Download or read book The Big Radio Comedy Program written by Ross Firestone and published by Chicago : Contemporary Books. This book was released on 1978 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Fred Allen s Radio Comedy written by Alan Havig and published by Temple University Press. This book was released on 2010-06-09 with total page 314 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tracing a career that lasted from 1912 into the 1950s, Havig describes the "verbal slapstick" style that was Fred Allen's hallmark and legacy to American comedy.
Download or read book From Radio to the Big Screen written by Hal Erickson and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2014-05-23 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There was a time when "American popular entertainment" referred only to radio and motion pictures. With the coming of talking pictures, Hollywood cashed in on the success of big-time network radio by bringing several of the public's favorite broadcast personalities and programs to the screen. The results, though occasionally successful, often proved conclusively that some things are better heard than seen. Concentrating primarily on radio's Golden Age (1926-1962), this lively history discusses the cinematic efforts of airwave stars Rudy Vallee, Amos 'n' Andy, Fred Allen, Joe Penner, Fibber McGee & Molly, Edgar Bergen, Lum & Abner, and many more. Also analyzed are the movie versions of such radio series as The Shadow, Dr. Christian and The Life of Riley. In addition, two recent films starring contemporary radio headliners Howard Stern and Garrison Keillor are given their due.
Download or read book Jack Benny and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy written by Kathryn Fuller-Seeley and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2017-10-17 with total page 388 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Jack Benny became one of the most influential entertainers of the 20th century--by being the top radio comedian, when the comics ruled radio, and radio was the most powerful and pervasive mass medium in the US. In 23 years of weekly radio broadcasts, by aiming all the insults at himself, Benny created Jack, the self-deprecating "Fall Guy" character. He indelibly shaped American humor as a space to enjoy the equal opportunities of easy camaraderie with his cast mates, and equal ego deflation. Benny was the master of comic timing, knowing just when to use silence to create suspense or to have a character leap into the dialogue to puncture Jack's pretentions. Jack Benny was also a canny entrepreneur, becoming one of the pioneering "showrunners" combining producer, writer and performer into one job. His modern style of radio humor eschewed stale jokes in favor informal repartee with comic hecklers like his valet Rochester (played by Eddie Anderson) and Mary Livingstone his offstage wife. These quirky characters bouncing off each other in humorous situations created the situation comedy. In this career study, we learn how Jack Benny found ingenious ways to sell his sponsors' products in comic commercials beloved by listeners, and how he dealt with the challenges of race relations, rigid gender ideals and an insurgent new media industry (TV). Jack Benny created classic comedy for a rapidly changing American culture, providing laughter that buoyed radio listeners from 1932's depths of the Great Depression, through World War II to the mid-1950s"--Provided by publisher.
Download or read book Jack Benny and the Golden Age of American Radio Comedy written by Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2017-10-17 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The king of radio comedy from the Great Depression through the early 1950s, Jack Benny was one of the most influential entertainers in twentieth-century America. A master of comic timing and an innovative producer, Benny, with his radio writers, developed a weekly situation comedy to meet radio’s endless need for new material, at the same time integrating advertising into the show’s humor. Through the character of the vain, cheap everyman, Benny created a fall guy, whose frustrated struggles with his employees addressed midcentury America’s concerns with race, gender, commercialism, and sexual identity. Kathryn H. Fuller-Seeley contextualizes her analysis of Jack Benny and his entourage with thoughtful insight into the intersections of competing entertainment industries and provides plenty of evidence that transmedia stardom, branded entertainment, and virality are not new phenomena but current iterations of key aspects in American commercial cultural history.
Download or read book Jimmy Durante written by David Bakish and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2007-03-07 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From his humble beginnings as a Coney Island piano player, Jimmy Durante was one of America's best-loved entertainers for nearly seven decades. Known for his distinctive "schnozzle" and raspy voice, the multitalented performer became a stage, screen and recording star. Every aspect of Jimmy Durante's career is covered here: his early vaudeville and Broadway days; the 38 movies he made; his radio appearances; the mixture of new and old material he brought to television in the late 1950s; and his work as a singer and composer.
