The period between early 1940s to mid-1960s or so, alternatively, the period between when the

During this period, musicals (which were labeled “musical comedies” at the time) were in the form of acceptable of guilty pleasures - the appeal of women and their sexuality, silly characters that made fools of themselves, or the goofy country girl dancing through the chores of the day. Ziegfeld’s Follies, Marx brother shows, and Al Jolson playing his character in blackface are great examples of these shows that focused on showing off the stars and gave little care to the

At the end of World War I, an excited America was poised for a cultural renaissance; patriotism was on the rise, the strong concept of Manifest Destiny had passed its peak of influence, and, most importantly, there had not been a clear shift in culture for decades. The Jazz Age of the 1920s was about to dawn, bringing with it youthful, risqué morals and a carefree look on life. From these ideals, a new, strongly American form of entertainment would emerge: musical theatre. Most commonly found in New York City on Broadway even to this day, musical theatre became an escape from reality and an entry into the imagination. The grand and splashy components that make up what is considered a classic Broadway musical can ultimately be traced back to Cole Porter. Porter’s writing, albeit at times controversial or raunchy, was able to harness the frantically beating heart of the Jazz Age and turn it into treasured shows. Using his unique melodies, romantic or idealistic lyrics, and his pioneering of writing about the human experience, Cole Porter shaped American music and theatre from the 1920s through the 1940s.

The 1950s and the 1960s had many similarities, though they had many differences as well. Their similarities and differences include: the politics, the economy, the society, and the culture of both decades. In the 1950s, North Korea moved into South Korea and began a civil war between the two parallel countries. The reason for this dispute was the border lines as well as guerrilla fighting in the South, which created a greater tension on the issue. The reason why the U.S entered the Korean War was so that the Soviet Union would not gain another nation and, in turn, more power. Like the 50s, our country was also at war with another country in the 60s. This time, the U.S was at war with Vietnam. The U.S entered the war because the

53. Roger and Hammerstein shows from earliest to latest: Oklahoma, carousel, south pacific, the king and I, and the sound of music

Musicals were meant to bring exoticism to people so that people could enjoy and feel like they are somewhere for a couple of hours. What people didn’t see was the deeper meaning that some musicals brought to the surface like segregation, racism, body issues and LGBT. Hairspray and West Side Story are two musicals that bring deep meaning to their musicals if you look hard enough you will find them. Even though there is race faced in both Hairspray and West Side Story that build issues, yet the both come together as a group at the end.

During the 1950’s we see an economic boom in America. A large amount of this growth has to do with the money made by Corporations with Military Contracts making goods and supplies for the United States Military. With the Cold War beginning the push for new invention in aviation, rocket propulsion, energy, and even automobiles was at the forefront of national defense. Industrial giants like Boeing, General Dynamics, and Raytheon received 60% if their income from the Defense Department. Ten percent of the domestic (GDP) was from military spending. With fears of falling behind the Soviet Union, gaining any edge in innovation was important. The government even funneled millions of dollars into American Universities for scholarships and research

At the start of the 20th century, the popular vaudeville shows that crossed the nation became

Over the past (almost) hundred years, society and education have both changed drastically. Typically, the things that have happened in history, such as wars, technological advances, and changes in culture, changed education as a result. Some of these changes include popular culture in the 1920s, economic factors in the 1930s, military intervention in the 1940s, Sputnik in the 1950s, and racial issues in the 1960s. One theme of education is that it has gradually become more important over the years. Before high school diplomas could be rare, and today most high school graduates go to college in the United States.

The 1900’s were a time for great transformations and growth within the theatrical community. Of all types of theater that were developed during that period, musical theater matured into a more respected and widely desired form of entertainment. Musical theater transformed from blackface minstrel shows with gag productions into pieces of reputable theater. One of the most influential productions in making that turn into sophistication is Showboat. Based on the novel by Edna Ferber Showboat was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II (Smith 627). Showboat was premiered in the Ziegfeld Theatre on December 27, 1927 (Smith 627). The 1926 novel chronicled the lives of a musical and racially

Jukebox musicals began in film and later shifted to theatre. They had begun to make theatre more popular with the public, which had begun to gravitate towards film and music. By combining the two, they gain some of the same as well as a whole new audience. I will discuss how this came to be by speaking of the shift that occurred.

The musical film has always held a special place for me. From my time as a drama student in high school, my eyes have been opened to the amazing world of the musical and especially the musical film. The musical film is a film genre in which the characters sing songs that are integrated into the overall story. Since musicals first began in theaters, musical films usually contain similar elements. These elements often simulate that there is a live audience watching. In a sense, the film viewers become the audience members, at a theater production, as the actor performs directly to them. Due to the popularity of musicals in the theater, the style was quickly brought over into film. In 1927, the musical film genre began

The 1960’s was a very influential time in the United States of America. The United States began to explore a new culture of people known as hippies. The USA endured a great scare of nuclear war from the Cuban Missile Crisis. This country lost two famous leaders from that era; John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., who were assassinated. The United States also began the move towards equality by passing the Civil Rights Act. The final major accomplishment from 1960’s was when Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to land on the moon.

Throughout the 1960’s and the 1970’s, the world viewed Kenya with optimism. Portrayed as one of the few democracies in Africa, with government elections and nonviolent transitions between leaders, the country beaconed democratic prosperity. At the time, neighboring countries–Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania¬–were involved in military coups. In a contrast to these states, Kenya was “the best Africa could hope for” (wa Maina, 1992). Even in 1992, the first multi-party elections since independence from British colonial powers mobilized Kenyan nationals. The country headed in the right direction with regards to liberalization of economic policy and a democratization of politics. However, an unintended consequence of colonial rule created

The Post-WWII period. While the world reels from the war, Americans indulge in new technologies such as the TV, washing machine, and suburban housing. However, the tension between the USA and the USSR mounts. The nuclear arms race makes the world fear what might become of the world. causes widespread fear of the future. Even now, 70 years after WWII, humans still fear the atomic bomb and the many consequences of the bombs being detonated. Would past humans have ever thought that one day they would create their own means of destruction? In "Pity this busy monster, manunkind," E.E. Cummings mocks humans for having become destructors physically, socially, and spiritually because of their infatuation with advancing technology.

Expanding on the popular traditions of vaudeville, burlesque and incorporating ideas from aspects of minstrel shows, musicals, presented as entertainment for the masses throughout the twentieth century, dramatized, reflected upon, and confronted society’s cultural attitudes and values. Many musicals address social issues and attempt to persuade the audience to think differently, or validate their existing ideals. Musicals both reflect the social aspects of history and provide the history itself, as a theatrical vehicle that intends to change, not just comment upon, the views of the times. Certain decades appeared to produce shows with little to no social significance, but even these shows prompt important questions regarding why