American Classic Screen Profiles

by John C. Tibbetts (Editor), James M. Welsh

First appearing in 1976, American Classic Screen was the publishing arm of The National Film Society. Intended for scholars and general readers interested in films from the golden age of cinema and beyond, the magazine ran for a decade and included original interviews, profiles, and articles that delved deep into the rich history of Hollywood. Contributors to the magazine included noted academics in the area of film studies, as well as independent scholars and authors eager to expand the world of cinema. Since the periodical's demise, however, many of the essays and articles have been difficult to find at best and in some cases, entirely unavailable. In American Classic Screen Profiles, editors John C. Tibbetts and James M. Welsh have assembled some of the most significant and memorable profiles written for the magazine over its ten-year history. This collection contains rare insights into some of the brightest stars of yesteryear, as well as gifted filmmakers, directors and craftsmen alike, including Fatty Arbuckle, Baby Peggy, Warner Baxter, Ralph Bellamy, Beulah Bondi, George M. Cohan, Cecil B. DeMille, Boris Karloff, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Eleanor Powell, Robert Redford, Mickey Rooney, William Wellman, and Natalie Wood.This compendium of profiles recaptures the spirit and scholarship of that time and will appeal to both scholars and fans who have an abiding interest in the American motion picture industry.

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

John C. Tibbetts is an associate professor in the department of film & media studies at the University of Kansas, where he teaches courses in film history, media studies, and theory and aesthetics. He is an author, educator, broadcaster, as well as an artist and pianist. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in multi-disciplinary studies (art history, theater, photography and film).

As a broadcaster and journalist and scholar he has hosted his own television show in Kansas City, Missouri; worked as a news reporter/ commentator for CBS Television (KCTV) and National Public Radio; produced classical music programming for KXTR-FM radio; written (and illustrated) ten books, more than 200 articles, and several short stories.

His current radio series are The World of Robert Schumann (currently being broadcast worldwide on the WFMT Radio Network) and Piano Portraits (a 17-episode series of interviews with world-class concert pianists).

Among his awards is the 2008 Kansas Governor's Arts Award.

Invited conference appearances include "The Robert Schumann Bicentenary Conference" in Zwickau, Germany (2010); The International Popular Culture Conference in Warsaw, Poland (July 2012); and the "Portland International Piano Festival" in Portland (5-8 June 2014).

He spent a sabbatical trip in Australia, where he researched a book on Australian cinema.