Historical Context
The Dawn of Televised History
In the vibrant era of the early 1970s, satellite technology revolutionized the American viewing experience, enabling audiences to witness history as it unfolded, moment by moment. With the nation glued to their screens, television embraced the opportunity to deliver live broadcasts of pivotal news events.
Broadcasting the Vietnam War
At the decade's outset, the Vietnam War and the fervent protests it sparked swept across the nation and into living rooms via television screens. The stark, raw images of American soldiers losing their lives in battle played a crucial role in galvanizing public opposition to the war.
Campus Tragedies and Nationwide Protests
Viewers were also riveted by the tragic shootings at Kent State University, where four student protesters were killed, and the subsequent deaths of two more at Jackson State University a week later. These harrowing events ignited protests across more than 1,200 colleges and universities, with television cameras poised to capture the nationwide upheaval.
Television Transforms Wartime Perception
Undoubtedly, the advent of television altered America's approach to warfare. By early 1973, the withdrawal of the final American ground forces from Vietnam was underway, culminating in 1975. The haunting, televised spectacle of the rooftop evacuation from the American embassy in Saigon left an indelible mark on American consciousness.
Captivating the World with Space Exploration
Television also brought the drama of space exploration into homes around the globe. The monumental moon landing in 1969 captivated millions, and the subsequent perilous journey of Apollo 13 in 1970 reminded viewers that space travel was far from routine. Audiences were on tenterhooks, hoping fervently for the astronauts' safe return.
Global Catastrophes and Political Turmoil
The 1972 Munich Olympics were marred by the shocking murder of several Israeli athletes, leaving viewers around the world stunned. The decade saw a rise in air hijackings and hostage crises, often aimed at protesting American foreign policies.
Oil Crisis and Domestic Challenges
When Arab nations, objecting to American support for Israel, initiated an oil embargo, televisions displayed the long lines and mounting frustrations at gas stations across the United States. Television served as a critical medium, conveying presidential appeals for energy conservation to aid Americans grappling with the embargo's impacts.
Political Scandals on Screen
Television also chronicled the gripping events of the Watergate hearings, culminating in the poignant broadcast of President Nixon's farewell wave as he departed the White House following his resignation.
Style and Technique
"Hot L Baltimore" is a three-act play that departs from traditional dramatic structure by focusing more on character interactions and comedic elements than on plot development. The work portrays a vibrant tapestry of individual lives, emphasizing the idiosyncrasies and stereotypes of its characters. Through its setting in the lobby of a rundown hotel, the play uses humor to critique societal attitudes towards urban decay and historic preservation.
Act Structure
Classically, dramas have been divided into structured acts delineating exposition, complication, climax, falling action, and catastrophe. This five-act structure, originating in Greek drama and persisting through the nineteenth century, was modified by playwrights such as Henrik Ibsen, who began to combine acts for narrative efficiency. "Hot L Baltimore,” however, diverges further by utilizing a three-act format with minimal plot progression. The play does not rely on dramatic action to engage its audience; instead, it finds its rhythm and appeal through the daily lives of its characters.
Characterization
Characters are the backbone of any narrative, ranging from simplistic archetypes to multifaceted personalities. In "Hot L Baltimore," playwright Lanford Wilson opts for characters that lean towards the stereotypical, painting each with broad strokes that convey specific societal roles. This approach simplifies the audience’s task of identifying character types, such as the benevolent...
(This entire section contains 449 words.)
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prostitute or the hardened youth, while still offering a glimpse into each character's personality through brief, impactful vignettes. Although complex character development is eschewed, the characters' interactions and personal stories provide depth and a sense of authenticity to the narrative.
Comedic Elements
Comedy in drama serves to entertain, but it can also provide social commentary or critique. "Hot L Baltimore" belongs to this genre, utilizing humor as a lens through which societal issues are examined. Various forms of comedy, from farce to satire, are employed to underscore the tensions between urban renewal and historical conservation. Wilson's comedic approach highlights the absurdity and loss inherent in the demolition of old buildings, suggesting that there is intrinsic value in preserving these remnants of the past. Through laughter, the play subtly persuades its audience to reconsider the rush to erase history in the name of progress.
