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The article informs about works and life of Cary Grant, a comic actor in the history of sound era American film, and the drama critic of the Wall Street Journal. Topics include worked as actor in the history of the cinema with a judgment that is categorical James Stewart romantic-comedy roles; and grown in a working-class neighborhood apprenticing acrobats marrying five women with interior turmoil, reflect aspects of Archie Leach and Cary Grant.

The article explores how Isaac Stern, an American Violinist failed in making his career in classical music with information on his life and work. Topics include rarefied art of classical violin, in the process making himself the best-known American classical instrumentalist; and played with Chinese musicians with their Western counterparts in the Cultural Revolution with Fritz Kreisler or Bruno Walter, who converted to Catholicism.

The article offers information about the American screenwriter, Herman J. Mankiewicz and the American film director, Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It discusses the works of the Mankiewicz for the growth of the American film industry. It mentions the "The Brothers Mankiewicz: Hope, Heartbreak, and Hollywood Classics," book by Sydney Ladensohn Stern.

The article offers information on the American choreographer Jerome Robbins. Topics discussed include the biggest secrets Robbins about his sexuality; "Jerome Robbins, by Himself: Selections from His Letters, Journals, Drawings, Photographs, and an Unfinished Memoir" autobiography by Robbins; and also mentions about the relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Robbins.

A biography of Hollywood actor Rock Hudson whose original name was Roy Scherer Jr., is presented. Topics discussed include the disclosure of his sexuality, details on his early life and the occurrence of his death due to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease. It outlines details on his film career and depicts him to be a person whom women found extremely attractive on screen but was actually shy in his real life.

The article discusses the theatrical activity of plays and productions in U.S. emulating or dressed like U.S. President Donald Trump. It states New York's Public Theater in June 2017 performed "Julius Caesar" play in a modern-dress production directed by Oskar Eustis wherein leading characters Julius Caesar and his wife impersonated and looked like Donald and Melania Trump and similar incidents were reported. It mentions artistic effects and future of theater are unfavorable.

The article offers the author's insights on the definition and concept of masterpiece. Topics discussed include popular culture, narrative mediums in American art, and works including the film "Chinatown," directed by Roman Polanski, television (TV) series "The Wire," created by David Simon," and musical "Hamilton," by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The article offers information on financially successful American actress Meryl Streep. Topics mentioned include the prominence in drama in the 1970s by playing Shakespeare and Chekhov, her first Oscar award in 1980 for the film "Kramer vs. Kramer" and the book "Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep" by Michael Schulman.

The article offers the author's insights on the journalist's failure to mark the 100th birthday of the late Harry James, an American jazz trumpeter. The author discusses the achievements of James in the music industry, the popularity of his music particularly his domination in the Billboard's hit chart, and the preferred form of popular music in the U.S.

The article focuses on several films, books, and radio series related to English-born American comedian Bob Hope. Topics include his biography "Hope: Entertainer of the Century" by Richard Zoglin; his radio series "The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope" that always opened with a monologue by Hope; and his movie "Road to Singapore."

The article presents a profile of the life and career of the 20th-century U.S. jazz singer Mel Tormé, discussing why the singer never reached large-scale celebrity despite his abilities and success. Topics addressed include a profile of Tormé's career, his singing style, and discussion noting his decline at the time of Frank Sinatra's ascendance.

The article discusses allegations that jazz musician Duke Ellington was a Communist during the 1930s and 1940s. It is said that Ellington unknowingly performed at events backed by Communist front organizations, including the production of his musical "Jump for Joy: A Sun-Tanned Revu-sical." The author says that such associations, including with the organization Hollywood Theatre Alliance, were due to Communist attempts to infiltrate liberal circles through an anti-fascist Popular Front.

The essay presents a profile of the mid-20th century African American musician Louis Jordan, his group the Tympany Five, and their influence on the formation of rhythm and blues (R & B) music. Details are given mapping the rise and fall of the group within the popular African American music scene of the 1940s and 1950s. Commentary is also given noting the features of the band's style and lasting influence on R & B music for decades to follow.

In this article the author discusses the career of George Szell, an American conductor and composer. The author focuses on Szell's conducting and managing style during his time with the Cleveland Orchestra of Cleveland, Ohio in the 20th century, his recording of the piece "Haydn Variations," composed by composer Johannes Brahms, and the perspectives of symphony members, who begrudged the attention Szell received for their performances.

