This study assessed the readability of popular print material (newspapers, magazines, and books) published in 1920. Selected passages from these books and articles were analyzed using the Flesch Reading Ease test and other, more theoretically interesting and relevant, readability formulas. Results indicated that "highbrow" publications…

During the 1920s professional baseball emerged as both a mass sport and a mass media-reported sport. This emergence was accompanied by evolution and change in both radio broadcasting and newspaper sports writing. Live coverage of sporting events, particularly baseball's World Series, provided a part of radio's growth process that affected the…

A comparison of photographs in four German magazines published from 1926 to 1933 with photographs appearing in "Fortune" and "Life" from 1930 to 1938 reveals specific patterns and techniques by German photographers, who later emigrated to the United States, that served as models for "Life" and for subsequent American…

Comprising the sixth volume of a series, this document contains short biographies written for the young reader aged 9 and older. The series covers individuals who are of particular interest to young people: entertainers, athletes, authors, cartoonists, and political leaders. Each issue contains 10 to 12 entries that include photographs and…

In 1927 the Brazilian modernist writer, Jose Bento Monteiro Lobato, traveled to New York City with his family, where he took up a position as economic attache at the Brazilian Consulate. For 4 years he and his family lived in Jackson Heights, while he worked and observed the feverish activity that was making the United States the foremost and most…

Focuses on librarians' search for their place in American popular culture, 1876-1950. Discussion covers preposterous caricatures, citations to male and female librarians in "Library Literature," fictional librarians, battle of sexes, and a glamorous image as portrayed in films and theater. Annotated list of 18 fictional works is…

Reviews the historical development of contemporary literature for adolescents, and its use by English teachers, during the first quarter of the twentieth century. Draws several conclusions useful in helping teachers determine general educational principles valid in varying circumstances. (AEA)

In each era in which white jazz musicians have received acclaim, black musicians have been the true innovators. Black jazz musicians of the past and contemporary artists are discussed. Although they may not receive the publicity they deserve, black musicians will continue in the forefront of jazz. (SLD)

Black popular music has its roots in African music that was a way of preserving history. A brief social and cultural history traces black popular music in the United States, focusing on the music blacks listened to, rather than just the music blacks played. (SLD)

Outlines some of the major principles of media education as it is practiced throughout the world; shows how current practice has evolved out of earlier, less satisfactory programs; and offers suggestions for future growth. Topics addressed include the manipulative nature of the media, popular culture, semantics, theories of ideology, the role of…

Public libraries emerged as educational institutions during the second half of the 19th century. Their aim was the intellectual and moral improvement of individuals and societies. After several decades it became evident that public libraries had failed as "people's universities." They came to acknowledge the provision of entertainment as…

To gain insight into how critical standards for broadcast drama evolved with time, this paper examines the critical response to the development of broadcast drama in the first two decades of radio (1920-1940), as reported in the periodical press. The paper is based on two underlying assumptions: (1) that the stories a society tells are indicative…

"Bosstown Sound" was a slogan used to promote several Boston (Massachusetts) rock bands in 1968. In theory, the Bosstown Sound was a logical development to follow the San Francisco "sound," which included the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape, and other Bay Area bands that had been commercially successful in 1967.…

The author traces the powerful interaction between art and the people which has developed since the eighteenth century, despite admonitions from the critics that popularization of art forms leads to their decline. In particular, he considers the development of film and the public's response to it. (SJL)

Points out that movies from the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's are excellent resource materials for the history and social science classroom. Suggests some ways particular films can be used to study mainstream, white, middle-class attitudes toward various issues and groups. (RKM)