The Arts
The Depression also hit writers, artists, and teachers. The Federal Project No. 1 was an umbrella agency that covered writing, theater, music, and visual arts. It was one of the most successful New Deal programs. The program offered work to artists and intellectuals, enriched the cultural lives of millions of people, and left a legacy of art and culture production.
The Federal Writers project employed 5000 writers. It's famous for producing series of guidebooks for cities and states. The program helped writers survive, including Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, John Cheever, and Saul Bellow.
The Federal Writers project employed 5000 writers. It's famous for producing series of guidebooks for cities and states. The program helped writers survive, including Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, John Cheever, and Saul Bellow.
The Federal Theater Project was led by Hallie Flanagan. This program reached out to around 30 million Americans with its productions. They sold theater tickets for really cheap and produced a variety of different genres. Famous people were T.S. Eliot, Maxwell Anderson, and Orson Welles.
The Federal Art Project was led by Holger Cahill. This project employed painters and sculptors not only to produce art, but to teach art skills in schools, churches, and settlement houses. Some famous painters were Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Louise Nevelson.
The Federal Music Project was led by Nikolai Sokoloff. This program employed 15000 musicians. It also paid for many low-priced concerts of orchestras. Two famous composers were Aaron Copland and William Schuman.
Film and Radio
Movies became one of the most popular forms of entertainment. Around 60 percent of Americans attended a movie each week. They would follow their favorite actors/actresses through magazines and gossip columns. Gangster films were really popular in these years. They dealt with violent crimes that were brought to justice by society. Social disorder was another popular genre.
Walt Disney became very popular during this time. Mickey Mouse and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs became favorites among many people.
Radio became a popular new way of communicating. In 1930 about 12 million homes, or 40 percent, owned a radio. By 1939 that number reached to 90 percent of the homes. Advertising also became popular for big companies. They formed alliances with National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). During this time the radio didn't play just music. They actually had shows like TV, except just the words. Soap opera shows became popular for women to listen to. Many people tuned in to hear the news, and in 1939, 70 percent of Americans would get their news from the radio.
Walt Disney became very popular during this time. Mickey Mouse and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs became favorites among many people.
Radio became a popular new way of communicating. In 1930 about 12 million homes, or 40 percent, owned a radio. By 1939 that number reached to 90 percent of the homes. Advertising also became popular for big companies. They formed alliances with National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). During this time the radio didn't play just music. They actually had shows like TV, except just the words. Soap opera shows became popular for women to listen to. Many people tuned in to hear the news, and in 1939, 70 percent of Americans would get their news from the radio.
Jazz Music
The Radio helped nationalize jazz music. Before it was only popular among African Americans and few whites. Benny Goodman became a key figure for jazz. He would broad cast his music pieces on the radio, and they soon became well-known. When he performed in theaters, people would start dancing, which brought up dances such as the jitterbug and lindy hop.