Nick Santa Maria
Nick grew up in New York with a love of vintage show business. He loved it so much that he enjoyed a 50 year career as a performer/writer/composer. Nick has appeared on Broadway (GREASE, Mel Brooks’, THE PRODUCERS), in films, on TV, in commercials, in regional theater, and he has recorded over 250 audio books. He is also a published author, a playwright (two off-Broadway shows), and a published composer/lyricist. He began teaching/lecturing about 10 years ago and it has become his passion. He now lives in South Florida where he is caregiver to his 95 year old mom.
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The History Of Film Comedy Part One: The Pioneers
This is a crash course in the history of comedy on film. We’ll explore film comedy beginning in the 1890s as we meet the first nationally and internationally famous comedians. We’ll look into the Mack Sennett Studio where people like Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, and Mabel Normand first appeared. We’ll also look at Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, two of the greatest behind Chaplin. And you’ll see all of them in film clips from Chaplin’s THE RINK, CITY LIGHTS, and MODERN TIMES, Buster Keaton in SEVEN CHANCES, and see Harold Lloyd hang from a clock in SAFETY LAST. All funny, and all here for you to enjoy.
The History Of Film Comedy Part Two: The Talking Comedians
In part two of our exploration of all things funny we’ll meet Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in the film in which they actually met, WC Fields doing his juggling act in THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, The Marx Brothers in front of a mirror in DUCK SOUP, and Mae West, Abbott and Costello, Bob Hope, Martha Raye, and Jerry Lewis. And we’ll have representative film clips to go along with each of them, too. So, get ready to laugh as we explore and get to know the people who lightened our loads with the gift of laughter.
Music To Your Ears, The History Of The Hollywood Musical: Part One
Imagine a musical film from the pre-sound year of 1913! It’s true, and that’s where we’ll begin this two part up-close look at the American Film Musical. We’ll compare early clunky musical numbers to Busby Berkeley’s masterful groundbreaking concoctions in films such as 42nd STREET, and FOOTLIGHT PARADE, and then to Fred Astaire’s game changing developments in FLYING DOWN TO RIO, and THE GAY DIVORCEE. You’ll see how both men changed the face of the entire genre.
Music To Your Ears, The History Of The Hollywood Musical: Part Two
Now we meet all the rest of the innovative musical stars of the golden era. This popular course will take you from the MGM big-budgeted extravaganzas to the less ostentatious offerings from B movie studios. Get ready to reacquaint yourselves with Gene Kelly, Eleanor Powell, Dick Powell, Bing Crosby, Alice Faye, and the great Judy Garland. You’ll be humming this music for weeks to come, and that’s a good thing.
The Rise And Fall Of The TV Variety Show: Part One
Back before cable TV and streaming we had something we used to call The Variety Show. There were many during the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s but like the Dodo bird and the pay phone the genre just faded away. Now variety is represented by Dancing With the Stars, and the various talent shows we see on modern TV, but in this course we’ll be looking at what real variety used to be. We’ll see film clips of Milton Berle, The Tonight Show with Steve Allen/Jack Paar/Johnny Carson, The Colgate Comedy Hour (with Martin and Lewis, and Abbott and Costello), Sid Caesar’s YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS will also be well represented.
The Rise And Fall Of The TV Variety Show: Part Two
In part two we explore the shows hosted by musical stars like, Dinah Shore, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Sonny and Cher, Donny and Marie, and others. We’ll also be seeing performances by some of the greats like Sammy Davis, Jr., Martha Raye, and great comedians like Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, and Ernie Kovacs. And finally, we’ll see the shows that brought down the genre.