What is it good for?
Following the declaration of war on Japan, the government created a Bureau of Motion Picture Affairs to coordinate the production of entertainment features with patriotic, morale-boosting themes and messages about the “American way of life,” the nature of the enemy and the allies. – Britanica
During World War 2, the government requested Hollywood to produce many cheerful and glamorous musicals to keep the spirits of those who were affected by the war high. Actors and actresses entertained for the good of all people. Hollywood helped unite the country during one of the toughest times in modern history.
When I was a young boy I was fatherless, had no car, had no house to grow up in and I remember occasionally eating at grandmas house the last week of the month.
Point?
While I never experienced anything like life during WW2, growing up wasn’t easy. There was a lot missing in my life. Of all the things I tried to fill those holes with while growing up, old movies were the most memorable. I spent countless hours in front of the tv watching old black and white movies from that era. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were my favorites. I learned many things from those movies, instead of my father, on how to treat a woman. Things like opening a door for my wife to walk through, or walking on the street side of the sidewalk when walking with my wife to protect her. I watched these movies with grand houses and rich families and awesome night clubs. The complete opposite of what I had ever experienced. These movies brought me comfort and hope for something better. For that I am grateful.
With that said, I’m not sure that Hollywood could do that for me today. It seems that they are too concerned with what our president is or isn’t doing right. They spend more time and effort trying to divide this country then uniting. They inject poison instead of hope. I have a feeling that if I grew up watching today’s “entertainment” that in the end I would probably be a much different person than I am today. And I don’t think it would be for the better.
