New York City and the Hollywood Musical [electronic resource] : Dancing in the Streets /
Shearer, Martha.author.
In examining the relationship between the spectacular, iconic and vibrant New York of the musical and the off-screen history and geography of the real city—this book explores how the city shaped the genre and equally how the genre shaped representations of the city. Shearer argues that while the musical was for many years a prime vehicle for the idealization of urban density, the transformation New York underwent after World War II constituted a major challenge to its representation. Including analysis of 42nd Street, Swing Time, Cover Girl, On the Town, The Band Wagon, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and many other classic and little-known musicals—this book is an innovative study of the relationship between cinema and urban space.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Acknowledgements -- Introduction: A Wonderful Town? -- 1. Urban Space and the Origins of the Musical -- 2. The Neighbourhood Musical -- 3. The Nostalgia Musical -- 4. Fabulous Invalids: Broadway and Times Square -- 5. A New Way of Living: Postwar Musicals and the New New York -- Epilogue: Death or Metamorphosis? -- Appendix -- Notes -- Bibliography.
In examining the relationship between the spectacular, iconic and vibrant New York of the musical and the off-screen history and geography of the real city—this book explores how the city shaped the genre and equally how the genre shaped representations of the city. Shearer argues that while the musical was for many years a prime vehicle for the idealization of urban density, the transformation New York underwent after World War II constituted a major challenge to its representation. Including analysis of 42nd Street, Swing Time, Cover Girl, On the Town, The Band Wagon, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story and many other classic and little-known musicals—this book is an innovative study of the relationship between cinema and urban space.
United States—Study and teaching.
Theater—History.
Dance.
American Culture.
Theatre History.
Dance.