Setting and Atmosphere
The setting of a drama provides context and grounds the audience in the world of the play. "Hot L Baltimore" situates its action in the shabby lobby of a decaying hotel, encapsulating both the physical and metaphorical decline of the establishment. Set over the course of a single day, from early morning to midnight on Memorial Day, the play's setting underscores the transient and ephemeral nature of its characters' lives. This backdrop contributes significantly to the mood, reflecting the broader themes of impermanence and the overlooked worth found in the aged and unpolished.
Compare and Contrast
1973: A dramatic chapter opens in Washington as Senate hearings commence over the audacious break-in at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the iconic Watergate building. These pivotal proceedings will ultimately usher in the unprecedented resignation of President Richard Nixon.
Today: The nation is still reeling from the turbulent tides of impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton. The trial and its lingering consequences were broadcast relentlessly across television networks, cable channels, and the Internet, ensuring every detail reached the public's gaze.
1973: The Arab oil embargo jolts the nation, with gasoline prices soaring to unheard-of heights amid crippling shortages that stretch fuel lines for miles. Amid this crisis, the call for energy conservation rings loud, and alternative energy sources gain newfound attention.
Today: With oil supplies in abundance and prices low, the era of the gas-guzzling SUV dawns, as these vehicles roar into popularity across the landscape.
1973: The American dream of home ownership sees the median sales price of an existing single-family house climb to $28,900.
Today: Though the escalation of new home prices has slowed in recent times, the median cost for a newly constructed home now surpasses $130,000 in many regions, driven in part by a burgeoning desire for more expansive living spaces.
Adaptations
The play Hot L Baltimore has yet to grace the silver screen with a cinematic adaptation, but it did make its television debut when ABC brought it to life in 1975.
Bibliography
SOURCES
Barnett, Gene. ‘‘Recreating the Magic: An Interview with Lanford Wilson,’’ in Ball State University Forum, Vol. 25, No. 2, Spring, 1984, pp. 57-74.
Bryer, Jackson R. ‘‘Lanford Wilson,’’ in The Playwright’s Art: Conversations With Contemporary American Dramatists, Rutgers University Press, 1995, pp. 277-96.
diGaetani, John L. A Search for a Postmodern Theatre: Interviews With Contemporary Playwrights, Greenwood Press, 1991, pp. 285-293.
Dreher, Ann Crawford. ‘‘Lanford Wilson,’’ in Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 7: Twentieth-Century American Dramatists, edited by John MacNichols, 1981, pp. 350-68.
Gottfried, Martin. A review, in Women’s Wear Daily, March 23, 1973.
Jacobi, Martin J. ‘‘The Comic Vision of Lanford Wilson,’’ in Studies in the Literary Imagination, Vol. 21, no. 2, 1988, pp. 119-34.
Kroll, Jack. A review in Newsweek, February 26, 1973.
Probst, Leonard. A television review on NBC, March 22, 1973.
Savran, David. ‘‘Lanford Wilson,’’ in In Their Own Words: Contemporary American Playwrights, Theatre Communications Group, 1988, pp. 306-20.
Schvey, Henry I. ‘‘Images of the Past in the Plays of Lanford Wilson,’’ in Essays on Contemporary American Drama, edited by Hedwig Bock and Albert Wertheim, Hueber, 1981, pp. 225-40.
Watt, Douglas. A review, in the Daily News, March 23, 1973.
Watts, Richard. A review, in the New York Post, March 23, 1973.
Williams, Philip Middleton. A Comfortable House: Lanford Wilson, Marshall W. Mason and the Circle Repertory Theatre, McFarland & Company, 1993.
FURTHER READING
Bryer, Jackson, ed. Lanford Wilson: A Casebook, Garland, 1990, 271 p. This collection of critical essays examines several of Lanford’s plays.
Busby, Mark. Lanford Wilson, Boise State University, 1987, 52 p. Short biography of Wilson.
Dean, Anne M. Discovery and Invention: The Urban Plays of Lanford Wilson, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1994, 139 p. Study of Wilson’s work that seeks to prove the validity of his work as poetry and it place in the American literary canon.
Kahn, David and Donna Breed. Scriptwork: A Director’s Approach to New Play Development, Southern Illinois University Press, 1995, 193 p. A detailed sourcebook for producing plays. The forward is by Wilson and it contains an interview with him.
Williams, Philip Middleton. A Comfortable House: Lanford Wilson, Marshall W. Mason and the Circle Repertory Theatre, McFarland & Company, 1993, 211 p. Examines the collaboration between Wilson and director Marshall W. Mason.
