POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT OF THE 1930s

As you know, during the 1930s the US was submerged in a deep economic crisis known as the Great
Depression. During this decade, lots of people lost their jobs and a lot of their private possessions
as a result of the crisis, that’s why this period is also referred to as the “Hard Times”.

Despite this, the American people still enjoyed many forms of entertainment, especially those they
could do inexpensively.

So having that said, I’m going to start by telling you about the movies. In the 1930s sound had just
been added to movies, which was an innovation that increased their popularity. Movies were the
perfect way to make people forget about their problems and get lost in a wide variety of comedies,
dramas, musicals, and action films. Besides this, many theaters were often heated or air-
conditioned, which was a luxury that many Americans could not afford.

This was the start of the Golden Age of Hollywood, in which the film industry released some of the
most iconic films of all time.

According to IMDB, The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind and Walt Disney’s Snow White and The
Seven Dwarfs, are the top three movies of the 30s.

During the Golden Age, many Hollywood stars were born as well. This era contains some of the best
actors and actresses of all time, many of whom are Academy Award winners, as well as classic film
stars.

In the first place, I’m going to mention the top three female Hollywood stars which are Katharine
Hepburn, known for Bringing Up Baby, Bette Davis known for All About Eve, and Vivien Leigh, known
for Gone with the Wind.

Then, we have the top three male Hollywood stars, which are James Stewart, known for It's a
Wonderful Life, Cary Grant, known for Bringing Up Baby, and Henry Fonda, known for The Grapes
of Wrath.

During this era, many people asp found an outlet in dance. Most of the dance were influenced by
the black American culture. The most important styles were:

1. The Lindy Hop, which was a popular type of swing and had its roots on jazz music.
2. The Balboa, originated in California, which was a type of Ballroom dance known for its
smooth moves.
3. The Carolina Shag, originated in South Carolina, which was danced to beach music.
4. Big Apple, also originated in South Carolina, which began in the black community but was
soon picked up by whites, and consisted of individual jazz steps.