The Women Who Made Television Funny
Ten Stars of 1950s Sitcoms
Seiten
2007
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-0-7864-2900-4 (ISBN)
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-0-7864-2900-4 (ISBN)
Most of the bright and talented actresses who made America laugh in the 1950s are off the air. This book pays tribute to 10 prominent television actresses who played lead roles in popular comedy shows of the 1950s. Each chapter covers the works and personalities of one actress: Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy), Gracie Allen, Joan Davis, and others.
Most of the bright and talented actresses who made America laugh in the 1950s are off the air today, but their pioneering Hollywood careers irrevocably changed the face of television comedy. These smart and sassy women successfully negotiated the hazards of the male-dominated workplace with class and humor, and the work they did in the 1950s is inventive still by today's standards. Unable to fall back on strong language, shock value, or racial and sexual epithets, the female sitcom stars of the 1950s entertained with pure talent and screen savvy. As they did so, they helped to lay the foundation for the development of television comedy. This book pays tribute to 10 prominent television actresses who played lead roles in popular comedy shows of the 1950s. Each chapter covers the works and personalities of one actress: Lucille Ball (""I Love Lucy""), Gracie Allen (""The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show""), Eve Arden (""Our Miss Brooks""), Spring Byington (""December Bride""), Joan Davis (""I Married Joan""), Anne Jeffreys (""Topper""), Donna Reed (""The Donna Reed Show""), Ann Sothern (""Private Secretary"" and ""The Ann Sothern Show""), Gale Storm (""My Little Margie"" and ""The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna""), and Betty White (""Life with Elizabeth""). For each star, a career sketch is provided, concentrating primarily on her television work but also noting achievements in other areas. Appendices offer cast and crew lists, a chronology of 1950s female comedy feature events, and an additional biographical sketch of 10 less familiar actresses who deserve recognition.
Most of the bright and talented actresses who made America laugh in the 1950s are off the air today, but their pioneering Hollywood careers irrevocably changed the face of television comedy. These smart and sassy women successfully negotiated the hazards of the male-dominated workplace with class and humor, and the work they did in the 1950s is inventive still by today's standards. Unable to fall back on strong language, shock value, or racial and sexual epithets, the female sitcom stars of the 1950s entertained with pure talent and screen savvy. As they did so, they helped to lay the foundation for the development of television comedy. This book pays tribute to 10 prominent television actresses who played lead roles in popular comedy shows of the 1950s. Each chapter covers the works and personalities of one actress: Lucille Ball (""I Love Lucy""), Gracie Allen (""The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show""), Eve Arden (""Our Miss Brooks""), Spring Byington (""December Bride""), Joan Davis (""I Married Joan""), Anne Jeffreys (""Topper""), Donna Reed (""The Donna Reed Show""), Ann Sothern (""Private Secretary"" and ""The Ann Sothern Show""), Gale Storm (""My Little Margie"" and ""The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna""), and Betty White (""Life with Elizabeth""). For each star, a career sketch is provided, concentrating primarily on her television work but also noting achievements in other areas. Appendices offer cast and crew lists, a chronology of 1950s female comedy feature events, and an additional biographical sketch of 10 less familiar actresses who deserve recognition.
David C. Tucker is the author of numerous books about classic film and television history. A retired public library administrator, he lives just outside Atlanta, Georgia.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. GRACIE ALLEN
2. EVE ARDEN
3. LUCILLE BALL
4. SPRING BYINGTON
5. JOAN DAVIS
6. ANNE JEFFREYS
7. DONNA REED
8. ANN SOTHERN
9. GALE STORM
10. BETTY WHITE
Appendix I: Casts and Credits
Appendix II: Chronology
Appendix III: Ten More Leading Ladies
Chapter Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 30.6.2007 |
|---|---|
| Zusatzinfo | 41 photographs |
| Verlagsort | Jefferson, NC |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Kunst / Musik / Theater ► Film / TV |
| Kunst / Musik / Theater ► Theater / Ballett | |
| ISBN-10 | 0-7864-2900-3 / 0786429003 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0-7864-2900-4 / 9780786429004 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
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