Awesome Background Analytical Response

Throughout history, theatre and entertainment in general has had a major impact on the lives of Americans, whether they are the audience members chewing on their popcorn fresh out of the kettle, or the beautiful celebrities walking down the red carpet. There are many famous actors and actresses today, but those older and more historic figures are what seem to have the greatest impact on how movies and musicals are now viewed. But the entertainment industry is a business industry, and hopefully, a positive theater experience will lift the spirits of the audience and will bring more success to that production.
Shirley Temple, who now goes by Shirley Temple Black, was a famous young actress during the years of the Great Depression. She was like today’s Hannah Montana, only a lot younger. She was a very talented actress, singer, and dancer. The triple threat! Although that is seen so often nowadays, she had a different appeal to her audience. Part of what made her so successful was the time period that she was living in. During the Depression, many people were not able to find joy in their lives. While talking about the goals of the screenwriters for the Shirley Temple films, the article says, “to entertain Depression-era audiences with the cuteness and precociousness of a child who helps adults solve problems” (Shirley Temple). This illustrates the fact that Temple was to raise the spirits of the population during that time of turmoil. When an adorable 9 year-old girl was performing on the big screen, audiences were able to get away from the feeling of hopelessness that they were living with. In a way, Shirley Temple was a savior to some because her entertainment acted as an escape from the real world, as it still does today.
Almost everyone knows of the famous Ginger Rodgers. Along with Shirley Temple, she was another woman who entertained during the Depression with new dance moves and classic lines, such as “Cigarette me, big boy,” from Top Speed in 1930. Her success first came in the dancing industry, and from there, she moved on to dance in films with her famous partner, Fred Astaire. Together, they were able to open up a path to a different style of dancing that was more focused on how it looked on film. Many of her years in show business were considered to be the Golden Age of Hollywood. Again, this was not only due to the numerous talents that emerged during the ‘30s and ‘40s, but also because of what that entertainment meant at that time. From the Great Depression to WWII, America did not have it easy, and this was this break from reality that helped this country to manage these tough times.
Where would the dancers be without the music?! Not only were there significant figures in the movie industry, but also in the theatre department as well. Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein, and Lorenz Hart; these men were composers and lyricists who wrote the songs to numerous musical productions. Some of these include: Babes in Arms, Oklahoma!, and South Pacific. It first started with Rodgers and Hart, but after Hart’s death in 1943, Rodgers and Hammerstein teamed up to continue their career in songwriting. According to the article about the life of Richard Rogers, they (including Hart) also created more songs that had “Musical numbers more closely tied to plot, and transitional passages that bridged stage actions” (Richard Rodgers). This way, it was not just a bunch of people randomly singing and dancing a song that sounded good. These new songs actually had to do with the plot of the show. After Hammerstein’s death, Rodgers continued composing, but he never had as much success as he did with his partners. This is a very common occurrence in all areas of life, where some people are more successful when they work together.
Not only is the entertainment industry meant to please its audiences, it is also meant to make money. Broadway, one of the most famous names in entertainment, works the same way as any company in America does. They find what the public is willing to pay for and uses that as their way to make a profit. In the article, Broadway: A Theatre Historian's Perspective, it says, “The professional Broadway theatre is a business, and theatre is seen by professionals as a business like any other.” This explains how, for this particular industry, shows are performed to entertain and to make the most money out of each performance. That is why only the shows that seem to have the most potential are selected to be on Broadway. Now, it mainly consists of musicals. Whether it is a new musical or a revival, it has to be a crowd pleaser because it’s a business. There are other shows that are featured on Off-Broadway, or even Off-Off-Broadway. Although there are shows that gain more publicity than others, there are still good shows that are hidden in the rough. Just like a product can be advertised, a show can be advertised as well, but that does not mean that it will be the best for everyone. Again, theatre is a business, and the shows that are deemed most profitable are the ones that are advertised the most, resulting in a greater popularity and a longer shelf life.
The entertainment industry serves many purposes. First and foremost, it entertains. It is meant to draw the audience in with its story and message, and to leave them wanting more. It gives individuals like Shirley Temple and Ginger Rogers a chance to share their talents to please the crowds. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is a business and it is meant to earn money for its employees and its investors. Hopefully, the entertainment of the audience will always be of prime importance, and the financial success will be the natural by-product.