Buch, Englisch, 266 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 535 g
Fred & Adele
Buch, Englisch, 266 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 535 g
ISBN: 978-0-19-973841-0
Verlag: Oxford University Press
Before 'Fred and Ginger', there was 'Fred and Adele', a show business partnership and a cultural sensation like no other. It is difficult in our celebrity-sated era to comprehend what a genuine phenomenon the Astaires were. At the height of their success in the mid-1920s the siblings were seasoned transatlantic commuters, ambassadors of an art form they had helped to revolutionize, adored by audiences, feted by royalty, and courted socially by the elite in just about
every field of endeavour. They seemed to define the Jazz Age, a fascinating pair who wove fascinating rhythms in song and dance. The story of Fred and Adele Astaire is extraordinary and it is told here in depth and within its historical and theatrical context. It is not merely the first part of
Fred's long and illustrious career; it holds a significance and a fascination of its own, as well as having implications for Astaire's subsequent career, which have not been fully appreciated.
The story of the Astaires is also the story of an era. Born at the close of the nineteenth century, they, in effect, grew up together with the new century. Manifestly children of their time, they glamorously embodied the interwar style they had partly originated. At the same time, their appeal as performers was based largely on their apparent defiance of the darker aspects of the interwar psyche. They were an affirmation of life and hope in the midst of a prevalent crisis of faith and
identity.
Zielgruppe
The Astaires will appeal especially to the many fans of Fred Astaire, and to students, specialists, and those with a general interest in dance, musicals, and theater history. It will also appeal to film buffs wanting to learn more about Astaire's early career and his transition from stage to screen and to those interested in popular trends and Modernism and the interwar period. The book will appeal to those interested in British royalty, George Gershwin, Noël Coward, and literary figures such as George Bernard Shaw, J. M. Barrie, and P. G. Wodehouse. Finally, it will appeal to those interested in Modernism and the interwar period.
Autoren/Hrsg.
Weitere Infos & Material
List of illustrations
Foreword by John Mueller
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction: Moaning Minnie and Goodtime Charlie
Chapter 1: Opening the bill
Chapter 2: Over the top
Chapter 3: Dancing comedians
Chapter 4: Nightingales in Berkeley Square
Chapter 5: Fascinating rhythms
Chapter 6: The golden calf
Chapter 7: Frater, ave atque vale
Chapter 8: By myself
Chapter 9: After the dance
Chronologies:
1. (a) The shows
1. (b) Charity performances
2. Other notable events in theatre, 1917-1933
Notes
Bibliography
Index
