It's hard to imagine a day passing without most Americans enjoying some form of entertainment, whether it's going to a football game, watching television at home, or listening to the radio on the way to work. At the start of the 20th century, however, the only form of entertainment was live theater. With the advent of radio, television, and ultimately the internet, entertainment could be found in our homes, quite literally at our fingertips. As American society changed and the economy grew over the 20th century, the entertainment industry evolved from vaudeville theater to big screen movies to DVDs playing in the living room. This book focuses on popular American entertainment that both appeals to and is accessible to the masses. Six forms of entertainment are covered: vaudeville, recorded sound, radio, movies, television, and spectator sports. Some forms of entertainment have changed considerably throughout the years, while others have disappeared all together as technology allowed new ones to take their place, but the desire of people to be entertained has not waned. Concepts, organizations, and individuals such as the jukebox, the Screen Actors Guild, Ted Turner, satellite television, free agents, Charlie Chaplin, made-for-TV movies, iPod, Superbowl commercials, vaudeville circuits, Columbia, FCC, Hollywood, Title IX, Amos and Andy, MTV, and the Palace Theater, among many others, are discussed. Ideal for students and general readers interested in the development and history of one of the largest and most lucrative industries today. Biographies of notable individuals in the entertainment industry and suggestions for further reading are included.

This book serves as a one-stop source for comprehensive information on the entertainment industry, providing a historical overview of the economics of the field, a series of short biographies of the impact makers, and an extensive annotated bibliography of more sources for in-depth research. Entertainment Industry: A Reference Handbook casts the spotlight on the evolution of the entertainment industry over the entire span of the 20th century, covering everything from vaudeville to radio and from sports to television and movies. It explores how the entertainment industry stands apart from other high-dollar, big-business enterprises with regard to how its economy is sustained, and it serves as a handy source for more in-depth information that general readers will find fascinating. An extensive annotated bibliography guides reader through their research, while a historical overview of the economics of the industry, a series of short biographies of the impact makers in the industry, and sources of more current information makes this work essential reading for anyone seeking comprehensive and specific information about the entertainment industry.

As the 1919 World Series scandal simmered throughout the 1920 season, tight pennant races drove attendance to new peaks and presaged a decade of general prosperity for baseball. Babe Ruth shattered his own home-run record and, buoyed by a booming economy, professional sports enjoyed what sportswriters termed a “Golden Age of Sports.� Throughout the tumultuous 1920s, Major League Baseball remained a mixture of competition and cooperation. Teams could improve by player trades, buying Minor League stars, or signing untried youths. Players and owners had their usual contentious relationship, with owners maintaining considerable control over their players. Owners adjusted the game so that the 1920s witnessed a surge in slugging and a diminution in base stealing, and they provided a better ballpark experience by both improving their stadiums and minimizing disruptions by rowdy fans. However, they hesitated to adapt to new technologies such as radio, electrical lighting, and air travel. The Major Leagues remained an enclave for white people, while African Americans toiled in the newly established Negro Leagues, where salaries and profits were skimpy. By analyzing the economic and financial aspects of Major League Baseball, The Age of Ruth and Landis shows how baseball during the 1920s experienced both strife and prosperity, innovation and conservatism. With figures such as the incomparable Babe Ruth, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Rogers Hornsby, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Tris Speaker, and Eddie Collins, the decade featured an exciting brand of livelier baseball, new stadiums, and overall stability.