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Famous performers

In this section you are going to learn about famous performers in Hollywood musicals. This is the longest section of the package; it will take you approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Activity 1.1

First of all, read Jane Feuer's chapter and then complete the tasks below.

Feuer, J. (1985) "Mass Art as Folk Art," The Hollywood Musical. London: BFI, pp. 1-22.

Note that a previous version of this chapter is available online.

Feuer, Jane. "Mass art as folk art" (opens in a new window), Jump Cut. A Review of Contemporary Media, n. 23, oct 1980, pp.23-25.

1

Identify famous performers in Hollywood musicals

Make a note in the box below of the names of all the performers who featured in Hollywood musicals mentioned in this chapter.

These are the names of the musical artists mentioned in the chapter:

  • Al Jolson
  • Maurice Chevalier
  • Fred Astaire
  • Judy Garland
  • Gene Kelly
  • Donald O'Connor
  • Ginger Rogers
  • Eleanor Powell
  • Agnes de Mille (mainly a choreographer but also appeared in musicals)
  • Bobby Van
  • Jules Munshin
  • (Frank) Sinatra
  • Kay Kendall
  • Michael Kidd
  • Dan Dailey
  • Cyd Charisse
  • Leslie Caron
  • Margaret O'Brien
  • Mickey Rooney
  • Jeanette MacDonald

Note that all other names refer to academics (Stuart Hall, Paddy Whannel, Claude Lévi-Strauss), actors (Charlie Chaplin), choreographers (George Balanchine, Eugene Loring, Agnes de Mille, Jerome Robbins, Martha Graham, Anthony Tudor, Charles Walters, Stanley Donen, Busby Berkeley), art critics (Edwin Denby, Henry Pleasants). The text also mentions the names of some of the characters in Hollywood musicals.

Check your answer

2

Find out about famous performers in Hollywood musicals

Choose one of the performers you identified in step 1 that you do not know much about. Go to the internet and find a picture and some information about that person. Copy the links and paste them in the box below together with the name of the artist you chose.

All of these are very famous musical performers who feature in Wikipedia (links below open in a new window). You may have found other interesting pages about them in other websites.

Check your answer