This book is a delightful and authoritative record of Americas showboats from the first one; launched in 1831; to the last; ultimately tied up at a St. Louis dock.It is also a record of the men and women who built and loved these floating theaters; of those who performed on their stages; and of the thousands who sat in their auditoriums.And; lastly; it is a record of a genuine folk institution; as American as catfish; which for more than a century did much to relieve the social and cultural starvation of our vast river frontier.For these showboats brought their rich cargoes of entertainmentmdash;genuine laughter; a glimpse of other worlds; a respite from the grinding hardship of the present; emotional relaxationmdash;to valley farmers; isolated factory workers and miners; and backwoodsmen who otherwise would have lacked all such opportunities.To the more privileged ; the showboats brought pleasant reminder of a half-forgotten culture. They penetrated regions where churches and school had not gone; and where land theaters were for generations to be impossible. Like circuit preachers; they carried their message to the outer fringes of American civilization. In spite of many faults; it was a good message.The frontier had created this institution to fill a genuine need; and it lasted only until other and better means of civilizing these regions could reach themmdash;good roads; automobiles; motion pictures; schools; churches; newspapers; and theaters. But although the showboats have passed into history; they have left a rich legacy. As long as the Mississippi flows into the Gulf; their story will fire the imagination of Americans.Showboating has become so legendary that few Americans know what this unique institution was really like. In Showboats; at long last; the true story emerges. It differs in many important respects from the motion picture and fictional versions to which Americans are accustomed; but it is not a whit the less glamorous.Philip Graham has told his story with imagination; genuine insight; and complete devotion to facts. No one who is interested in Americas past should fail to read it.
#2598267 in eBooks 2014-01-31 2014-01-31File Name: B00I5PEQZM
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Twelve for the stageBy HHThe jury; a small group of ordinary citizens entrusted with the task of deliberating together to reach a just decision; is an important symbol of American democracy. The jury in "Twelve Angry Men" is the embodiment of this ideal; the jury at its finest. "Twelve Angry Men" was the first play; and film; to focus on a jury deliberation; and the best. Many people have seen the film; and many more are familiar with the plot -- the story of how 11 jurors voted to convict a boy accused of killing his father with a switchblade; and how 1 man patiently and rationally persuaded them; one by one; to vote "not guilty.""Twelve Angry Men" began as a television show in 1954-55. The script was rewritten by Reginald Rose and published in 1955. It was rewritten as a screenplay for its most memorable incarnation; the 1957 film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda as the lone voice against conviction at the beginning; and Lee J. Cobb as the last holdout against acquittal at the end. In 1997; William Friedkin directed a new (but inferior) version; with Jack Lemmon in the Henry Fonda role and George C. Scott in the Lee J. Cobb role; suggesting that the particular power of this story of the jury has endured even after the much-criticized jury trials of the 1990s. Both films attracted stellar casts; suggesting that the roles were highly prized by actors. The play has been re-enacted countless times by high school students and amateur theater groups. By now it is not only part of our image of the jury; it has contributed to the essence of that image; and it has very likely influenced the way people approach their task when they are called for jury duty.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Twelve Angry Men makes for Countless Happy ViewersBy I LUV AMAZON(ISBN-10: 1580813402 and ISBN-13: 978-1580813402) Oh; that "Studio One" my generation watched on the telly. My mouth just waters at the thought of such excellence that regularly came into our living rooms as live broadcasts. "Twelve Angry Men" was originally written as a teleplay for the studio by Reginald Rose; who is also in receipt of my kudos for writing the screenplay for the movie of the same name starring Henry Fonda; and this audio CD; which was directed by David Mamet. A real class act; this.We dont know which actor is which; except by a process of elimination of the voices we do know. The remainder we can guess about; and the back cover of the audio CD matches up juror number to actor; which may not be of help; jurors are not referred to by name or number at all; and the actors are no slouches either. (Publishers Weekly)Actually; identifying the actors is the least of our problems; for in brief; we are sequestered inside the jury room alongside the twelve; eleven of whom are fighting the holdout among them who has reasonable doubt.Their problems become our problems. They react to every little thing; e.g. whether the window should be opened on a really hot day -- as well as the most serious things possible; which manifest themselves as "the seemingly open and shut case turns complicated; igniting passions and hidden prejudices." ("Book Description;" author unknown). What will they ultimately do? And what about us? Contemplate; if you will; the vaunted American Justice System as it is; up close.This is an L.A. Theater Works production with a full; splendid cast; produced in front of a live audience; and is sold in the L.A. Theater Works store on .com. You cant watch "Studio One" (they were probably saved on kinescopes anyway; the technology that preceded videotaping and resulted in fuzzy; grainy; and distorted products for showing in different time zones.) But you can listen to this and truly enjoy it; over and over again.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. So Good!!By KJYou dont know their names. Thats not important. You learn about their characters and their hearts. What they believe in the privacy of their own soul. All the prejudices. You find out who has the strength to not make it personal and to just concentrate on the facts. Dissect the facts and find out that even the facts are as questionable as the human heart. Well done!
