Chapter 23
“Invention” isn’t the only important word to begin with the letter “i.” “Innovation” and “inspiration” also fit the bill. And, of course, “important.” Here’s a list of ten important innovations or inspirations in various cultural fields that have made a major impact on American life.
The Publication of Poor Richard’s Almanack (1732)
Benjamin Franklin was 26 years old when he began Poor Richard’s Almanack in 1732, under the name Richard Saunders. He would continue it every year until 1758, liberally borrowing maxims and proverbs from lots of other people. No matter. It became a huge bestseller, and the first American book besides the Bible to give Americans something in common from a literary standpoint.
The Performance of The Black Crook (1866)
Americans had been singing and dancing on stage in comic operas since the 1780s. But it wasn’t until the opening of The Black Crook at Niblo’s Garden in New York City that song and dance were married to melodrama, giving birth to the American musical. The cast included a chorus and dancing girls who showed their legs.
The Opening of the Home Life Insurance Building (1884)
A whole lot of construction took place in Chicago following the great fire of 1871. It included the first big building to be erected on a skeleton of steel girders, which gave it more strength and allowed it to be ten stories high. Designed by architect William L. Jenney, it opened the door, with the invention of the elevator brake, to the skyscrapers of the twentieth century.
The Advent of the Copyright Act (1909)
This law gave authors, publishers, and composers control over their work and the rights to compensation if others wanted to use it. Over the rest of the century, the law was extended to other creations, including paintings, movies, and computer programs. It helped make the arts a more attractive way to make a living.
The Rise of Jazz (1920s)
Born from the slave songs of the South, jazz hit its stride in the 1920s and has influenced nearly every form of music to come along since: swing, bop, rock, fusion, and even classical. Jazz also influenced the culture in other ways, such as clothing styles and language.
The Birth of Talking Pictures (1927)
On Oct. 6, 1927, American movie patrons were thrilled to hear a popular singer named Al Jolson say “Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain’t heard nothin’ yet.” Grammar aside, Jolson was right. The opening of The Jazz Singer heralded the birth of “the talkies,” an entertainment medium that would have a huge impact on American speech patterns, manners, and cultural mores.
The Jazz Singer, which was a smash hit, wasn’t the first feature-length movie to have sound. In 1926, Don Juan had been accompanied by sound effects and music synchronized to action on the screen, but no dialogue. The Jazz Singer not only had six songs, but 350 spoken words. Movie actors haven’t shut up since.
The Abstract Expressionism Movement (1950s)
This was the first major art movement to begin in the United States. It featured violent color patterns and motion over subject. Its leader was Jackson Pollock, who discarded easel and palette, laid his canvas on the floor, and dripped or poured paint on it.
The Establishment of the NEA (1965)
While other countries had long histories of government support of the arts, America didn’t get into the act until the establishment of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in 1965. Since then, the NEA has provided support for a wide range of artistic efforts, some of them intensely controversial. It has also sponsored exhibits from around the world.
The Acceptance of Deep Throat (1972)
It was pretty much like every other porn movie: inane plot, bad puns, and wooden acting. But Deep Throat somehow was seen as chic by Middle America. It played in “legitimate” theaters, attracted couples instead of just men, and paved the way for greater acceptance of sex in the cinema and society in general.
The Launching of YouTube (2005)
In February 2005, three young computer guys — Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim — got together in a Menlo Park, California, garage and came up with an idea for a Web site. In October 2006, they sold it for $1.65 billion.
In between, the trio launched YouTube, an Internet destination that lets people watch and share video clips on every topic imaginable (and some that aren’t), from cartoons to sporting events to music performances to horrific car crashes.
In 2007, U.S. presidential candidates fielded questions posed by people on the site. YouTube allows people all over America and the rest of the world to share their talents, interests, and experiences. And boy, do they: In mid-2007, the site hosted an estimated 65,000 video uploads and 100 million viewers every day.