Links to the Readings

The Invention of Christmas:
The Creation of a Consumer Christmas: An Interview With Stephen Nissenbaum
"The Man Who Invented Christmas", Les Standiford, WSJ
'Twas The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Moore
The Evolution of American Comedy:
"Blackface Minstrelsy", University of Virginia
Amos 'n Andy blackface example, YouTube
"Vaudeville", University of Virginia
"The Existential Clown", James Parker, The Atlantic Monthly
Wisconsin's Showmen:
"Ringlingville, U.S.A.", Jerry Apps, Wisconsin History Magazine
"The Bonds He Did Not Break: Harry Houdini and Wisconsin", Kimberly Louagie, Wisconsin Magazine of History
Sin, Jazz and Tourism in New Orleans:
"Ned Sublette on New Orleans", Bomb Magazine Interview
"The Disneyfication of New Orleans" J. Mark Souther, Journal of American History
"The Day The Music Died", BBC
"Tipitina", Professor Longhair, YouTube
"Walking to New Orleans", Fats Domino, YouTube
Rock, Rap and the Soul of America:
"Greil Marcus's Mystery Train", WNYC interview
"Do The James Brown!", Rock and Rap Confidential
"Everyday Struggle", The Nation
Fast Food Nation:
"Ray Kroc and the Fast Food Industry", Forbes Magazine
"Excerpt: The Hamburger: A History", New York Magazine
"A History of Hamburgers", OnPoint Radio Broadcast
"Farmer in Chief", Michael Pollan, NYT
Gambling: Our National Obsession:
"Gambling in America", The State of California
"The History of Gambling in the United States", The State of California
"A Cut In The Wages Of Sin", The Economist
"Gambling Can Be Addictive, For City Governments", Ariella Cohen, The Next American City
Self-Help From Ben Franklin to Oprah Winfrey:
Ben Franklin: Self-Improvement, PBS
"Self-Help", Excerpt, Samuel Smiles
"Progressivism Sweeps the Nation", USHistory.org
The Twelve Steps to Serenity, Alcoholics Anonymous
"Self-Improvement Market in U.S. Worth $9.6 Billion", PRWeb
"New Year, New You? Nice Try", NYT
The Mythic West:
The Western: An Overview", Images Journal
"30 Great Westerns: Stagecoach", Gary Jacobson
"Stagecoach" trailer, YouTube
"30 Great Westerns: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence", Grant Tracy
"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence", final scene, YouTube
"Unforgiven" review, Roger Ebert
Disney's America:
Neal Gabler: Inside Walt Disney, NPR Audio Interview
"Steamboat Willie", YouTube
"The Three Little Pigs", YouTube
"Future Schlock", P.J. O'Rourke, The Atlantic Monthly
Yesterland Tomorrowland Links
The Burden of Superman:
"The Birth of the Comic Book: Gerard Jones Interview", NPR
Action Comics #1
First Max Fleischer Superman Cartoon, 1941, YouTube
Past Visions of a Present Future:
Science Fiction: The Early History", H. Bruce Franklin
"Science Fiction Doesn't Have To Be Gloomy, Does It", Damien Walter, The Guardian