[78-L] Boston Public Library's 78 collection

[Donna Halper]

On 6/13/2020 4:36 AM, DKing wrote:
> Hello Donna,
>
> [ in that Boston Public Library collection of 78s ]
>
> Do you think the English-speaking Allies would have found Noel Coward’s
> rendition of "Don't Let's Be Beastly to the Germans” (1943) very funny?.

I think a lot of what passed for humor back then has not aged well. I 
also note that some of the comedians who did so-called "ethnic humor" 
would be considered bigoted today.  But I don't see much analysis back 
then of what certain lyrics meant, although one would hope that folks 
realized Noel Coward was being satirical. Evidently, the BBC was not 
amused, however, and banned the song.


-- 
Donna L. Halper, PhD
Associate Professor of Communication & Media Studies
Lesley University, Cambridge MA