What’s weighing on Americans? Look to horror movies for your answer—they’re one of the best measures of the American consciousness. From an early fascination with the Gothic, to the mutant horrors of
Mary Nolan (1905-1948), also known as Imogene “Bubbles” Wilson, was the subject of two infamous court cases—one with Frank Tinney and the other with Eddie Mannix—in the 1920s. Like many Ziegfeld Folli
One of the few studies covering both Broadway and Hollywood musicals, this book explores a majority of the most famous musicals over the past two centuries plus a select number of overlooked gems. Pre
Before award-winning director Dan Curtis became known for directing epic war movies, he darkened the small screen with the horror genre’s most famous soap opera, Dark Shadows, and numerous subsequent
In the Summer of 1930, two federal prohibition agents were murdered. The first died in a hail of buckshot on a dark street in Aguilar, Colorado. Six weeks later, the second agent and his vehicle disap
For more than a century, the U.S. Navy’s battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines and amphibious warfare vessels have depended on a small group of specialized auxiliary ships to provide fuel, foo
As two of the most popular entertainers of the mid-century film industry, comic greats Bud Abbott and Lou Costello offered an essential balm to the American public following the sorrows of the Great D
[By the mid?1950s theater attendance had drastically decreased. To combat this decline, film distributors began releasing pre-packaged genre double-bills, with two films sold to theaters as a like-min
Like other forms of fan fiction, slash fiction—centered on same sex relationships between fictional characters—is a powerful cultural dialogue. Though the genre can be socially transformative, particu
? Jessica Jones barged onto our screens in November 2015, courtesy of Marvel and Netflix, presenting a hard-drinking protagonist who wrestles with her own inner (and outer) demons. Gaining enhanced
When Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces on April 30, 1975, the communist victory sent shockwaves around the world. Using ingenious strategy and tactics, H? Chí Minh had shown it was possible for a
Central to every vampire story is the undead’s need for human blood, but equally compelling is the human ingestion of vampire blood, which often creates a bond. This blood connection suggests two prim
The 1648 Treaty of Westphalia marked the emergence of the nation-state as the dominant political entity in Europe. This book traces the development of the nation-state from its infancy as a virtual dy
One of the preeminent natural philosophers of the Enlightenment, Benjamin Thompson started out as a farm boy with a practical turn of mind. His inventions and scientific explorations include the Rumfo
Evangelical Christianity—the faith professed by one in four Americans—exerts an enormous influence in American society. Believed by some to have originated as a reaction to the social revolution of th
Just as the Academy Awards have an impact upon stars and their careers, their achievements influence the Academy and contribute to the rich history of the Oscars. Upset wins, jarring losses and glarin
Every ten years since 1634, the Bavarian village of Oberammergau has performed the world’s most famous Passion Play, recounting the last days of Jesus Christ. In 2010, presenting the play for the 41st
"This book features extended conversations with Luis Buänuel (1900-1983) and interviews with the filmmaker's family, friends and colleagues (an earlier edition was published in Spain in 1984). Buänuel
This study examines representations of social processes in New York and London in post-9/11 fiction involving plots associated with that day: Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The fourth volume in a series, the text explores the intersection between human history and scientific discovery and discusses the implications of such discoveries. This volume focuses on the sixteent
Although the hostilities of the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the diplomatic repercussions lasted for several more decades. Eventually, however, the dedicated perseverance of diplomats on both sides paid
To today’s radio listener, it is difficult to imagine the influence radio once held over the American people. Unlike movies or newspapers, radio both informed and entertained its audience without requ
In 1962, Samuel K. Rubin founded 8mm Collector, the predecessor to Classic Images, a widely respected publication in the vintage film hobby that celebrates the golden age of Hollywood. He was instrume
