Where can I find info on recreation in the 1920's and 1930's?

Answer 1

Look up the creation of central park, team sports such as baseball, amusement parks, and the beginning of the YMCA (young man's christian association). Those were all started in the early 1900's as the government's attempt to give the working people things to do on their day(s) off.

Answer 2

You will have to look into microfilms of newspapers to locate radio programming schedules and the movies that were playing.

In the 1930's, movies played in cinemas that were not multiplexes. But they changed programs twice a week, so one could go to the movies on Saturday, then the program was different on Sunday. Also, they were double features. And they cost 14 cents. When I was a child, movies began at 1:00pm with "Coming Attractions," "Short Subjects," Newsreel, and a cartoon. Then came the first film, then the second. Movie houses did not chase people out after the last film. Rather, I and my pals would arrive late, maybe 2:00pm, in the middle of the first film. We would catch on to the story and stay through everything. Finally, the first film would begin again, we would sit through it, then in the middle, we would say, "Isn't this where we came in?" And we'd leave.

When I was sick with the flu, I would stay home in bed and listen to soap operas on the radio. They were called that because they lasted 15 minutes, and they were each sponsored by a laundry detergent. In those days, wives stayed home, cooked, and cleaned. So companies advertised laundry soap, and ad time was so cheap that a soap brand could sponsor a whole program every day.

Children's adventure programs, 15 minutes each, were on from 4-6p.m. Hit radio shows were on in the evening: Bob Hope, Fred Allen, Eddy Cantor, Frank Morgan. To listen to the radio, a person would look off into the distance, not seeing anything. The person imagined the action, listened to the voices and sound effects, and imagined what everything looked like.

About 1935, an evening radio program "Amos & Andy" riveted the U.S. with the breach of promise trial of George "Kingfish" Stevens and Madam Queen. Even then, it was no longer possible for a woman to sue a man for damages because he had led her on and wasted her young years with false promises of marriage. But the country listened rapt nightly to the proceedings of this "trial."

Answer 3

Try the speakeasies.....