The Mass Media The Mass Media 1920s and 1930s1920s and 1930s

The Rise of Modern CultureThe Rise of Modern Culture

1851-1899 Inventions1851-1899 Inventions

►Oil drillsOil drills►TypewritersTypewriters►TelephonesTelephones►Light bulbsLight bulbs►Portable cameraPortable camera►Movie projector (kinetoscope)Movie projector (kinetoscope)►Gasoline powered carsGasoline powered cars

2020thth Century Century

►1903 First powered airplane flight. 1903 First powered airplane flight. ►1908 Cars are mass-produced on 1908 Cars are mass-produced on

Henry Ford’s assembly lines.Henry Ford’s assembly lines.►1917 America joins World War I and 1917 America joins World War I and

fights with, and against, armored fights with, and against, armored tanks, machine guns, poisonous gas, tanks, machine guns, poisonous gas, submarines, and airplanes.submarines, and airplanes.

Charlie Chaplin in Charlie Chaplin in The Gold RushThe Gold Rush (1926)(1926)

Major Film Companies Major Film Companies Established During the 1920sEstablished During the 1920s

►ParamountParamount►Warner BrothersWarner Brothers►RKORKO►20th Century-Fox20th Century-Fox►Lowe's (MGM)Lowe's (MGM)►UniversalUniversal►ColumbiaColumbia►United ArtistsUnited Artists

Harold Lloyd in Harold Lloyd in Safety LastSafety Last (1923)(1923)

1910-1917. Radio as a Hobby1910-1917. Radio as a HobbyMovie Clip:Movie Clip: The Freshman The Freshman (1924)(1924)

Razzing the SponsorsRazzing the Sponsors

Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Eddie AndersonJack Benny, Mary Livingstone, Eddie Anderson

May 2, 1932. The Jack Benny Show. Jack Benny makes fun of advertising his show’s sponsor, Canada Dry ginger ale.

George Burns and Gracie Allen George Burns and Gracie Allen (January, 1938)(January, 1938)

GracieGracie: “Well anyhoo, the police finally rush to the nightclub. : “Well anyhoo, the police finally rush to the nightclub. While they’re there, the proprietor robs them. That’s you, While they’re there, the proprietor robs them. That’s you, George.”George.”

GeorgeGeorge: “I’m the proprietor of the nightclub and I rob the : “I’m the proprietor of the nightclub and I rob the police?”police?”

GracieGracie: “Well sure. You charge them three and a half dollars for : “Well sure. You charge them three and a half dollars for a steak sandwich.”a steak sandwich.”

GeorgeGeorge: “I do huh?”: “I do huh?”GracieGracie: “Yes.”: “Yes.”GeorgeGeorge: “And how do the police take it?”: “And how do the police take it?”GracieGracie: “Without salt, pepper, or ketchup.”: “Without salt, pepper, or ketchup.”GeorgeGeorge: “Without salt, pepper, or ketchup?”: “Without salt, pepper, or ketchup?”GracieGracie: “Well yeah. You see George, we’re not allowed to use : “Well yeah. You see George, we’re not allowed to use

any spicy stuff on the radio.”any spicy stuff on the radio.”

Amos ‘n’ Andy (1929)Amos ‘n’ Andy (1929)► Amos: Andy tell me one thing. Is you a Democrat or is you a Republican?Amos: Andy tell me one thing. Is you a Democrat or is you a Republican?► Andy: Well, I was a Democrat, but I believe I’s done switched over to the Andy: Well, I was a Democrat, but I believe I’s done switched over to the

Republicans now.Republicans now.► Amos: Uh, who is the men that is running against each other this here election Amos: Uh, who is the men that is running against each other this here election

time? ‘Xplain dat to me.time? ‘Xplain dat to me.► Andy: Herbert Hoover versus Al Smith. Andy: Herbert Hoover versus Al Smith. ► Amos: Herbert Hoover versus Al Smith, huh? Amos: Herbert Hoover versus Al Smith, huh? ► Andy: Yeah.Andy: Yeah.► Amos: Another thing I’m gonna ask you. What is the difference between a Amos: Another thing I’m gonna ask you. What is the difference between a

Democrat and a Republican?Democrat and a Republican?► Andy: One of ‘em is a mule, and the other one is an elephant. That’s the way I Andy: One of ‘em is a mule, and the other one is an elephant. That’s the way I

get it.get it.► Amos: Mhm. I don’t know if I’s goin’ be a Democrat or a Republican.Amos: Mhm. I don’t know if I’s goin’ be a Democrat or a Republican.► Andy: Well, what was your ancestors?Andy: Well, what was your ancestors?► Amos: My aunt didn’t have no sisters.Amos: My aunt didn’t have no sisters.► Andy: No, no, not your aunt’s sisters, your ancestors. I mean, how did your old Andy: No, no, not your aunt’s sisters, your ancestors. I mean, how did your old

man vote?man vote?► Amos: Oh my papa you mean? Papa used to always vote for Democrats.Amos: Oh my papa you mean? Papa used to always vote for Democrats.► Andy: Then if I was in your place, I would vote for the Republicans. Andy: Then if I was in your place, I would vote for the Republicans. ► Amos: How come?Amos: How come?► Andy: ‘Cause ain’t ever knowed your old man to do nothing right in his life.Andy: ‘Cause ain’t ever knowed your old man to do nothing right in his life.

Mae West in Mae West in I’m No AngelI’m No Angel (1933) (1933) and She Done Him and She Done Him

WrongWrong (1933) (1933)

Marriage, Sex(ism), and Marriage, Sex(ism), and EconomicsEconomics

Eddie Cantor sings “Makin’ Whoopee.” (Eddie Cantor sings “Makin’ Whoopee.” (Whoopee!Whoopee! 1930). “Making whoopee” is 1930s slang for 1930). “Making whoopee” is 1930s slang for “having sex.”“having sex.”