Better than Ever

Despite the nightmare of war, entertainment is on a tear. Americans adore Judy Garland's innocent virtue in The Wizard of Oz, lush romance in Gone with the Wind, and early war drama in Casablanca.

Each sets a new benchmark, and all are still regarded as first-rate classics. Box office receipts are through the roof, as lines wind around the block to get tickets. Stars of the time include the precocious young Shirley Temple.

Jazz, too, is shooting upwards, with bigger bands, cleaner sound, and legendary vocalists. Again, the headline artists remain popular to the present day, with stand-out performers like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.
<i>Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind</i>

  Stunning Color
The first bombshell success is The Wizard of Oz, which is a sensation in vibrant color. The very next year, Gone with the Wind sets a new standard for heart-throb screen romance, in a lavish rendering of the Civil War glorifying the southern cause. It smashes all box office records, while reinforcing the virtuous aspects of White Supremacy. Casablanca is in a class of its own.

Disney and Hollywood, 1940s

  Bursting with Vitality
Hollywood is now entering its glory years, as the motion-picture capital of the world. The mix of films is similar to that of today, including broad comedies like the Laurel-and-Hardy spoofs (left), feature-length animations like Disney's Snow White, and the very first Marvel action movie (right). The lights are on, and the cameras rolling.


Sinatra, Perry Como and Rita Hayworth, 1940s

  Star Power
This is a period of larger-than-life movie stars and recording artists, like 'bobby-sox' teen idol Frank Sinatra (left), and silky-voiced 'crooner' Perry Como (center). Each is adored by legions of fans. Meanwhile, a photo of Rita Hayworth published in Life Magazine just months before America's entry into the Second World War (right), is taken along by many GI's as they head for basic training.