Jack Hays's Educational Movies During The Great Depression

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The producer of the films, Jack Hays, was very strict with the children who played the part. They did not have enough money to waste time . It was said that Hays would make the kids who were not cooperating go into a locked, windowless sound box and sit on a block of ice. Even Shirley had to go in the box a couple of times, but she learned quickly. This is probably where Shirley gets her work ethic from. She was always prepared for scenes by knowing her lines and everyone else’s in all of her films and movies. Since she started acting during the Great Depression, she learned from an early age that time is money. The films of Baby Burlesks would be considered too scandalous and dangerous for children today. They didn’t have stunt artists to play scenes during the Great Depression because there wasn’t enough money for it. Once, Shirley was in a cart pulled by a panicked ostrich. She was making $40 a week with Education, which was extremely helpful to her family during the Great Depression. This is probably why her family was okay with her being in these dangerous scenes. Educational films ended up filing for bankruptcy in 1933. Jack Hays then helped her find some small parts in the Paramount movies; none of these movies were a big success. Shirley was noticed when …show more content…

She started at a very young age by bring joy and relief by her movies to people during the Great Depression. She had a very successful movie career during the time of suffering for most of America. Her relationship that was shown in movies and in the public life with African Americans helped them gain acceptance with white Americans. She was a strong and influential Republican in America. She was granted many roles for the United States government from multiple presidents. Shirley had a variety of impacts on American history starting at a young age and through her