Popular Culture Bio-Bibliographies – serie

This bio-bibliography was designed to present a combined biographical, critical, and bibliographical portrait of the Marx Brothers. It examines their significance in film comedy in particular, and as popular culture figures in general. The book is divided into five sections, beginning with a biography which explores the public and private sides of the Marx Brothers. The second section is concerned with the influences of the Marx Brothers as icons of anti-establishment comedy, as contributors to developments in American comedy, as early examples of saturation comedy, and as a crucial link between silent films and the talkies. Three original articles, two by Groucho and one by Gummo, comprise part three. A bibliographical essay, which assesses key reference materials and research collections, is followed by two bibliographical checklists. Appendices containing a chronological biography with a timeline, a filmography, and a selected discography complete the work.

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John Wayne--the man, actor, and icon--remains synonymous with certain American values. He represents conservative political views, aggressive militarism, and a masculine bravado which seemed anachronistic at the time of his death in 1979, but which the Reagan and Bush years have revived as meaningful to American society. In film history, Wayne has a place as one of the great stars, perhaps even one of the great actors.This book provides a full introduction to the study of John Wayne: his life, the components of his image, and the resources available for further inquiry. Of special importance is the book's extensive bibliography, notably its index to fan magazine articles about Wayne, which is unavailable elsewhere. Also included is the complete 1971 controversial Playboy magazine interview.

More than forty years after his death, Humphrey Bogart remains a symbol of the Golden Age of Hollywood and a popular culture icon. His legacy has impacted American popular culture beyond the scope of American film history. His image graces buttons, greeting cards, and postal cards and he has been the subject of plays, films, novels, and poems. This work presents a precise biography of Bogart and examines his place in American popular culture. Scholarly and substantive articles written about Bogart's life, films, and career are analyzed and summarized. Essays and new and previously published interviews present insightful ideas by and about Bogart.Film and popular culture scholars and Humphrey Bogart enthusiasts alike will appreciate the extensive and thorough listing of articles and books about Bogart and his career. As a guide to further research, the author has provided a filmography, discography, and videography and has documented theater listings, radio and television appearances, and a directory of Bogart websites. This extensive review of Bogart and his career helps to define his success within an American cultural context.

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Peter Valenti presents an objective evaluation of Flynn's impact on both American popular culture and the development of motion pictures. The book begins with a brief biography of the actor, followed by a complete history of his screen, radio, and television career, an annotated guide to popular and scholarly materials on Flynn, and a bibliography of his own writings and the publications in which they appeared. Valenti ends with a series of personal interviews held with Flynn at various points in his often infamous career.

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This is the book for the serious DiMaggio and sports-as-culture buff. Moore . . . has sifted through most of what has been written and rumored about the Yankee Clipper in newspapers, magazines, books and even songs. The narrative portion--there's also a bibliography and DiMaggio's baseball stats--is divided into two sections: DiMaggio's life on and off the field, and his evolving stature as a mythic figure. All rendered in sensitive, but refreshingly unsentimental, prose. USA Today Anyone serious about building an excellent baseball library or interested in the role of sports in American society should get a copy of this book. . . . All in all, an excellent and well-researched book. The Sporting News

This bio-bibliography was designed to present a combined biographical, critical, and bibliographical portrait of the Marx Brothers. It examines their significance in film comedy in particular, and as popular culture figures in general. The book is divided into five sections, beginning with a biography which explores the public and private sides of the Marx Brothers. The second section is concerned with the influences of the Marx Brothers as icons of anti-establishment comedy, as contributors to developments in American comedy, as early examples of saturation comedy, and as a crucial link between silent films and the talkies. Three original articles, two by Groucho and one by Gummo, comprise part three. A bibliographical essay, which assesses key reference materials and research collections, is followed by two bibliographical checklists. Appendices containing a chronological biography with a timeline, a filmography, and a selected discography complete the work.

This provocative work analyzes Mae West's long life and productive career in three major phases: the early theater years, her meteoric film career in the thirties, and her subsequent life as a popular culture legend. It examines her theatrical approach to life and her unique talent for translating a low comic variety style into a subtle satire of melodramatic conventions. West's attempts to control her comic creation led her into many public battles over her claims to authorship of her plays and filmscripts. The book's bibliography explores her talents as a writer, summarizing the plays and books she wrote and investigating the validity of those claims. A thorough study of West's background and attitudes, this volume combines the approaches of both biographical and critical/artistic analysis and broadens our understanding of how Mae West fits into American popular culture. The book examines West's philosophy of success and how it was reflected in her personal and professional life, and places her in a historical and cultural perspective without forcing her personality into predetermined categories.This bio-bibliography provides a fresh view of the legendary Mae West, and a new insight into the complexity of her artistry and social vision. It will be a valuable addition to all public libraries, and a useful resource in the study of American popular culture and film history.

The world-weary cynicism, the acceptance of chaos, and the inevitability of the fading of romance that seem to characterize a post-holocaust generation make Keaton a favorite with today's audiences; they prefer his detached cool to Chaplin's often impassioned sentimentality and spirited commitment. There is no question that Keaton was an innovative filmmaker with an instinctive awareness of the unique possibilities of the camera and that he anticipated the cinematic strides of such later masters as Renoir, Welles, Antonioni, and Kubrick. Neither his content nor his structure seems dated. We can learn much from him, about the folly of pride, about the importance of persevering, and about the fact that the value of a human life is not measured by money, but by work. Experts, students, and enthusiasts will find great value in this book.

Chronicling Shirley Temple Black's various careers, this work spans the years from her childhood at the studio and at home through her waning success during adolescence, to her diplomatic and political pursuits. An anomaly among child stars, Shirley Temple Black's successful adaptation to life outside the traditional Hollywood social life is explored against the backdrop of the child-star phenomenon in American entertainment. Facts about her childhood, her parental influences, and her political beliefs present Shirley Temple Black as a unique individual rather than as a child star icon.Scholars researching American popular culture will find information on child stars in general through this exploration of Shirley Temple Black's significance within that role. Current attitudes toward racial stereotyping in early films are examined. Research sources for radio broadcasts during the late 1930s and early 1940s are also valuable. The changing American political climate can be viewed through the filter of the economic depression, during which the public embraced Shirley Temple's sense of hope and optimism, and through her, revealed political activism.

When Life magazine unveiled its list of the one hundred most influential Americans of the 20th century, the selection committee was guided by one question: How would our lives be different if each of the honorees did not live? Not surprisingly, Walt Disney made the list.In addition to a complete biography, Jackson explores Disney's impact on American mass media and popular culture by focusing on animation, live-action film, documentary film, television, books, comic books, magazines, sheet music and recordings, theme parks, business, and the over-all Disney vision. A bibliographic essay examines sources of Disney scholarship, including a listing of resources available at the Walt Disney Archives in Burbank, California. Appendices provide a Disney chronology, Disney film and television credits, Disney's awards, and a listing of theme parks.