Transcript Pop Culture During World War II

Pop Culture During World War II
How people amused themselves
during the war
Despite the fact that many men and
women were serving overseas, people
still made time for leisure activities.
Like now, most of our pop culture was
imported from Hollywood or other parts
of the United States.
This slideshow will outline some of the
different types of entertainment and
some of the entertainers who were
popular at the time.
NEWSREELS
Home televisions were only starting to
come into existence in the 1940s so
people did not have ready access to
information about the war.
People would have to go to the movies
to watch clips from the war known as
newsreels. Newsreels were put out by
the production companies that put on
shows and gave viewers insight to what
was going on overseas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqzu7MGIWMw
ANIMATED SHORTS
Another popular feature at the movies
was the animated short that played
before the feature.
The animated short made stars out of
animated characters such as Bugs Bunny
and Mickey Mouse.
They were also used to spread war
propaganda. They encouraged people to
fight for the cause and spread fear of
our enemies.
The Blitz Wolf http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGQWHqyFQQo
Der Feuhrer’s Face http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYD0Fzf1LU
FEATURE FILMS
During World War II, several films were
made about the war itself. Most marked
big events that happened during the
war.
Other films were pure escapism and
served to help audiences forget the fact
that they had friends and family serving
overseas or that they had to give things
up for the war effort and provided them
with pure enjoyment for a few hours.
Genres of Features
Dramas
Comedies
Musicals
Just like other forms of propaganda,
movies were frequently used to drum
up support for the cause.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StDpLge_ITM
FAMOUS ACTORS
Clark Gable
Laurence Olivier
James Stewart
Mickey Rooney
Charlie Chaplin
FAMOUS ACTORS
Henry Fonda
Cary Grant
Humphrey Bogart
Orson Welles
Bing Crosby
FAMOUS ACTRESSES
Vivien Leigh
Bette Davis
Judy Garland
Greta Garbo
Greer Garson
FAMOUS ACTRESSES
Ginger Rodgers
Katharine Hepburn
Ingrid Bergman
Olivia de Havilland
Joan Crawford
BEST PICTURE WINNERS DURING THE WAR
Gone With The Wind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq749BpsBTU
Rebecca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGShusTsWhc
How Green Was My Valley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7CV9SZovfU
Mrs. Miniver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpalXumRdRY
Casablanca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wf2sk3CTQU
Going My Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecjzal-wlKQ
OTHER SIGNIFICANT MOVIES
Citizen Kane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyv19bg0scg
The Great Dictator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sfJxdytYn4
Yankee Doodle Dandy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTec9v6fjN0
The Wizard of Oz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkZcYMy85lY
The Grapes of Wrath
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4dNOCu3l5g
The Philadelphia Story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CtquHsxoZo
ACTORS GO TO WAR
During the war, several actors put their
careers on hold and went overseas to
serve in the United States Army.
They served their country well. Some
even won medals for bravery.
These actors include;
Henry Fonda
Clark Gable
James Stewart
Actors and The USO
The United Service Organizations was
founded in 1941. Their focus was to lift
spirits through live entertainment of
United States troops and their families.
They worked with the Department of
Defence and rely on various corporate
and individual donors to provide their
programs.
Bob Hope USO Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2owSx5pOvtY
Actors and The USO
During World War II, the USO became
the soldier's "home away from home"
and began a tradition of entertaining
the troops that continues today.
Actors and Actresses who took part in
the USO shows include Mickey Rooney,
Judy Garland, Bing Crosby and Bette
Davis as well as many others.
MUSIC DURING THE WAR
During World War II the most popular
style of music was swing and it
remained the most popular until it was
taken over by pop standards sung by
crooners. Big name bands would bring
on solo acts to perform with them who
would then go on to become famous.
Frank Sinatra got his start this way and
went on to become the first teen idol
and was popular up until his death
decades later.
MUSIC DURING THE WAR (cont...)
Other music that was popular at the
time included; pure jazz, be-bop jazz
and country music.
POPULAR MUSICIANS DURING THE WAR
Benny Goodman
Glenn Miller
Frank Sinatra
Bing Crosby
The Andrews Sisters
POPULAR MUSICIANS DURING THE WAR
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday
Roy Rodgers
Louis Armstrong
Gene Autry
"As Time Goes By", Dooley Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d22CiKMPpaY
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", Andrews Sisters vocal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfCFU3Mqww
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore ", Duke Ellington Orch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5Y4U3h1ZzE
"I'll Be Seeing You", Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL60OQLekWQ
“God Bless The Child", Billie Holiday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKNtP1zOVHw
“Stormy Weather”, Lena Horne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzLkXdkuhX8
“La Vie en Rose”, Edith Piaf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g4NiHef4Ks
“You Are My Sunshine”, Jimmie Davis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj0GPTEU198
“White Christmas”, Bing Crosby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yg5g_Xl-uU
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, Judy Garland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo
FASHIONS DURING THE WAR
During the war there was a restriction on
certain materials such as rayon, nylon, wool,
leather and rubber. Metal that was used for
buckles and snaps and embellishments was
also rationed. Finally, there was a limit on how
much fabric could be used to make one
garment. Despite all of this, the fashion
industry kept coming out with new ideas.
After the Fall of France, Hollywood became
the centre for what was fashionable with the
exception of a few trends coming out of
England in 1944 and 1945.
FASHIONS DURING THE WAR
When rationing was in full force, it was more
important for clothing to be functional than
fashionable.
Floral prints seem to dominate the early 1940s, with
the mid-to-late 1940s also seeing what is sometimes
referred to as "atomic prints" or geometric patterns
and shapes. The color of fashion seemed to even go
to war, with patriotic nautical themes and dark greens
and khakis dominating the color palates, as trousers
and wedges slowly replaced the dresses and more
traditional heels due to shortages in stockings and
gasoline.