Saturday, November 25, 2017
Entertainment during the Great Depression
With the Great Depression in place, people didn't have many things to do. Most people were unemployed and needed to find ways to entertain themselves. The people found cheap and inexpensive ways to be entertained. They would go to Movietone Views which were theaters that presented the news to people. This was much easier to spread news to the public, with the technology of film. In these theaters, they also presented films which people watched, for example Walt Disney's Snow White or Shirley Temple. There was also radio which families would gather around to "watch" and listen to it. This also included comedies which people would record with voices and other noise making objects. Radio was also a source for the news to be spread by the president. Swing jazz and dance marathons was also held during this time period. These competitions were to see which couple can dance together for the longest period of time without stopping. They would get short periods to eat or nap, but most lasted for days. The last couple standing would gain a prize, so it was worth it in the end. There were also sports, mainly baseball, that entertained the public for very little money. The most popular team was the Yankees with Babe Ruth. These forms of entertainment became very popular during the Great Depression.
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I found it very interesting to think about how the sources of entertainment that people could choose from was very limited, so most people would probably watch the same collection movies, hear the few same games, and see similar news reels. This is interestingly contrasted today with the thousands of movies available for streaming, how each sporting event nationwide and worldwide can have its own live updates and reporting, and how people can listen to news that is personalized to match their views and opinions. How has this changed American culture; are we more individualistic as a result of this or as a cause? How has the way we receive news changed the way we think?
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting because when people usually think of the Great Depression you wouldn't really talk about what the entertainment that was available for people back then. Usually when I think about that time I assume that at that point of American history most people couldn't afford anything like going to any events such as those you stated.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the biggest form of entertainment and one of the most important household items during the 1930's was the radio. With the radio, families could keep up to date on politics without having to read the news, go to theaters, and hear from others. They now had free access to politics, and as well as music (which is more on topic). Another thing that people could listen to was sports, which was becoming more and more popular at the time (in large part due to radio exposure).
ReplyDeleteI think the information you have provided is very interesting, and that I think this idea of entertainment really was the beginning of widespread pop cultures as using the radio, many people could get together and listen to broadcasts and discuss news collectively. The idea of a central mainstream media formed through going to theaters, reading the newspaper and listening to the radio. This greatly gave entertainment to the people has they went through this decade of depression. That people could discuss each other about political events and expand on each other's ideas.
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