AllMovie

The 1920s and '30s saw many changes in America. The advance of industrialization, the Dust Bowl, and the Great Depression caused population migrations to the cities in the North and West. The rural way of life in America was disappearing. All the joys and trials of the era were expressed in the music of the times. Those expressions were captured in the newsreels presented in this documentary. The archival material has remained untouched for over half a century, until its use in this celebration of a bygone era. Archival clips present the story of a nation in transition, as reflected in its music. The program contains performances by many of the great rural and regional artists of the day, including Bob Wills, Lamar Lunceford, Jules Allen, Otto Gray's Cowboys, Jack Jackson's Jazz Band, and Bela Lam. A highlight is the only existing film footage of the legendary Jimmie Rodgers singing three of his signature tunes.