Research the history of the American entertainment industry in the late 1920s and early 1930s. What affect did the advent of sound movies have on vaudeville, theater, and radio, and those who worked in those mediums?

Compare and contrast May in Once in a Lifetime with Karen in David Mamet's Speed the Plow (1988). How do both work to achieve success in Hollywood? How does the status of women in the United States affect their depictions?

Use psychology to explain why George, Jerry, and May stick together throughout Once in a Lifetime.

Research the changes in the United States economy from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. How did the faltering economy affect the common people, like George, Jerry, and May?