Learning Objectives: Section 4 - Culture in the 1930's Standard Addressed: 11.6 Students analyze the different explanations for the Great Depression and how the New Deal fundamentally changed the role of the federal government. CH 15-SEC 4 Learning Objectives: Section 4 - Culture in the 1930's 1. Describe the entertainment provided by motion pictures and radio. 2. Identify some of the artists and writers of the New Deal era.

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A BULLDOG ALWAYS Commitment Attitude CARES Respect Encouragement Safety

Culture in the 1930s Section 4 Motion pictures, radio, art, and literature blossom during the New Deal. NEXT

AMERICA GETS BACK TO WORK THE NEW DEAL AMERICA GETS BACK TO WORK

SECTION 4: CULTURE IN THE 1930s MOVIES: By the late 1930s, 65% of Americans were attending the movies at least once per week at one of the nation’s 15,000 movie theaters     Movies provided an escape from the hardships of the Great Depression

SECTION 4: CULTURE IN THE 1930s MOVIES: Comedies, lavish musicals, love stories and gangster films dominated the movie industry     Movies provided an escape from the hardships of the Great Depression

MOVIE STARS 1930s A new era of glamour in Hollywood was launched with stars like Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich and James Cagney

FAMOUS FILMS OF THE 30s One of the most famous films of the era was Gone with the Wind (1939) Other notable movies of the era included The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama Gone with the Wind Clark Gable Vivian Leigh What was its theme? What was it? Who created or appeared in it? Life among Southern plantation owners during the Civil War Margaret Mitchell

FAMOUS FILMS OF THE 30s

Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama Mr. Smith Goes to Washington What was it? What was its theme? Film Honest, Kindhearted people winning out over greedy special interests. Who created or appeared in it? Frank Capra

Shirley Temple (Black) Most popular artist 1935-1938

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RADIO: THE ORIGINAL ENTERTAINMENT Sales of radios greatly increased in the 1930s, from 13 million in 1930 to 28 million by 1940 Nearly 90% of American homes owned a radio Families spent hours listening to the radio

ROOSEVELT’S FIRESIDE CHATS FDR communicated to Americans via radio His frequent “Fireside Chats” kept Americans abreast of the government’s efforts during the Depression

POPULAR RADIO SHOWS Benny Popular radio shows included comedies with Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and the duo of Burns and Allen Hope Burns Allen

POPULAR RADIO SHOWS Soap operas (named because they were sponsored by soap companies) ran in the mornings, kids shows in the afternoon and entertainment at night

Radio Entertains

FAMOUS RADIO MOMENTS Orson Welles created a radio special called War of the Worlds It was an epic drama about aliens landing in America Unfortunately, many thought it was a news broadcast and panicked

Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama War of the Worlds What was it? What was its theme? Play Martian invasion of earth Who created or appeared in it? Orsen Wells (H.G. Wells)

Radio Entertains

Guided Reading: Films and Radio Drama Waiting for Lefty What was it? What was its theme? Play Labor struggles of the 1930’s Who created or appeared in it? Clifford Odets

WRITERS DEPICT AMERICAN LIFE The Federal Writers’ Project (branch of WPA) paid writers to write Richard Wright’s acclaimed Native Son was written for the project Deals with issues of growing up black

Guided Reading: Art and Literature Native Son What was it? What was its theme? Novel Difficulties faced by a young generation surviving in a racist world Who created or appeared in it? Richard Wright

JOHN STEINBECK RECEIVES ACCLAIM American writer John Steinbeck received assistance from the Federal Writers’ Project He published his most famous book, Grapes of Wrath (1939), as part of the program Portrays the struggles of a family from the dust bowl.

Guided Reading: Art and Literature The Grapes of Wrath What was it? What was its theme? Novel Difficulties of Oklahomans who left the Dust Bowl for California Who created or appeared in it? John Steinbeck

LIVE NEWS COVERAGE Radio captured news as well as providing entertainment One of the first worldwide broadcasts was the horrific crash of the Hindenburg, a German Zeppelin (blimp), in New Jersey on May 6, 1937 Such immediate news coverage became a staple in society The Hindenburg caught fire and was utterly destroyed within a minute Of the 97 people on board, 13 passengers and 22 crew-members were killed

The Arts in Depression America Artists Decorate America Federal Art Project pays artists to make art, teach in schools Aim to promote art appreciation, positive image of America Murals typically portray dignity of ordinary people at work Many outstanding works painted by artists, including Grant Wood Federal Theater Project hires actors, artists Continued . . . NEXT

ART DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION The Federal Art Project (branch of the WPA) paid artists a living wage to produce art Projects included murals, posters and books Much of the art, music and literature was sober and serious

PLAY – OUR TOWN

Guided Reading: Art and Literature Our Town What was it? What was its theme? Play Warmth and beauty of small-town life in New England Who created or appeared in it? Thornton Wilder

ARTISTS HERALDED Painters like Edward Hopper, Thomas Hart Benton, and Iowa’s Grant Wood were all made famous by their work in the WPA program Photographer Dorothea Lange gained fame from her photos during this era (featured throughout this presentation) Wood’s American Gothic is perhaps the most famous piece of the era (1930)

Artists Decorate America Federal Art Project pays artists to make art, teach in schools Aim to promote art appreciation, positive image of America Murals typically portray dignity of ordinary people at work Many outstanding works painted by artists, including Grant Wood Federal Theater Project hires actors, artists

Grant Wood’s Fall Plowing, 1931

Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks (1942)

Edward Hopper, Railroad Sunset (1929)

Mabel Dwight, In the Crowd (1931)

Thomas Hart Benton, Mine Strike

Thomas Hart Benton, Lord, Heal the Child (1934)

Nicolai Cikovsky, On the East River (c. 1934)

Guided Reading: Art and Literature American Gothic What was it? What was its theme? Painting Two stern-faced farmers; rural life during the Depression Who created or appeared in it? Wood Grant

GUTHRIE’S MUSIC CAPTURES ERA Singer Woody Guthrie used music to capture the hardship of the Great Depression Guthrie traveled the country singing about America Singer, songwriter Woody Guthrie sings of plight of poor Woody Guthrie

The Arts in Depression America Woody Guthrie Sings of America Singer, songwriter Woody Guthrie sings of plight of poor Continued . . . NEXT

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Chapter 15: Section 4 MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS A – Why did you think movies were so popular during the Depression? Movies provided realistic portrayals as well as escapist comedies and romances, all of which helped people to cope with the Depression reality

Chapter 15: Section 4 MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS B – Why did the New Deal fund art projects? New Deal officials believed -that art played an important role in the life of the American people. -that artists deserved work relief just as other unemployed Americans did

MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS C – In what ways did the New Deal deliver art to the public? The Federal Art Project paid to produce public art. It also promoted the teaching of art in schools and poster and mural paintings. The Federal Theater Project assisted producing theater productions.

Chapter 15: Section 4 MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS D – How did the literature of the time reflect issues of the Depression? Writers depicted the difficulties of the Depression Era, such as the Dust Bowl, working class life, racism, and hardships in America.