Ch 19 42-61

Cultural pluralism

A condition in which many cultures coexist within a society and maintain their cultural differences.

George M. Cohen

A singer, dancer, and songwriter born into an Irish family of entertainers, became master of American musical comedy in the early 20th century. Helped boost morale during the first world war.

Burt Williams

A talented black comedian who achieved success by wearing blackface makeup and playing stereotypical roles of a smiling fool and dandy, but was tormented by the humiliation he had to suffer.

the telephone

Another form of communication that expanded. In 1891, there were less than 1 telephone per 100 people. By 1921, the number was 12.6.

baseball, croquet, bicycling, college football, and basketball

As Americans started advocating an earning shorter workdays, they gained more time for leisure activities that they could enjoy. Sports was the most important and popular form of leisure activities. Sports attracted many participants, and even those who could not play either watched or read about it in the newspapers. -Baseball: Most popular sport -Croquet: Attracted both sexes -Bicycling: Attracted both sexes, popularity rivaled baseball -College Football: Very violent, yet popular. Many teams cheated -Basketball: Initially a mens winter sport, became women's most popular sport

the importance of kinship

At a time when welfare agencies were scarce, the family was the institution people could turn to during times in need. Relatives often aided one another with childcare, meals, advice, and consolation. They also sometimes obtained jobs for relatives. Kinship provided a means of coping with stresses caused by urban-industrial society.

Mass-circulation magazines

Became increasingly popular by the early 20th century. Offered human-interest stories, exposes, fiction, photographs, colorful covers, and eye-catching ads to a growing mass market.

Eva Tanguay

Burlesque queen who attracted intensely loyal fans, commanded handsome fees, and won respect for their talents.

Birth of a Nation

Directed by D.W. Griffith, was a stunning epic film about the Civil War and Reconstruction, but it also fanned racial prejudice by depicting African Americans as threats to white moral values.

Musical Comedies

Entertained audiences with song, humor, and dance, and became the common American musical. The American musical derived from lavishly costumed operettas common in Europe.

the practice of boarding

Families commonly took in boarders to occupy rooms vacated by grown children and to get additional income. (Boarders also received meals, lodgers only rented a room). By 1900, as many as 50 percent of city residents had lived either as, or with, boarders at some point during their lifetime.

the gay subculture

Homosexual populations thrived in large cities like New York, San Francisco, and Boston. Gay men had their own subculture of clubs, restaurants, coffeehouses, theaters, and support networks. A number of these couples formed long lasting marital-type relationships, called "Boston marriages".

Anthony Comstock

Made a career out of attempts to censor sexually explicit and suggestive literature and entertainment. Persuaded Congress in 1873 to pass the "Comstock Law" which prohibited the mailing or transportation of obscene and lewd material and photographs.

the birth of motion pictures

Perfected by Thomas Edison in the 1880s, movies began as slot-machine peepshows in arcades and billiard parlors. Eventually, images of speeding trains, acrobats, and belly dancers were projected onto a screen so that large audiences could view them. Producers used themes of patriotism and working-class experience.

Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst

Pulitzer made news a mass commodity. Believed that newspapers should be dedicated to the cause of the people. His Newspaper was the "New York World". Hearst, bought the New York Journal. Started an empire of mass-circulation newspapers, and adopted Pulitzers techniques. Both made sports and women's news a mass commodity.

new patterns of childhood in late 19th and early 20th century america

Separation of home and work caused several new patterns of childhood during this region of time. Youngsters were a lot less likely to produce income for the family, so they generally had more time for other activities. Education occupied 9 months of the year until they were teenagers, strengthening peer rather than family influence over their behavior. Scientifically, researchers such as G. Stanley Hall and Luther H. Gulick advocated that teachers and parents should match education and play activities to the needs that children had at different stages of their development. This led to the formation of playgrounds.

Vaudeville

The most popular mass entertainment in the early 20th century America, because it offered something for everyone. Included jugglers, magicians, acrobats, comedians, singers, dancers, and specialty acts like Houdini's escapes.

Intercollegiate Athletic Association

The organization founded to police college sports. Later changed name to the modern NCAA. Made many new rules to limit the violence of football.

the minstrel show

an American form of entertainment developed in the 19th century, consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the U.S. Civil War, by black people. Incredibly demeaning to black people.

Yellow Journalism

journalism that is based upon sensationalism and crude exaggeration.