Oral History Project: Al Jolson And The First Talkies
Interview a person in his or her fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, or nineties—someone who likes to talk!—and askquestions about your interviewee's mass media experiences in the twentieth century (1930s on). Usethe questions below as a starting point. Please feel free to add questions or alter questions as necessary.Sound Recording: - What records did you listen to? Who was your favorite recording artist?- What kind of record player did you have, and where was it in your home?- Was there any kind of music you weren't supposed to listen to? Why?- Were you allowed to play music whenever you wanted, or were there parentallimitations in your home?- How much did a record cost?- Where did you buy your records?- How did you find out about the artists you listened to?- What did your parents think about records and record players?Radio: - What do you remember about your experiences with radio?- What kinds of programs did you listen to (entertainment, music, talk, etc.)?- When were they on, and why did you like them?- Do you remember anything about the early radio commercials?
- Do you remember any public concern about radio commercials?
- Do you remember any educational radio programs?
- What technical problems did you experience with your radio set?
- Do you have some specific memories (good or bad) about listening to the
radio when you were young? What are they?
- What was it like when FM radio became available?
Television/Cable:
- What was it like when TV became available?
- Where did you watch your first TV programs, and what was the viewing
experience like?
- How much did your family's first TV set cost, and what factors figured into its
purchase?
- What was reception like?
- What was a typical family viewing session like?
- How did TV change your home life?
- What do you remember about the corporate sponsors of TV shows?
- What (if anything) do you remember about the quiz-show scandals?
- What do you remember about the first thirty-second TV commercials?
- How do your television experiences in the 1950s compare with your television
experiences now?
- If you have it, how did you decide to get cable or satellite TV? What factors
went into this decision?
Movies:
- What were your first movie going experiences like, and how were they
different from today?
- What were some of your favorite films growing up, and why?
- Do you remember anything about Al Jolson and the first talkies?
- What do you remember about the excitement surrounding Gone with the Wind?
- Were there films your parents forbade you to see? What were they, and why
were you not allowed to see them?
- What films were the most influential for you?
Please organize your interview information according to the following guidelines, trying to make
your paper as readable and accessible as possible:
- Type in 12-point, single-spaced, Times New Roman.
- Put your name, the participant's name and age, and the relationship you have with your interview
participant at the top of the page.
- Group your interview participant's answers under the assignment's four categories: sound
recording, radio, TV/cable, and movies.
- Write at least a paragraph (single-spaced) for each category.
- Paraphrase your interview. However, if there's a great quote—something that you think might be
fun to read in class—include what your participant said verbatim.
- Include only information that seems the most poignant or interesting. For example, if your
- participant didn't say anything interesting or worthwhile about radio, skip that category entirely.
(He or she might make up for it in another category.)
- Use bold text for the responses that are the most poignant or interesting to you—something that
made you say “Wow” or “Aha!”
- The entire project should be between one and two pages, single-spaced.
This is the instructions of the paper that I want you to write about. I want to just inform you that I'm international student and I want you to keep in mind that I want my paper to be not very professional where I would like you to keep it as simple as possible. Also, prevent to interview parents or relatives since we might not share the same nationality. Instead would you please interview friends or neighbors? Also, I will attach some of the material that we have covered in class which might help you.
Oral History Project
Name:
Institution:
Course:
Date:
Recording
According to Tim (not his real name), real music was made in the 60s. Tim, an American, born on 20 January, and currently 67 years old, feels that, this is the age that gave rise to some of the best recording artistes and even genres in music, which to this day resonate as some of the highest revered records. Some of the best recording artists that made the 60s memorable are the Beatles. Much of the recordings at the time were done on the cassettes tapes. This was influential music and in some of the cases, it was considered rebellious. In some way it was, as rock was a new dimension of music that appealed to the liberties. At the time, the parents were very strict on what could be listened to on the radio. According to Tim, he cannot remember how the tapes cost, but he reckons they were much more expensive than the CDs and they were available from the music shops across town. For most the people at the time, one would here about the artists on the radio. Ironically parents felt that the record players were too fancy compared to the vinyl records which for them were the ultimate master pieces of music recording.
Radio
Radio on the other hand was one of the revolutionary pieces of equipment in the history of music. According to Tim, through radio in the 60s there were talk shows that were largely on the borderlines of politically charged and enlightening. However he also reckons that also offered music especially after the expansion of the FM. Some of the channels had music throughout especially those that majored with the rock music genre which was hyped at the time. There were still commercials that cam...
π Other Visitors are Viewing These APA Other (Not Listed) Samples:
- Introduction To Speech: Constant Problem In Schools 1 page/β275 words | 4 Sources | APA | Communications & Media | Other (Not Listed) |
- Company Use Of Social Media, Information, Digital Analysis6 pages/β1650 words | 4 Sources | APA | Communications & Media | Other (Not Listed) |
- Summary: Communications and Media (Chapter 5 - Communicating Electronically)1 page/β275 words | No Sources | APA | Communications & Media | Other (Not Listed) |
- Information Interview Mini-Assignment: Interview with a Public Relations officer at American. . .2 pages/β550 words | No Sources | APA | Communications & Media | Other (Not Listed) |
- Various Ethical Dilemmas Within The PRSA Code Of Ethics1 page/β275 words | 2 Sources | APA | Communications & Media | Other (Not Listed) |
- Public Relations: What Are Your Career Goals? 1 page/β275 words | 1 Source | APA | Communications & Media | Other (Not Listed) |
- Marketing Plan: Kitty Kafe, Mission Statement, Plan Objectives, Marketing Audit6 pages/β1650 words | 5 Sources | APA | Communications & Media | Other (Not Listed) |