Giordano, Ralph G.

Country & western dance by Ralph G Giordano( )

7 editions published between 2010 and 2011 in English and French and held by 1,019 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Overview: Country & Western Dance turns the spotlight on a uniquely American form of dance, one that has been scuffing the floorboards for nearly a century but is often overlooked. Fun, lively, and thoroughly researched, this revealing volume tells the full story of country and western dance music from the days of Bob Wills and Tulsa to Oklahoma's Cain's Ballroom to John Travolta and Gilley's of Houston, Texas. Each chapter provides information on the historical roots of the most popular country and western dances as well as the pioneers of the music of a particular era, all in the context of changing cultural, social, political, and economic forces in America. The book also examines the seminal impact of radio, television, and the movies in helping spread the music, the moves, and the good times on the country dance floor

Fun and games in twentieth-century America : a historical guide to leisure by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

5 editions published in 2003 in English and held by 614 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

"This book describes how political, economic, and cultural events influenced the history and development of the leisure pursuits of Americans of different races and ethnic backgrounds during the 20th century." "Organized chronologically, this book is ideal for high school students, college students, and the general public. It identifies the most popular games, sports, and hobbies of social groups ranging from the working class to the wealthy, along with their importance in American history. Over 51 photos illustrate the different leisure pursuits in their time periods."--Jacket

Social dancing in America : a history and reference by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

12 editions published between 2006 and 2007 in English and held by 585 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Describes the history of social dancing in the United States from the complicated early set dances to modern breakdancing and the recent revival of swing, discussing how, why, and with whom Americans have danced

Satan in the dance hall : Rev. John Roach Straton, social dancing, and morality in 1920s New York City by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

5 editions published in 2008 in English and held by 446 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Satan in the Dance Hall explores the overwhelming popularity of social dancing and its close relationship to America's rapidly changing society in the 1920s. The book focuses on the fiercely contested debate over the morality of social dancing in New York City, led by moral reformers and religious leaders like Rev. John Roach Straton. Fed by the firm belief that dancing was the leading cause of immorality in New York, Straton and his followers succeeded in enacting municipal regulations on social dancing and moral conduct within the more than 750 public dance halls in New York City. Ralph G. Giordano conveys an easy to read and full picture of life in the Jazz Age, incorporating important events and personalities such as the Flu Epidemic, the Scopes Monkey Trial, Prohibition, Flappers, Gangsters, Texas Guinan, and Charles Lindbergh, while simultaneously describing how social dancing was a hugely prominent cultural phenomenon, one closely intertwined with nearly every aspect of American society from the Great War to the Great Depression. With a bibliography, an index, and over 35 photos, Satan in the Dance Hall presents an interdisciplinary study of social dancing in New York City throughout the decade. - Publisher

Pop Goes the Decade : the Fifties by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

4 editions published in 2017 in English and held by 219 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

"Covering significant historical and cultural moments, public figures and celebrities, art and entertainment, and technology that influenced life during the decade, this book documents the 1950s through the lens of popular culture. On the surface, the 1950s was a time of post-war prosperity and abundance. However, in spite of a relaxation of immigration policies, the "good life" in the 50s was mainly confined to white non-ethnic Americans. A new Cold War with the Soviet Union intended to contain the threat of Communism, and the resulting red scare tinged the experience of all U.S. citizens during the decade. This book examines the key trends, people, and movements of the 1950s and inspects them within a larger cultural and social context. By highlighting controversies in the decade, readers will gain a better understanding of the social values and thinking of the time. The examination of the individuals who influenced American culture in the 1950s enables students to gauge the tension between established norms of conformity and those figures that used pop culture as a broad avenue for change--either intentionally, or by accident."--Publisher's website

The architectural ideology of Thomas Jefferson by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

4 editions published in 2012 in English and held by 146 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

"This volume reveals how Jefferson's politics and architecture coexisted and explains how he marked his political maturation through corresponding architectural monuments that reflected his ideals. Consequently, Jefferson provided America with a combined architectural and political ideology with the intention of safeguarding the future of liberty and democracy in America"--Provided by publisher

The Fifties : the Fifties by Ralph G Giordano( )

2 editions published in 2017 in English and held by 45 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Timeline -- Background and Introduction -- Exploring Popular Culture -- 1. Film -- 2. Television -- 3. Technology -- 4. Music -- 5. Literature -- 6. Sports -- 7. Art and Architecture -- 8. Fashion -- 9. Media and Advertising -- 10. Controversies -- 11. Game Changers -- 12. Legacy -- Bibliography -- Index

Social dancing in America : a history and reference by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

6 editions published between 2006 and 2007 in English and held by 23 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Italian culture in America : how a founding father introduced Italian art, architecture, food, wine, and liberty to the American people by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

2 editions published in 2020 in English and held by 21 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

At the onset of the American Revolution, Britain's North American colonies sought political independence but remained culturally dependent upon Europe. Among the many vast contributions of Thomas Jefferson, one of the most celebrated Founding Fathers, was a continuing admiration and lifelong affinity for all things Italian. Jefferson believed that the genesis of liberty followed a path from Ancient Rome, through the Italian Renaissance and Enlightenment, and toward a progressive future for the new American nation.0While Jefferson's affinity for Italy is well known, studying his role in assimilating Italian culture into the American project is a new venture. Surveying Jefferson as an Italophile reveals a wide spectrum of cultural appreciation. Ralph Giordano's innovative new book will certainly appeal to those interested in American History and America's emergence as a developing nation

Hey Pachuco! " that Zoot Suit Can Cause a Riot." by Ralph G Giordano( Book )

1 edition published in 2000 in English and held by 3 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Popular music and films can become vehicles in the study of racial prejudices and stereotypes and provide a framework for understanding the popular opinions of a particular era. At the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, a course incorporates popular music and videos into the study of historical accounts of the 20th century focusing on racial stereotypes. The sometimes-obscure Los Angeles "Zoot Suit Riots" of 1943 come alive with the combination of colorful, energetic, visual and musical references. This paper looks at some themes examined in the course: the social history associated with the "swing" music of the 1930s and 1940s; the reemergence of swing music in the 1990s; the Mexican American "pachuco" youth culture of 1940s Los Angeles, with its flamboyant fashions in clothing; the "railroading" of pachuco youths during the Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and subsequent riots; swing music in films and accompanying portrayals of Black-White segregation; early television's treatment of minorities; the movement of 1980s "grunge" bands into swing music; and social statements in the lyrics of modern swing music. (Sv)