America at the Movies
New Haven: Yale University Press, 1939. First Printing. Black and white photographs. Cloth over boards. Octavo. xii, 313 pages.
A brilliant and influential study of the movies during Hollywood's golden age. Thorp examines the massive influence moving pictures had on their audiences, but also the ways the audiences influenced the pictures being made. She covers everything from production and promotion to censorship and propaganda uses.
There were 85 million weekly paid admissions to movies at some 17,000 theaters across the country in 1939, and adult women were the major target audience. A well-written and often very witty examination of the movies affecting the American public and the American public affecting the movies.
Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Shallow bumps along spine ends, a few slight rubs to extremities, and a prior owner name pencilled on front free endpaper in 1939. Dust jacket shows a narrow line of sun-fading along lower joint fold, some minor edge wear, and a closed 1" tear with some associated lightly rubbed creases near lower fore corner of rear panel. Lower fore corner of front jacket flap is clipped. A few neat tape repairs to underside of jacket by a prior owner. A very handsome copy overall, and quite scarce in dust jacket.
Item #1611
Price: $250