The Great Depression: Popular Culture 11/30/11

Songs of The Great Depression Music was a source of relief during the Depression Jazz, later known as Swing, become extremely popular in the 1930s. “Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?” (1931) Written by E.Y. (Yip) Harburg Performed by Al Jolson, Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby (Listen to Rudy Vallee’s version)

Rudy Vallee

Songs of the Great Depression “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (1939) Written by E.Y. (Yip) Harburg Performed by Judy Garland in the famous 1939 film The Wizard of Oz “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” (1931) Composed by Duke Ellington Known as a jazz standard, or a piece of music that is important to Jazz musicians

Novels of the Great Depression Gone with the Wind (1936) Written by Margaret Mitchell An epic novel set in the Civil War era The Grapes of Wrath (1939) Written by John Steinbeck A novel set in the Great Depression that follows a family of Okies

Hattie McDaniel

Films of the Great Depression Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) Directed by Frank Capra Starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) 1st full length Animated film made by Walt Disney

Films of the Great Depression Gone With the Wind (1939) Starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh 238 minutes, including an intermission Won numerous awards, including: Best Picture Best Director Best Actress Made $198,676,459 in theaters Adjusted Gross: $1.6 billion (1st)

Films of the Great Depression Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) Directed by Frank Capra Starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur The Wizard of Oz (1939) Starring Judy Garland Based on L. Frank Baum’s book

Cars! Cars! Cars! Cars became status symbols, or signs of wealth, during the Depression Cars became the most prized possessions for most Americans Auto shows grew in popularity Some of the most popular cars of the 1930s: Buick Series 40 Ford V-8 Cabriolet

Tourism Boom In the 1930s, the travel trailer became extremely popular Allowed Americans to travel wherever they wanted (and provided inexpensive accommodations!) 1936 Travel Trailer

Electricity Brings Forth Changes With the increasing availability of electricity came larger markets for new appliances The refrigerator was the most popular Other appliances included washing machines and electric irons

Radios Radios were the social focal point of the typical 1930s household 30 million people owned radios in the late 1930s Radio set the pattern used today in television: Midday: game shows, soap operas, discussion panels Late Afternoon: children’s programming Evening: News programs, comedy hours & dramas