The article presents discussion regarding the cultural influences of Jews and African Americans on U.S. popular music throughout the 20th century. Introductory details are given noting the ways in which prominent members of both communities succeeded in popular music. The ways in which each group influenced the other are also analyzed. The album "Black Sabbath: The Secret Musical History of Black-Jewish Relations," by the Idelsohn Society for musical Preservation is also discussed in depth.

The article presents a brief biographical sketch of the African American jazz musician Cabell "Cab" Calloway III. It examines his position in American popular culture throughout his career and explores ways in which the musician Louis Armstrong influenced Calloway's musical style. Other topics include his song "Minnie the Moocher," his role in the film "The Blues Brothers," and the biography "Hi-De-Ho: The Life of Cab Calloway" by Alyn Shipton.

The article presents a profile of the career and films of director Cecil B. DeMille. It describes his directing style, discusses his influence on director Steven Spielberg, and profiles several of his movies including "The King of Kings," "Samson and Delilah," and "The Ten Commandments." It also provides an overview of the biography "Empire of Dreams: The Epic Life of Cecil B. DeMille" by Scott Eyman and explores religious themes found in DeMille's films.

The article profiles the life and work of American actor Robert Mitchum. It describes Mitchum's scandalous reputation in Hollywood, California, his performances in the films "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance," and his artistic relationship with director John Huston. Other subjects under discussion include Mitchum's acting aesthetic, his contribution to society's notions of manliness, and the film "Out of the Past."

The article discusses the posthumous rise of the reputation among film critics of the work of British-American filmmaker and producer Alfred Hitchcock. An overview of Hitchcock's career and filmography is presented, and the main elements of his style--plot, dialogue, and visual imagery--are discussed. The sexual content of many of his thrillers is discussed, as is the comedic content, and a number of reviews of his movies by prominent critics are quoted.

An essay is presented discussing the cultural and political divide among voters in the U.S. It describes how more Americans are susceptible to identity politics wherein their party affiliation is associated with cultural, social, and religious markers. The author uses evidence from the 2000 and 2004 U.S. presidential elections, along with statements by 2008 presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee, and John McCain to argue that the cultural divide is widening.

This article discusses the American identity and compares it other countries views of themselves. Hector St. Jean de Crevecoeur's definition of an American is provided. Modern American art is noted for its solitude, respect for the individual and shared temperament. The American national character, religious character and political pragmatism are described. Artists such as Edward Hopper, Aaron Copeland and Frank Lloyd Wright are noted.

The article profiles American classical composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk. As well as a pianist and composer, he was a superb writer of prose. During his lifetime he published in magazines like the Atlantic Monthly, and after his death in 1869 the notebooks on which he based his articles were edited by his sister and brought out in book form as Notes of a Pianist. Most part of the book is devoted to the years 1862 to 1865, during which Gottschalk barnstormed around the U.S. by train, giving one or two concerts a day in cities and towns from coast to coast.

This article characterizes the quality of songwriting in the U.S. Alec Wilder, a semi-classical composer who doubled as a sometime writer of popular songs, he was responsible for a handful of standards that were performed and recorded by such celebrated singers as Frank Sinatra and Mabel Mercer. Moreover, the musically simplistic rock-and-roll of the 50s and 60s coexisted quite easily with classic pop. The language of rock-and-roll was by now sufficiently developed to pose a challenge, and more and more gifted songwriters began to embrace it as their primary mode of musical expression.

Focuses on the objection of music critics against the growing popularity of neoromantic music. Reasons behind the falseness of an argument that composers imitate the music of the past; Comparison between neoromanticism and neoclassicism; Background on American classical and tonal composers who contributed to the evolution of music based on the book "Voices in the Wilderness: Six American Neo-Romantic Composers," by Walter Simons.

This article discusses the Web log, "About Last Night: Terry Teachout on the Arts in New York City," which deals with cultural issues in the U.S. The article includes information about the change in the shared values and knowledge in the country, repudiations of the Western Culture's universal significance, and the use of political Web logs in delivering news.

This article provides information on "Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall," a book by Joseph Horowitz. The book discusses the popularity of the classical piece "Ninth Symphony From the New World," by European songwriter Anton Dvorák, several views on Arturo Toscanini's career as a music conductor, and the marginalization of classical music in the country.

Reports on the decline of musical shows in the U.S. as of June 2004. Similarities among the musical shows written between 1943 and 1964; Information on the post-classic American musical; Reason behind the permanence of classic American musicals.

Comments on the life and works of writer H. L. Mencken of Baltimore, Maryland. Theme of the first edition of the book "The Skeptic"; Publication of the anthology "A Mencken Schimp-flexicon"; Release of various book collections.

