VM100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Gracie Allen, Malapropism
4 Jul 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
VM100 History of Media Arts
Prof. Michael Selig
Sem 1 Lecture #18- Television Part 4
-The George Burns and Gracie Allen show
-Vaudeville in 1920s, radio in 30s and 40s
-Broadcast live 1950-52, ďŹlmed for broadcast with syndication 1953+
Development of Consumer Society alongside broadcasting - âComedies about totally
unbelievable familiesâ (Minow, âVast Wastelandâ), suburban families
-The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1944-54 on radio, kids join in 1949)
-Domestic comedy- âeveryday lifeâ, viewerâs idea life with single family home, friendly
neighbors and kids
-We laugh with the characters !
Ozzie and Harriet TV SHOW (1952-66)- the middle class ideal is now VISUALIZED!
The Amos and Andy Show (1926, 1929-60) started local in Chicago and then switched to
network radio
-1951-53, syndication 1954-1960
-Eventually taken off the air by public pressures/NAACP
-Situational comedy (vs. domestic comedy)
-Establish difference between viewer and characters !
-Racial stereotyping for comedic effect
-Malapropism- using âbad wordsâ, misusing language/words for comedic effect, used to laugh
at characters (not with them)
Document Summary
Vaudeville in 1920s, radio in 30s and 40s. Broadcast live 1950-52, lmed for broadcast with syndication 1953+ Development of consumer society alongside broadcasting - comedies about totally unbelievable families (minow, vast wasteland"), suburban families. The adventures of ozzie and harriet (1944-54 on radio, kids join in 1949) Domestic comedy- everyday life , viewer"s idea life with single family home, friendly neighbors and kids. Ozzie and harriet tv show (1952-66)- the middle class ideal is now visualized! The amos and andy show (1926, 1929-60) started local in chicago and then switched to network radio. Eventually taken off the air by public pressures/naacp.
