Hollywood: The Birthplace of Identity

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the Jewish movie moguls of the 1920s and 1930s created America, giving the country a new identity readily accepted by almost everybody. This redefinition of America took place because of a change in perception along racial lines. It shows how the roles of Whites and Blacks and, most importantly, Jews were redefined on film, and a new identity in America was born. The paper discusses the roles of major Jewish movie makers such as Harry, Sam, Albert and Jack Warner - the Warner Brothers; Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM and Samuel Goldwyn.

From the Paper:

"The quick richness found in the movies by these poor Jewish immigrants built Hollywood. The moguls began building a place where their fantasies could come true. Much like Hollywood today, Hollywood in the 1920's was a place where rumors ran rampant, drugs and alcohol won starring roles in the tabloids, and Pat Everyperson was interested in the lives of the rich and famous. It had become a center for immorality. Post World War I America was looking for a return to normalcy, so much so that the moguls began to set up a system of what could or could not be shown in the movies, a response to a request by the American government in 1919 to build movies that would "upbuild and strengthen the spirit of Americanism." This request is key. To understand how these Jews created a new America is to believe in the strength of the moving picture as a most powerful medium to convey a message. Though the strength of the movies today may can be debated, in the 1920's it was the way to reach the people. People were going to the movies; weekly attendance figures went from 10 million to 80 million between 1916 and 1937 and Hollywood was proving to be a force to be reckoned with. This request by the U.S. House of Representatives and by the Senate shows the impact of movies on the culture of America, of the acceptance of these moviemakers, and of the faith placed in them to do something for their country. The Jews built Hollywood and, subsequently, Hollywood built America."

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