Pop Culture in the 20th Century (Part 1) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tv star collector · 07-30-2008, 01:25 PM

[A few years ago, I wrote this essay (primarily for myself), which might be
subtitled "Reflections of a Baby-Boomer." I thought I'd share some excerpts,
for what it's worth ...]

What you and I know of the '20s has, of course been gained "second-hand."
Let's face it. The '20s (and, for that matter, the '30s and--for the most part--
the '40s)--was before our time. But, thanks to the magic of film, video, and
recordings, the greats and near-greats of that bygone era have been preserved for not only us but for future generations, as well.

Film Comedy

Charlie Chaplin is generally regarded as the king of silent comedies. My older
half-sister, though, felt that he was highly overrated, and I tend to agree.
I've only seen one of his comedies, "The Janitor," in its entirety. But, I feel, from the few works I've seen of his contemporaries, that Buster Keaton and Harold
Lloyd were funnier. But that's just my opinion.

Laurel & Hardy were the first movie comedy team. Period. As Gene Autry once
observed, "When you're first, it doesn't matter if you're the best. No one else
can ever be first." It so happens, in the case of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy,
they were the best comic duo of all time. Unlike most of their peers, they
survived the transition from silents to talkies ... and even flourished in it. If
"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," everyone from Ralph Kramden and
Ed Norton to Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble are in their debt.

Early Animation

Although Walt Disney didn't invent the animated cartoon (Winsor McCay and
other pioneers did), he certainly popularized it as no one else has. Since his
debut, in the 1928 short "Steamboat Willie," Mickey Mouse has become probably the most recognized icon in the world, and the undisputed champ of
merchandising. But, a curious thing happened to Mickey after he became a
symbol of the Disney organization. He lost a lot of his personality. He began
as a cute but mischievous little character. Soon, however, he became the
straight man to Donald Duck, Goofy, and even his dog Pluto. Mickey Mouse
had been tamed. The early black-&-white shorts drawn by Ubbe Iwerks are
a breed apart from the Technicolor cartoons that followed years later.

Popular Music

Al Jolson, a white man in blackface makeup, would never have made it in
these politically correct times. But, in his day, his was the most dynamic
voice on radio and, later, Jolson starred in "The Jazz Singer" (1927), the
first movie with sound. The silent era was over.

07-30-2008, 01:25 PM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	Pop Culture in the 20th Century (Part 1) [A few years ago, I wrote this essay (primarily for myself), which might be subtitled "Reflections of a Baby-Boomer." I thought I'd share some excerpts, for what it's worth ...] What you and I know of the '20s has, of course been gained "second-hand." Let's face it. The '20s (and, for that matter, the '30s and--for the most part-- the '40s)--was before our time. But, thanks to the magic of film, video, and recordings, the greats and near-greats of that bygone era have been preserved for not only us but for future generations, as well. Film Comedy Charlie Chaplin is generally regarded as the king of silent comedies. My older half-sister, though, felt that he was highly overrated, and I tend to agree. I've only seen one of his comedies, "The Janitor," in its entirety. But, I feel, from the few works I've seen of his contemporaries, that Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd were funnier. But that's just my opinion. Laurel & Hardy were the first movie comedy team. Period. As Gene Autry once observed, "When you're first, it doesn't matter if you're the best. No one else can ever be first." It so happens, in the case of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, they were the best comic duo of all time. Unlike most of their peers, they survived the transition from silents to talkies ... and even flourished in it. If "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," everyone from Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton to Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble are in their debt. Early Animation Although Walt Disney didn't invent the animated cartoon (Winsor McCay and other pioneers did), he certainly popularized it as no one else has. Since his debut, in the 1928 short "Steamboat Willie," Mickey Mouse has become probably the most recognized icon in the world, and the undisputed champ of merchandising. But, a curious thing happened to Mickey after he became a symbol of the Disney organization. He lost a lot of his personality. He began as a cute but mischievous little character. Soon, however, he became the straight man to Donald Duck, Goofy, and even his dog Pluto. Mickey Mouse had been tamed. The early black-&-white shorts drawn by Ubbe Iwerks are a breed apart from the Technicolor cartoons that followed years later. Popular Music Al Jolson, a white man in blackface makeup, would never have made it in these politically correct times. But, in his day, his was the most dynamic voice on radio and, later, Jolson starred in "The Jazz Singer" (1927), the first movie with sound. The silent era was over.