At the dawn of the new year, a new wave of cultural works from 1929 transitioned into the public domain.
Iconic works are now free for use include songs such as "Singin' In The Rain" and "Ain't Misbehavin," along with beloved characters like Popeye and TinTin.
With the expiration of copyright protection after 95 years, individuals are now able to freely utilize these works and their likenesses without the need for permission.
According to the findings from Duke University, a vast collection of music from the year 1929 is featured, including numerous songs.
Among these, a standout piece is a timeless melody "Singing Under the Stars," penned by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown for the Broadway production "Hollywood Music Box Revue." This iconic composition was later featured in the movie "The Hollywood Revue Of 1929," released in the same year. Notably, both the song and the film are already in the domain.
According to NME, among the selection of songs are pieces by Fats Waller, Harry Brooks, and Andy Paul Razaf, such as "Ain't Misbehavin" and "(What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue."
Also featured are Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" and Jimmie Rodgers' "Waiting For A Train."
Included in the list are George Gershwin's composition "An American In Paris," Jack Yellen and Milton Ager's creation "Happy Days Are Here Again," Alfred Dubin and Joseph Burke's "Tiptoe Through The Tulips," and Maurice Ravel's "Boléro."
According to Stereogum, while the original compositions have entered the public domain, recordings like Louis Armstrong's rendition of "Ain't Misbehavin" from 1929 remain protected by copyright for a century.
As a result of this development, several sound recordings dating back to 1924 have entered the public domain, allowing free access to iconic tracks such as Al Jolson's "California Here I Come," George Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue," and Marian Anderson's "My Way's Cloudy."
Exploring the world of beloved fictional characters opens up a treasure trove of iconic figures available for creative use. For instance, "Popeye The Sailor" made his debut in the daily comic strip Thimble Theatre in January 1929.
Notable works such as Virginia Woolf's "A Room Of One's Own," Ernest Hemingway's "A Farewell To Arms," and William Faulkner's "The Sound And The Fury" stand out.
Additionally, movies like Alfred Hitchcock's "Blackmail," John Ford's "The Black Watch," and "Gold Diggers Of Broadway" have also entered the list of copyright-free classics.
