Date of Submission

Spring 2024

Academic Program

Film and Electronic Arts; Literature

Project Advisor 1

Daniel Williams

Project Advisor 2

Richard Suchenski

Abstract/Artist's Statement

In the mid 1930s, Eddie Cantor—radio and film star, former stage actor, philanthropist, songwriter, and author of numerous best-selling comedy books—was one of the most popular celebrities of his time. Ninety years later, his name does not spark recognition in even some of the most fervent fans of Old Hollywood. Those who enjoy and celebrate the accomplishments of Eddie Cantor live in a small, private Facebook group with roughly 800 members. Throughout my project, I will attempt to uncover what made Cantor so popular by close reading his pre-code film performances in Whoopee! (1930), Palmy Days (1931), and Roman Scandals (1933). By paying attention to the subversive elements of his film persona—his Jewish identity, fluid gender and sexuality, and his role as a populist everyman—I will analyze how Cantor used subversion to create a film persona that would last him throughout the 1930s, the peak of his popularity. Over the course of four years, we will follow Eddie as he engages in both “makin’ whoopee” and crafting a unique persona that differed markedly from his contemporaries.

Open Access Agreement

Open Access

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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