The History on Film Podcast

Ross and Ryan take a break from the hustle and bustle of podcasting to share some of their favorite (and least favorite) holiday films, as well as some of their favorite books, shows, and movies from 2024. They talk about the state of the podcast and where things are headed in the upcoming year, and close with a very bizarre Christmas movie trivia game.FURTHER READING:Dunstan, Simon and Gerrard Williams. Grey Wolf: The Escape of Adolf Hitler.Jacobsen, Annie. Nuclear War: A Scenario.Koontz, Stephanie. The Way we Never Were.Vann, Michael and Liz Clarke. The Great Hanoi Rat Hunt.FURTHER WATCHING:"Interior Chinatown""La Brea""Wicked" (2024)Follow the show on Instagram! @histonfilmpodOr email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com

Ross talks with Dr. Dustin Abnet about his book The American Robot: A Cultural History, and what our depictions of human-like machines tells us about ourselves. America's fascination with artificial people goes back to the founding of the country, and provides insights to understandings of race, gender, labor, and more.FURTHER READING:Abnet, Dustin. The American Robot: A Cultural History.FURTHER WATCHING:"Westworld""Futurama"

Ross and Ryan welcome Jane, Mauricio, and Ray from Fabulous Fleischer Cartoons Restored and returning champion Dr. David Morton to talk about the works of Max Fleischer and Fleischer Studios. Among his many achievements, his studio was the first to animate both Popeye and Superman — and he created the legendary Betty Boop, who remains an icon of American culture to this day. Fleischer Studios also relocated from New York to Miami in the 1930s, becoming one of the most high-profile production studios in Florida at that time. No homework this week! Go watch cartoons!

Ross talks to Dr. Frederick Wasser about his book Veni, Vidi, Video, and how the invention of home video and the VCR reshaped the film industry. Learn about why VHS beat out Beta, how home video saved Disney, and much more. They end the conversation by connecting the industry changes and consolidation in the VCR era to the streaming environment of today. FURTHER READING:Wasser, Frederick. Veni, Vidi, Video: The Hollywood Empire and the VCR.FURTHER WATCHING:"Be Kind, Rewind" (2008)

Dr. Mel Stanfill comes on to talk about fandom studies- what it is, why it's important, and how it can get ugly. Their new book, Fandom is Ugly, looks at how fandom studies can help explain contemporary political movements, online toxicity and harassment campaigns, and more. FURTHER READING:Stanfill, Mel. Fandom is Ugly: Networked Harrassment in Participatory Culture.FURTHER WATCHING:"Galaxy Quest" (1999)Follow the show on Instagram! @histonfilmpodOr email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com

Ross and Ryan speak with Eric White, the M*A*S*H historian. They talk about how the stories of the 4077th reflected the real experiences of the Korean War, the politics of the TV series, and much more.FURTHER READING:Alda, Arlene and Alan. The Last Days of M*A*S*H.Diffrient, David. M*A*S*H. Part of the series "Contemporary Approaches to Film and Television Series".Green, Doyle. Politics and the American Television Comedy: A Critical Survey from I Love Lucy through South Park.White, W.L. Back Down the Ridge.FURTHER WATCHING:"M*A*S*H" S2 E1: "Divided We Stand""M*A*S*H" S5 E8: "Dear Sigmund"Follow the show on Instagram! @histonfilmpodOr email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com

Ross and Ryan begin their multi-part series on the history of Japanese anime and its reception in the West by talking about one of their all-time favorites, Katsuhiro Otomo's "Akira" (1988). They go through the development of filmed animation in Japan and the United States, how the two cultures influenced each other, and the surprising cartoon icon who connects them. Honestly, this episode could have easily been about 14 hours long and there still would have been more to cover.FURTHER READING:Alt, Matt. Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World.Clements, Jonathan. Anime: A History.FURTHER WATCHING:"My Neighbor Totoro" (1988)"Cowboy Bebop"Follow the show on Instagram! @histonfilmpodOr email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com

Here's a look at some of what is coming up in season one!

Ross talks with Dr. David Morton about his new book, Motion Picture Paradise: A History of Florida's Film and Television Industry. Beginning in Jacksonville in the early 1900s, Florida spent decades competing with New York and Hollywood to become a major film production center. How did a series of failures and false starts influence Florida and its economic development? Can Florida become a motion picture paradise again? And what happened to Nickelodeon Studios?FURTHER READING:Morton, David. Motion Picture Paradise: A History of Florida's Film and Television Industry.FURTHER WATCHING:Miami Connection (1987)