GILDED AGE – ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT/LEISURE Leisure Time –Many scholars claim that leisure time was in fact invented in the late 19 th century –More people moved to urban areas for factory work where they were paid for there time rather than for the products they produced –This marked a major transition in labor –It also meant that when people were not working in the factories, they had free time, unlike people who worked on farms, were furniture builders, etc. –This transition in labor and the leisure time is allowed for was primarily an urban phenomena

Various forms of entertainment –Various forms of entertainment emerged to meet the needs of these urban dwellers who now had leisure time and money to spend on entertainment – we will look at Amusement Parks, Vaudevilles, Circus/Dime Shows/Freak Shows, and Baseball Amusement Parks –Coney IslandConey Island –Shell Rd. – 1824 »Elites visit »By 1870s – becomes more diverse »East side – elite »West side – working class »By 1890s – bathhouses controlled entrance to beach »Beginning of amusement parks

3 following images from Coney Island –1) Swimming scene –2) Picture of wall dividing beach areas controlled by bathhouses that charged admissions –3) Steeplechase Park at Coney Island

Elitch Gardens – example of another, lesser known amusement park in the Denver, CO area –Was first a botanical gardens but evolved into an amusement park around the turn of the 20 th century Vaudeville – another major form of entertainmentVaudeville –Unrelated performances - animal tricks, music, freaks, comedy, magicians, one act plays, minstrels –Distinguished from “variety shows” Main distinctions – vaudevilles have no alcohol and are family oriented

Dime Museums, Carnivals, Circuses –P.T. BarnumP.T. Barnum Began in NY as showman with Joice Heth Opens American Museum in 1841 – very successful Museum burns down in 1865 Rebuilds in new NY location, burns down in 1868 Turns to the Circus –First circus to travel by train –Purchases his own train –Travels around the world –Following image is of Charles Sherwood Stratton (Tom Thumb)

–BaseballBaseball Baseball emerges as a professional sport in the late nineteenth century Along with boxing, baseball becomes a major spectator sport –Play begins in 1840s –1868 – Cincinnati Red Stockings – players signed to contracts –1876 – National League established –1901 – American League established –1903 – 1 st World Series –Following image from first world series –After image, you will find a list of the National League and American League teams – thought you would find this interesting!

–NATIONAL LEAGUE –Boston Beaneaters (now Atlanta Braves) –Cincinnati Reds –New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants) –Brooklyn Superbas (now Los Angeles Dodgers) –Philadelphia Phillies –Pittsburgh Pirates –Chicago Orphans (now Chicago Cubs) –St. Louis Cardinals –AMERICAN LEAGUE –Boston Americans (now Boston Red Sox) –Baltimore Orioles (now New York Yankees) –Philadelphia Athletics (now Oakland Athletics) –Washington Nationals (now Minnesota Twins) –Cleveland Blues (now Cleveland Indians) –Detroit Tigers –Chicago White Stockings (now Chicago White Sox) –Milwaukee Brewers (now Baltimore Orioles)

“High Culture” - next