Unit 1.3 - Society and Culture Flashcards
What was the social impact of cinema?
- By 1917 Movies were the biggest entertainment media in the USA.
- Movie theatres boomed post war.
- Movie theatres gave the public an entire evening out.
- In the 1930s most movie theatres changed their ‘feature’ twice a week.
When was the first ‘Talkie’?
In 1927, ‘The Jazz Singer’
How many seats were there in movie theatres by 1941?
- 10,500,000
- One seat for every 12.5 people.
What was a ‘B-movie’?
- Cheapest movies.
- Had a budget of $50,000-$100,000.
- Featured no stars.
- Short cartoon.
- Travelogue.
- Trailers.
- Newsreel.
Who was Clara Bow?
- Known as the ‘It’ girl.
- Specialised in ‘flapper’ roles.
- Many young women who saw her films wanted to look and dress like her.
- It was common for young women to ask for a Clara Bow cut at the hairdressers.
During the 1930s and 1940s where were the majority of films made worldwide?
- 90% of all films were made in Hollywood.
Where did the power lay within Hollywood?
- With the studios.
- There were 8 companies that worked together and had almost total control of stars, staff and the industry as a whole.
- They chose the movies that would be shown.
- Classified the movies to their own suitability ratings.
- Major studios could blacklist celebrities making it impossible to find work. (Happened during second Red Scare.)
How many movies did Clara Bow make in 1925?
- 15 movies.
What was the opposition to movies?
- Many said that female stars were too scantily dressed and drank and smoke all the time.
- The ‘Gangster’ genre made violence and crime look attractive.
What did all movies from 1930-1966 have to conform to?
- The Hays Code.
What was the Hays Code?
- A strict code that implied that all movies should improve society.
- Studios began building a ‘morality clause’ into their contracts to ensure the stars signed up to a good living.
What were some of the Hays Codes rules for movies?
- Crimes should not be shown in enough detail to be copied.
- The white slave trade could never be shown.
- Family life should be portrayed as a good thing and adultery should be portrayed as a bad thing.
Why did people dislike Jazz?
- Conservatives in the 20s considered it to be morally lax.
- Jazz dances such as the Charleston & the Black Bottom were sexually suggestive.
- Many Jazz and Swing players were Black, giving people racist reasons to dislike it.
What percentage of homes owned a gramophone by 1929?
- 50%.
- Industry that made records was booming.
Why did record sales drop by 1935?
- Radio sales had taken off.
- Radios played popular music for free.
- Records has become a luxury due to the Depression.
When did the first commercial radio station begin broadcasting?
- KDKA.
- 2nd November 1920 (Presidential Election Day)
- The radio could broadcast the results before the papers could print them.
How many commercial radio stations were there by 1924?
- 600 commercial stations.
When did the first radio advertisement air?
- Aired in August 1922.
What types of people used the radio to spread their message?
- Politicians.
- Religious Leaders.
Who was Father Coughlin?
- Priest.
- Broadcasted a series of sermons criticising the KKK.
- By 1930 he had about 40 million listeners.
- During the Depression he criticised banks and supported Roosevelt.
- Called the New Deal ‘Christ’s Deal’
- When Roosevelt didn’t go far enough for him he criticised him cost him a loss of support.
Why was radio so influential?
- Mass production made radios cheaper.
- Hire purchase made them more accessible.
- On NBC everyone heard the same thing at the same time, people felt part of a mass culture.
What did television programmes and advertisements create amongst citizens in America?
- A national culture.
- more influential than radio.
What year was the first television advertisement including a Black American in?
- 1963.
What president used television during their 1952 campaign?
- President Eisenhower.