Changes in Entertainment

Throughout the late nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century, entertainment and leisure became a large part of everyone’s lives. Because of cut work days, many people found themselves with time to have a social life, and unheard of thing until then. Urbanization caused many franchises to go across the United States, and new businesses open. A large rise in amusement parks, movie theaters, and shows resulted because of the high demand for entertainment.  

New York Metropolitan Opera House

Nickelodeon theaters were the most common type of theater. They were called nickelodeon theaters because admission would cost a nickel. (Encyclopedia Britannica). The theaters would play one to two shows a day continuously. “By 1910 they numbered 10,000, fueling a huge demand for silent films and projection equipment.” Because of the rise in films and filmmaking, the National Board of Censorship of Motion pictures, later renamed the National Board of Review, was created to ensure that movies were appropriate for the whole family. The National Board of Review was created in 1909 “originally founded to protest New York City Mayor George B. McClellan, Jr.’s revocation of movie picture exhibition licenses on Christmas Eve 1908” (Nationalboardofreview.org).

Nickelodeon Theatre 

With the change in leisure many pubs and saloons, previously just for men became more socially appropriate for women as well. With men and women able to be in the same club or bar, single people with out dates could hire a “taxi dancer” to dance with while at these events. As well as more opened saloons came nicer restaurants. Hotel dining, and new and old restaurants made renovations to them to make them nicer and more pleasing to dine in.

Taxi- Dancer on the Dance Floor

Another form of entertainment was vaudevilles. They were used for light entertainment containing 10 to 15 individual unrelated acts. These acts could be magicians, acrobats, comedians, trained animals, dancers and singers. From the start vaudevilles were mainly aimed at men, but in the late 1890s it became more for the family. Tony Pastor who wanted “straight, clean shows” (Encyclopedia Britannica) headed this change. 

Children Acts in a Vaudeville

Many people spent their leisure time with each other and people watching. Between 1880 and 1890 the amusement park on Coney Island was built. The park included rides, vaudevilles, game booths, and movie theatres. Because of the popularity of Coney Island, many other people looked at it for inspiration to open other amusement parks in other parts on the country. "Park operators explicitly targeted courting couples and families and discouraged lone male" (JSTOR).One park was Water Shuts in Chicago. This park was designed by Paul Boyton and was open from 1894 to 1907.  Because of the success Water Chutes had, Pau Boyton opened a water park on Coney Island named “Sea Lion World,” that would change its name to Luna Park (Livinghistoryofillinois.com)

Coney Island

Works Cited

Mohun, Arwen P. “Designed for Thrills and Safety: Amusement Parks and the Commodification of Risk, 1880-1929.” Journal of Design History, vol. 14, no. 4, 2001, pp. 291–306. www.jstor.org/stable/3527258.

Rosenbloom, Nancy J. “Between Reform and Regulation: The Struggle over Film Censorship in Progressive America, 1909-1922.” Film History, vol. 1, no. 4, 1987, pp. 307–325. www.jstor.org/stable/3814986.

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