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

2. 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.

3. 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
Comedies, lavish musicals, love stories and gangster films dominated the movie industry
    Movies provided an escape from the hardships of the Great Depression

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

5. 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)

6. Movies are a Hit About 65% of population goes to movies once a week
Films offer escape from reality; show wealth, romance, fun
• Gone With the Wind—perhaps most famous film of era
• Musicals—live action or animated—way to forget problems
Comedies, realistic gangster movies especially popular
Several films present New Deal policies in positive light

7. Films and Radio Drama Gone with the Wind Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
What was it?
Clark Gable
Vivian Leigh
What was its theme?
Life among Southern plantation owners during the Civil War
Who created or appeared in it?
Margaret Mitchell
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Film
Honest, Kindhearted people winning out over greedy special interests.
Frank Capra

8. Shirley Temple (Black)
Most popular artist

9. Films and Radio Drama War of the Worlds Waiting for Lefty What was it?
Play
What was its theme?
Martian invasion of earth
Who created or appeared in it?
Orsen Wells (H.G. Wells)
Waiting for Lefty
Labor struggles of the 1930’s
Clifford Odets

10. 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

11. 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

12. POPULAR RADIO SHOWS
Benny
Hope
Popular radio shows included comedies with Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and the duo of Burns and Allen
Soap operas (named because they were sponsored by soap companies) ran in the mornings, kids shows in the afternoon and entertainment at night
Burns
Allen

13. 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

14. Radio Entertains
90% of households have a radio; families listen together every day
Dramas, variety shows play in evening
• Orson Welles—actor, director, producer, writer
Soap operas for homemakers broadcast in middle of day
Children’s shows after school hours
Immediate news coverage becomes customary

15. Art and Literature Native Son What was it? Novel What was its theme?
Difficulties faced by a young generation surviving in a racist world
Who created or appeared in it?
Richard Wright
The Grapes of Wrath
Difficulties of Oklahomans who leave the Dust Bowl for California
John Steinbeck

16. 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

17. 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
WPA Art – “Democracy . . .a Challenge” – artist, date unknown

18. 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)

19. Art and Literature Our Town American Gothic What was it? Play
What was its theme?
Warmth and beauty of small-town life in New England
Who created or appeared in it?
Thornton Wilder
American Gothic
Painting
Two stern-faced farmers; rural life during the Depression
Wood Grant

20. 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

21. Grant Wood’s Fall Plowing, 1931

22. Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks (1942)

23. Edward Hopper, Railroad Sunset (1929)

24. Mabel Dwight, In the Crowd (1931)

25. Thomas Hart Benton, Mine Strike

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

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

28. 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
Guthrie

29. Woody Guthrie Sings of America
Singer, songwriter Woody Guthrie sings of plight of poor

30. 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

31. 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

32. Diverse Writers Depict American Life
• Federal Writers’ Project supports many who become major writers
• Richard Wright, African-American author, writes Native Son
• John Steinbeck writes The Grapes of Wrath about Dust Bowl migrants
• Some writers examine difficulty of life in 1930s
• Others show dignity of ordinary people, values of small-town life

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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.

37. 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.