Presents a list of several U.S. songs. 'This Is New,' by Daryl Sherman; 'Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado),' by Frank Sinatra; 'Let Me Love You,' by Jeri Southern.

Part III. Presents a list of pop singers and pop songs in the U.S. in order to illustrate the relationship between U.S. popular song and popular singing. Information on composer Michel Legrand; Quality of singing by Rebecca Kilgore; Background of 'But Beautiful,' sang by Joe Mooney.

Lists several songs which illuminate the interplay between popular song and popular singing in the U.S. 'Someone to Watch Over Me,' sung by Andy Bey, music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin; 'Lazy Afternoon,' sung by June Christy, music by Jerome Moross and lyrics by John Latouche ; 'Do You Miss New York?,' sung by Rosemart Clooney with music and lyrics by Dave Frishberg.

Discusses how artists and entertainers respond to the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. Response of German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen to the tragedy; View of Italian playwright and Nobel laureate Dario Fo on the attacks in New York and in Washington; Details of the all-star fund-raising telethon 'America: A Tribute to Heroes' which was aired on a number of television networks.

Comments on the cultural and political division of the electorate in the United States as reflected in the presidential election of 2000. Division into Republican and Democratic; Findings of the 2000 election exit-poll data; Factors contributing to the division.

Reviews two musicals in the United States. `The Great Gatsby,' by John Harbison; `A View From the Bridge,' by William Bolcom.

Discusses the development of United States (US) opera. Operas of US composers from 1934-1996; Directors of the Metropolitan Opera House of New York, New York; Works of US composer Gian Carlo Menotti.

Reports forty years after the fact, a new generation of American singers have discovered Nat King Cole, one of American popular music's most distinctive singers. Various biographies of the jazz pianist/vocalist; His daughter Natalie's recording of his most famous hits; Jazz stylings of the King Cole Trio.

Comments on the cloud of unrelieved seriousness which hang over news broadcasting by television networks in the U.S. Investigation of a hot scoop by a newspaperman; Devotion of the energies of the anchorman; Diversion of news programs treated as journalistic institutions.

Focuses on a performance by the Merce Cunningham Dance Company during its City Center season in New York City on March 8-20, 1994. High voltage electronic scores; Reviews of `Sounddance' and `CRWDSPCR'; Cunningham's comparison with choreographer George Balanchine; Style of presentation; Elements of aesthetics; Less conventional structure; Manifestation of Cunningham's classicism.

Provides information on minimalist movement in American music. Best-known composers of the minimalist movement; Ideology of the minimalist movement; Exploration of the harmonic music by Debussy.

Discusses the memorable works of Jerome Robbins in the theater. Robbins as a ballet dancer from New York; How the premiere of Fancy Free made Robbins a star overnight who received 25 curtain calls; Why Robbins's name is often linked with his contemporary American composer Leonard Bernstein; The birth of Jerome Rabinowitz as the director of West Side Story; Robbins's appearance in the ballet theater.

Profiles American composer Aaron Copland. Popularity of music in various occasions; Reluctance of some critics to treat Copland as a major composer; Lack of work about Copland's life; Family background; Famous works.

Comments on several memorable film scores created by composers for American movies. Respectability of film music; Erich Wolfgang Korngold's musical works for `A Midsummer Night's Dream'; Aaron Copland's scoring for five commercial films between 1939 and 1948; Musical works by Miklos Rozsa, Bernard Herrmann and John Williams.

Focuses on the state of dance in the United States. Decline in attendance by young people to dance events; Romanticism of modern dance; Role of celebrated choreographers on modern dance.

Studies of Metropolitan Opera's new `Met Title' system, which was introduce in October with director James Levine saying that the Met would introduce titles that would appear in `The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Canadian Opera Company fixture on the musical scene. More.

The article addresses some issues concerning the rights of homosexuals in the U.S. in 1983. The author discusses the guaranty of civil rights for homosexuals. He asks to what extent is the U.S. policy willing to tolerate the increasingly vehement demands for gay rights. The homosexual problem consists of two contradictory axioms. First, homosexuality falls decisively outside the protective sanctions of the U.S. consensus. Second, homosexuals play an undeniably important part in the workings of society.

The article discusses the 21st century practice of musicals opening on Broadway in New York City to be adaptations of previously released motion pictures. Topics discussed include the economic reasons for why these musicals are created, the impact of changes to U.S. popular music, and musicals including "Rocky," "Young Frankenstein," and "A Christmas Story."