Culture of the 1930s

Movie
Movie ticket stub from the Metropolitan Theatre, Boston. Admission price is listed at 50 cents.
Source: Jean Elizabeth Goodrich Scrapbook

American culture in the 1930s saw many changes – it was when what we now regard as "popular culture" truly began to take shape. Due to the economic restrictions of the Great Depression, less expensive, and less highbrow forms of entertainment entered the mainstream. Leisure activities included cartoons, games, popular music and film, along with already established activities such as art, ballet, opera and theater. Due to rising unemployment rates, people had much more time for leisure activities, but less money to spend on such activities. Newspaper reading, listening to the radio, and going to movies were the top three forms of leisure in the 1930s.

Dance card for the Simmons College News Dance.
Dance card for the Simmons College News Dance.
Source: Jean Elizabeth Goodrich Scrapbook

Music, movies and literature were all heavily influenced by left-leaning immigrants and activists, who were committed to civil rights movements, labor unions, and anti-fascism. Radio shows such as Amos 'n' Andy reflected race relations at the time, and films like It's a Wonderful Life showed the versatility of the common man. The jazz age gave way to the more raucous big band and swing, and the frenzied dance style of the jitterbug took over dance halls. Bettie took part in many of the fads of the time, such as movies and dances. However, she also still spent much of her time at the theater, attending performances of opera, ballet, drama, and the symphony – usually at the request of a male companion!