Download or read book Focus On 100 Most Popular Vaudeville Performers written by Wikipedia contributors and published by e-artnow sro. This book was released on with total page 1976 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Radio Drama and Comedy Writers 1928 1962 written by Ryan Ellett and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2017-12-01 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than 700 uncredited scriptwriters who created the memorable characters and thrilling stories of radio's Golden Age receive due recognition in this reference work. For some, radio was a stepping stone on the way to greater achievements in film or television, on the stage or in literature. For others, it was the culmination of a life spent writing newspaper copy. Established authors dabbled in radio as a new medium, while working writers saw it as another opportunity to earn a paycheck. When these men and women came to broadcasting, they crafted a body of work still appreciated by modern listeners.
Download or read book The Biographical Encyclopedia of American Radio written by Christopher H. Sterling and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-05-13 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Biographical Encyclopedia of American Radio presents the very best biographies of the internationally acclaimed three-volume Encyclopedia of Radio in a single volume. It includes more than 200 biographical entries on the most important and influential American radio personalities, writers, producers, directors, newscasters, and network executives. With 23 new biographies and updated entries throughout, this volume covers key figures from radio’s past and present including Glenn Beck, Jessie Blayton, Fred Friendly, Arthur Godfrey, Bob Hope, Don Imus, Rush Limbaugh, Ryan Seacrest, Laura Schlesinger, Red Skelton, Nina Totenberg, Walter Winchell, and many more. Scholarly but accessible, this encyclopedia provides an unrivaled guide to the voices behind radio for students and general readers alike.
Download or read book Radio Comedy Diary written by Gary Poole and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2001-07-11 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a real find—for those who enjoy radio nostalgia but more importantly for scholars of broadcasting. From 1947 to 1950 while listening to such voices as Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, and Jimmy Durante, and shows like Fibber McGee & Molly, Amos ’n’ Andy, Blondie, and You Bet Your Life, the author was writing down jokes, gags, one-liners and quotations. In that short time he had filled 11 spiral notebooks. Fifty years later in a labor of love, the author painstakingly transferred those childhood notes into this invaluable—in fact, undoubtably unique—record of a boom time in American radio. This is an unexpected treasure for radio scholars, who have long lamented the lack of recordings for the majority of radio programming. Television researchers as well will benefit—here are root sources of television comedy. It is a revelation to find that what we are laughing at today often was first done on radio over 50 years ago. The author has also included a notes and comments section which includes background material on all the radio programs in this book.
Download or read book The Eight Characters of Comedy written by Scott Sedita and published by SCB Distributors. This book was released on 2014-01-31 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Eight Characters of Comedy is the “How-To” guide for actors & writers who want to break into the world of sitcoms. It has become a staple in acting classes, writers’ rooms, casting offices and production sets around the world. Now, in it’s exciting SECOND EDITION, renowned acting coach and bestselling author, Scott Sedita, gives you even MORE advice and exercises for breaking down comedy scripts, writing jokes and delivering them with comedic precision. Plus, you’ll find in-depth REVISED sections on Sitcom History, The Three Pillars of Comedy, Auditioning for Sitcoms, and his acclaimed comedic technique “The Sedita Method!” Most importantly, you will be introduced to his famous sitcom character archetypes, which will help you build your niche in half-hour comedy... The Eight Characters of Comedy! Who is normally cast as The Logical Smart One? Why do we love The Lovable Loser? Why is The Neurotic a favorite for actors and writers? How do you play The Dumb One smart? Who are the biggest Bitch/Bastards? What drives The Materialistic Ones? Why is The Womanizer/Manizer so popular? How can you realistically write and play someone In Their Own Universe? The Eight Characters of Comedy answers all these questions and more, with UPDATED EXAMPLES from current & classic sitcoms, and from many of the greatest sitcom characters & actors of all time! After reading this book, you WILL be ready to work in the exciting world of situation comedy!
Download or read book The Comedy Bible written by Judy Carter and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The guru to aspiring comedic writers and stand-up comics offers the scoop on being--and writing--funny: inside tips on how to turn humor from your life into a career.
