THE NORTH SHORE TOWERS WOMEN’S CLUB MEETING
BY GLORIA BECK
On June 12, our guest
speaker, Max Alvarez,
spoke about “The History
of the Hollywood Musical.” In the
1920s when sound was introduced
to movies, in order to get more
people to come to the theater, the
idea of musicals evolved. At the
same time there was a plethora of
vaudeville performers available
because vaudeville was on its way
out, so it became a perfect meld for
the two venues. In the beginning of
musical films, most of the time the
picture was a musical review with
no story lines. The solution to that
was launched by Daryl Zanuck who
decided to film a story and save the
music to the end of the film.
The major film studios at that
time were Warner Brothers, RKO,
Fox and MGM, each offering its
unique way in presenting musicals.
At Warner Brothers, under Busby
Berkeley’s direction and limitless
creativity, a new era was brought to
musical film with intricate overhead
shots of choreography. At one point
when RKO was struggling, the movie
King Kong bailed them out, but
the series of musicals starring Fred
Astaire and Ginger Rogers finally
put them on the road to success.
Daryl Zanuck, who was originally
at Warner Brothers, left them and
through a merger with 20th Century
pictures became known as 20th
Century Fox, with its colorful personalities
such as Carmen Miranda,
the Nicholas Brothers, Betty Grable
and Shirley Temple contributing to
their musicals. MGM, formed in
1924, (introducing its roaring lion
logo in 1941) joined the parade of
musical films with Eleanor Powell
becoming its first musical star.
Because the sound systems
were not as sophisticated as they
are today, most of the musical film
audience was unaware that many
of the sound effects such as singing
and tap dancing were often prerecorded.
The feel-good sensation
provided by the musicals became
known as the “Escapist” genre in
the movie industry. During the
1930s, pictures purposely were not
a reflection of the hardships of the
Great Depression. The films were
made to make people feel that better
times were ahead.
Unfortunately, musicals are too
expensive to make these days,
leaving that genre abandoned for
the present. The last attempt at
creating an original musical was
La La Land, not quite up to the
sparkling quality of the musicals
long ago. We can still hope for this
most enchanting genre to return.
Max to the MAX!
Film historian Max Alvarez
North Shore Towers Investment
Club Update
BY BUD BANK
The North Shore Towers Investment
Club had their June meeting
on Tuesday, June 18, in the
Coleridge Lounge. We had a feature
presentation by Judy Lev from Morgan
Stanley, discussing a “current market
update.” She spoke about stocks, small
cap, large cap, dividend payers bonds:
industrial government, municipals. In
2019, the market has been going up
and down, we all have to be careful
to “Buy Low and sell High.”
Come to our next meeting/brunch
on July 14 at 11am and learn about
investments at the Towers on the
Green restaurant. There will be a
professional financial speaker and
delicious food. There is no charge
for members and a $15 charge for
nonmembers.
All North shore Tower residents are
welcome.
l-r: Mort Ofsie, Treasurer; Herb Cooper, President; Bud Bank,
Membership Chairman; and Judy Lev, Morgan Stanley
Learn about Investments!
Sunday, July 14, 11am
Towers on the Green
Call Bud Bank at 347-502-7365
to reserve your spot.
36 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ July 2019