What is your method of escape? What do you turn to when frustrated, scared, upset, or overwhelmed?

 You’re Fired!: You are part of the 25% of Americans who are unemployed. You will not get a salary next week.  Bank Run: You were part of a bank run and were able to get some of your money out before it closed. You saved 50% of your balance.  Bank Failure: Your bank failed. You have lost all the money you have not yet spent.  Stock Failure: Due to the stock market crash, your stocks are now worthless. Any stocks you own must be crossed out, and you may not buy new stock.  Unchanged: You are among the few that were unaffected by the Great Depression. Consider yourself lucky!

Making the Best of a Very Bad Situation

Meeting Basic Needs During the Depression

 President Hoover attempted to fix the problems of unemployment and poverty, but it was too little, too late.  Americans blamed the president for the downfall  Thousands of people lost their homes, and took to building shacks out of scrap material in public spaces - Hoovervilles

HOOVER SHACK HOOVERVILLE

 Many of America’s homeless began to wander the country in search of work, walking, hitchhiking, or “riding the rails”  Known as hobos, they camped in “hobo jungles” near rail yards, and survived through a secret language that they inscribed on light poles, fence posts, walls, and in dirt patches.  250,000 of these hobos were teenage boys

There were hundreds of symbols, as well as a code of ethics – When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts. Respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as bad, if not worse than you. When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday.

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob, When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job. They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead, Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread? Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time. Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime? Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime; Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime? Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum, Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum! Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time. Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime? Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum, Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum! Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time. Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

 Although the economic crisis dominated the news during the 1930s, other events and people drew the attention of the masses, especially those that drew their attention away from their own financial troubles.  Gandhi’s Salt March  Pluto discovered  Completion of the Empire State Building  Lindbergh baby kidnapping  Scientists split the atom  Berlin Olympics  Spanish Civil War  Amelia Earhart’s fateful flight  The Hindenburg explosion

ORGANIZED CRIMEBONNIE AND CLYDE

AMERICAN GOTHICJOHN STEINBECK

 Western music gained popularity, as it was a familiar and comforting sound.  The Grand Ole’ Opry became one of the most popular radio programs on the air, with performances by musicians and comedians, and short skits.  Gene Autry  Roy Rogers  Jimmie Rogers  Woody Guthrie

 Jazz and Blues music continued in popularity from the 1920s, but the style began to shift, from Dixieland Jazz to Swing.  Billie Holiday  Ella Fitzgerald  Benny Goodman  Glenn Miller  Count Basie  Duke Ellington  Louis Armstrong

 Popular dances: The Foxtrot, Swing (Lindy Hop, Balboa, East/West Coast Swing), and Jitterbug  Dance Marathons were incredibly popular  Pairs were required to remain in motion for 45 minutes each hour, around the clock.  Contestants could win hundreds of dollars by outlasting the other couples  A 25-cent admission price entitled audience members to watch as long as they pleased

 The radio was the most popular form of entertainment, with news, sports, music, and theatrical programs.  Cheap  Entertaining  Family-oriented  Popular programs: Grand Ole’ Opry, Red Ryder, Little Orphan Annie, “Soap Operas,” Marx Bros., Abbot and Costello, the Lone Ranger, Dick Tracy, George Burns and Gracie Allen

Radio  Orson Welles produced a radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds for Halloween in  The broadcast was presented in the form of a series of “news bulletins” about an alien invasion on Earth and the near destruction of mankind.  Many Americans believed the broadcast to be real, and panicked over the supposed invasion.

 The movies were a great escape for Americans during the Depression.  Cheap (15¢ – 25¢) and air-conditioned  Not just a movie: double-feature, newsreels, cartoons, live orchestras, comic emcees