Download or read book Conflict Sociology written by Randall Collins and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-12-03 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new edition is a substantial abridgment and update of Randall Collins's 1975 classic, Conflict Sociology. The first edition represented the most powerful and comprehensive statement of conflict theory in its time. Here, Sanderson has retained the core chapters and added discussions on Collins's and others' work in recent years. An afterword summarizes Collins's latest forays into microsociological theorizing and attempts to demonstrate how his newer microsociology and older macrosociology are connected.
Download or read book From Beautiful Downtown Burbank written by Hal Erickson and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2009-02-16 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In was one of the most unusual programs on television, defying definition as simply comedy, variety, or burlesque. The show had audiences laughing for six seasons and continues to make appearances in revivals, reunions, and salutes. This critical history of Laugh-In includes background details on the creation and creators, as well as information on lookalike shows. An appendix contains a complete program history with principal production credits and episode guides.
Download or read book A Comedian and an Activist Walk into a Bar written by Caty Borum Chattoo and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2020-03-24 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A comprehensive and insightful examination of the ways comedy can help shape social justice movements."––Hasan Minhaj, Comedian and Host of the Netflix series Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj Comedy is a powerful contemporary source of influence and information. In the still-evolving digital era, the opportunity to consume and share comedy has never been as available. And yet, despite its vast cultural imprint, comedy is a little-understood vehicle for serious public engagement in urgent social justice issues – even though humor offers frames of hope and optimism that can encourage participation in social problems. Moreover, in the midst of a merger of entertainment and news in the contemporary information ecology, and a decline in perceptions of trust in government and traditional media institutions, comedy may be a unique force for change in pressing social justice challenges. Comedians who say something serious about the world while they make us laugh are capable of mobilizing the masses, focusing a critical lens on injustices, and injecting hope and optimism into seemingly hopeless problems. By combining communication and social justice frameworks with contemporary comedy examples, authors Caty Borum Chattoo and Lauren Feldman show us how comedy can help to serve as a vehicle of change. Through rich case studies, audience research, and interviews with comedians and social justice leaders and strategists, A Comedian and an Activist Walk Into a Bar: The Serious Role of Comedy in Social Justice explains how comedy – both in the entertainment marketplace and as cultural strategy – can engage audiences with issues such as global poverty, climate change, immigration, and sexual assault, and how activists work with comedy to reach and empower publics in the networked, participatory digital media age.
Download or read book The Road to Comedy written by Donald McCaffrey and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2004-12-30 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although Bob Hope has been the subject of many biographies, no book yet has fully explored the comic persona he created in vaudeville and radio, brought to fruition in dozens of films from the 1930s through the 1960s, and made a lasting influence on comedians from Woody Allen to Conan O'Brien. Now, in The Road to Comedy: The Films of Bob Hope, noted film comedy authority Donald W. McCaffrey finally places Hope in his well-deserved position among the highest rank of film comedians of his era. Drawing on archival materials and interviews with collaborators, McCaffrey analyzes each major film in depth, with due attention to particular sequences that reveal how Hope created a unique comic personality that lasted over dozens of very popular films, from the Road movies with Bing Crosby through such underrated classics as Son of Paleface, Monsieur Beaucaire, and Casanova's Big Night. In so doing, McCaffrey introduces readers to a Bob Hope now overshadowed by his own reputation. We see here that Hope's significance has been greater than any USO appearance or television special might suggest. Because many of these movies have recently been made available on DVD—the first time in decades that they've been easily available to the general public—the volume will also serve as an excellent introduction for those wanting to see these films for the first time.
Download or read book Vocal Tracks written by Jacob Smith and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2008-08-04 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This entertaining and innovative book focuses on vocal performance styles that developed in tandem with the sound technologies of the phonograph, radio, and sound film. Writing in a clear and lively style, Jacob Smith looks at these media technologies and industries through the lens of performance, bringing to light a fascinating nexus of performer, technology, and audience. Combining theories of film sound, cultural histories of sound technologies and industries, and theories of performance, Smith convincingly connects disparate and largely neglected performance niches to explore the development of a modern vocal performance. Vocal Tracks: Performance and Sound Media demonstrates the voice to be a vehicle of performance, identity, and culture and illustrates both the interconnection of all these categories and their relation to the media technologies of the past century.
