King Football: Sport and Spectacle in the Golden Age of Radio and Newsreels, Movies and Magazines, the Weekly and the Daily Press

by Michael Oriard

Book Overview

This landmark work explores the vibrant world of football from the 1920s through the 1950s, a period in which the game became deeply embedded in American life. Though millions experienced the thrills of college and professional football firsthand during these years, many more encountered the game through their daily newspapers or the weekly Saturday Evening Post, on radio broadcasts, and in the newsreels and feature films shown at their local...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807855456
• ISBN13: 9780807855454
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Reflections on the rise of America's Game

This is really a fascinating and well written book. Oriard looks at every angle in deconstructing how and why football became America's Game by 1960. Great illustrations accompany very readable text. It's a social history as much as a football history, but it speaks volumes about the sporting heritage of America and how race, class, and ethnicity are reflected in the game - and indeed how the game has forced us to confront some of the less savory facets of American society, particularly race. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of football and American popular culture.