Publisher Description

The Vietnam War affected nearly every aspect of American life. It altered the economy, challenged citizens to reassess their values, and played a key roll in the downfall of two presidential administrations. However, most people's attention remained focused on their daily lives—including the latest movie, the baseball score, and the new group on American Bandstand. But those elements were not immune from the war's effects. American popular culture changed dramatically during the Vietnam era—from Leave it To Beaver to All in the Family and from Bobby Darin to Bob Dylan. In Crossroads, historian Mitchell K. Hall explores the popular culture that shaped the baby boomers and the transformation that generation wrought in movies, television, sports, and music. As he traces the evolution of American culture, Hall looks at the ways in which these cultural elements not only underwent radical structural changes, but also reflected the upheaval and unrest in Vietnam era America.

Author Biography

Mitchell K. Hall is professor of history at Central Michigan University. He is the author of The Vietnam War and Because of Their Faith: CALCAV and Religious Opposition to the Vietnam War.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Popular Culture Before VietnamChapter 2: Golden Age and Blacklist: 1955–1960Chapter 3: New Frontiers: 1960–1968Chapter 4: Booming Business: 1969–1975Chapter 5: The End of the TunnelBibliographic Essay

Review

Mitchell K. Hall's fascinating book shows that between the Fifties and the Seventies movies, television, music and sports in the United States became much less controlled and restricted. The resulting revolution in American popular culture brought out vibrant new forms of entertainment and expression. -- Robert Brent Toplin, author of Reel History: In Defense of Hollywood
Mitchell Hall's Crossroads is an exciting trip through American popular culture from the 1950s to the 1970s. It is all here—TV, movies, sports, rock and roll—all in living color from American Bandstand to Muhammad Ali to Woodstock to The Godfather. An entertaining read, especially for students who did not live through that era. -- Terry H. Anderson, author of The Movement and the Sixties
Professor Hall has written a model study of American popular culture that will make wonderful reading in appropriate college courses. He wisely chooses to focus on four aspects of pop culture from 1950–1980—movies, television, sports, and popular music—and has a fine eye for the telling quotation and pertinent detail. Students and faculty alike will find it enjoyable and illuminating. -- Anthony O. Edmonds, Ball State University
The book is packed with useful and entertaining information and insights. Recommended. -- J. A. Hijiya, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth * CHOICE *
Hall . . . presents a wealth of possible texts, events and cultural residues to consider under the rubric of the Vietnam Generation. -- Graham Chia-Hui Preston, University of Melbourne * Media International Australia *
Especially useful for grasping the contemporaneity of popular culture trends—from film and television to music and sports. Would be very useful for any class focusing on the Vietnam era, a time redolent with popular culture influences. -- Peter C. Rollins, editor-in-chief, Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and TV Studies

Long Description

The Vietnam War affected nearly every aspect of American life. It altered the economy, challenged citizens to reassess their values, and played a key roll in the downfall of two presidential administrations. However, most people's attention remained focused on their daily lives--including the latest movie, the baseball score, and the new group on American Bandstand. But those elements were not immune from the war's effects. American popular culture changed dramatically during the Vietnam era--from Leave it To Beaver to All in the Family and from Bobby Darin to Bob Dylan. In Crossroads, historian Mitchell K. Hall explores the popular culture that shaped the baby boomers and the transformation that generation wrought in movies, television, sports, and music. As he traces the evolution of American culture, Hall looks at the ways in which these cultural elements not only underwent radical structural changes, but also reflected the upheaval and unrest in Vietnam era America.

Review Quote

The book is packed with useful and entertaining information and insights. Recommended.

Feature

A compelling narrative that guides students through the development and influences of popular culture from the end of WWII through the 1970s

Details