in 1969.
What was the average weekly television viewing time between 1977 and 1979?
People watched an average of 16 hours of television per week in summer and 20 hours in winter.
Which demographic groups watched the most television?
Children and the elderly watched the most television, while women watched more than men.
What percentage of free time did men and women spend watching television?
Men and women spent around 23% of their free time watching television.
How did television viewing affect class divisions?
Television blurred class divisions by allowing people from different backgrounds to watch similar programs at home.
When did BBC2 begin color broadcasts?
BBC2 began color broadcasts in November 1969.
What was the percentage of color television sets in 1979?
The percentage of color television sets reached 70% in 1979.
What significant change occurred in British television in 1955?
The BBC monopoly on television was ended, allowing 14 independent companies to begin broadcasting, funded by advertising.
What concerns did cultural critics have about commercial television?
Critics were concerned that it would promote vulgar materialism and the Americanisation of British culture.
Who was Richard Hoggart?
A cultural critic who strongly influenced the 1962 Pilkington Report on the impact of television.
What was a key outcome of the 1964 Television Act?
It forced ITV companies to screen two plays and two current affairs programmes each week to fulfil their public service obligation.
What was the remit of BBC2, created in April 1964?
To screen documentaries, comedy, drama, and arts programmes.
What impact did the Pilkington Report have on British playwrights?
It led to a demand for new plays from British playwrights.
Name two influential writers associated with social realist plays.
Dennis Potter and Nell Dunn.
What is the significance of the play ‘Up the Junction’?
‘Up the Junction’ (1965) featured a powerful home abortion scene and had a tremendous impact on viewers.
What was the focus of the play ‘Cathy Come Home’?
‘Cathy Come Home’ (1966) addressed the issue of homelessness.
Did the Wednesday Plays inspire a rebellion among the working class?
No, they did not portray or inspire a rebellion against social superiors; the working classes generally held conservative opinions.
What was the audience size for ‘Coronation Street’ shortly after its launch?
It had a twice-weekly audience of 20 million within its first year.
What made ‘That Was The Week That Was’ (TW3) significant?
It challenged social superiors and figures of authority and was a pinnacle of the satire boom.
What is social realism?
An artistic style that portrays ordinary people going about their everyday lives, often focusing on the working classes with stories of hardship and struggle.
What were the most popular dramas in Britain between 1918-97?
The most popular dramas were based on the past, like ITV’s ‘Upstairs Downstairs’, or on contemporary policing, such as ‘The Professionals’ and ‘The Sweeney’.
What did ‘The Sweeney’ depict?
‘The Sweeney’ depicted tough policemen who did whatever it took to get an arrest, reflecting a reality of police bending the rules for results.
What was the audience size for ‘The Sweeney’ between 1975 and 1978?
The Sweeney attracted audiences of around 19 million.
What percentage of British people thought the police were honest in 1977?
75 percent of British people thought the police were honest in 1977.
What was the impact of competition between the BBC and ITV on programming?
Competition led ITV to invest more in programming, forcing the BBC to compete to justify its funding by the licence fee.
When was the term ‘teenage’ coined?
The term ‘teenage’ was coined in 1921.
What contributed to the rise of ‘youth culture’ after 1945?
The growth of disposable income among young workers allowed them to spend on entertainment and luxuries.
What were popular hangout spots for teenagers in the 1950s?
Teenagers in the 1950s often went to coffee bars or milk bars to ‘hang out’ and listen to music.
When were the first coffee bars opened in London?
The first coffee bars were opened by Italian immigrants in London in 1952.
What was the significance of the jukebox in youth culture?
The jukebox, which became popular in the 1950s, allowed teenagers to listen to music in coffee bars.
What was the first popular music programme on the BBC?
The first popular music programme on the BBC was ‘Hit Parade’ in 1952.
What was the focus of ITV’s ‘Oh Boy!’?
‘Oh Boy!’ focused heavily on rock’n’roll and attracted a teenage audience.
What styles or identities defined youth culture in the 1960s and 1970s?
Popular styles included Mods, Rockers, Beatniks, Hippies, Skinheads, Glam Rockers, and Punks.
How did adults perceive British youth culture in the 1960s and 1970s?
Many adults felt that British youth was out of control, despite evidence showing youth were no more violent than previous generations.
What was the trend in arrests for possession of marijuana from 1960 to 1973?
Arrests for possession of marijuana rose from 235 in 1960 to 11,000 by 1973.
What were the most popular dramas in Britain between 1918-97?
The most popular dramas were based on the past, like ITV’s ‘Upstairs Downstairs’, or on contemporary policing, such as ‘The Professionals’ and ‘The Sweeney’.
What did ‘The Sweeney’ depict?
‘The Sweeney’ depicted tough policemen who did whatever it took to get an arrest, reflecting a reality of police bending the rules for results.
What was the audience size for ‘The Sweeney’ between 1975 and 1978?
The Sweeney attracted audiences of around 19 million.
What percentage of British people thought the police were honest in 1977?
75 percent of British people thought the police were honest in 1977.
What was the impact of competition between the BBC and ITV on programming?
Competition led ITV to invest more in programming, forcing the BBC to compete to justify its funding by the licence fee.
When was the term ‘teenage’ coined?
The term ‘teenage’ was coined in 1921.
What contributed to the rise of ‘youth culture’ after 1945?
The growth of disposable income among young workers allowed them to spend on entertainment and luxuries.
What were popular hangout spots for teenagers in the 1950s?
Teenagers in the 1950s often went to coffee bars or milk bars to ‘hang out’ and listen to music.
When were the first coffee bars opened in London?
The first coffee bars were opened by Italian immigrants in London in 1952.
What was the significance of the jukebox in youth culture?
The jukebox, which became popular in the 1950s, allowed teenagers to listen to music in coffee bars.
What was the first popular music programme on the BBC?
The first popular music programme on the BBC was ‘Hit Parade’ in 1952.
What was the focus of ITV’s ‘Oh Boy!’?
‘Oh Boy!’ focused heavily on rock’n’roll and attracted a teenage audience.
What styles or identities defined youth culture in the 1960s and 1970s?
Popular styles included Mods, Rockers, Beatniks, Hippies, Skinheads, Glam Rockers, and Punks.
How did adults perceive British youth culture in the 1960s and 1970s?
Many adults felt that British youth was out of control, despite evidence showing youth were no more violent than previous generations.
What was the trend in arrests for possession of marijuana from 1960 to 1973?
Arrests for possession of marijuana rose from 235 in 1960 to 11,000 by 1973.
