Interpret the Evidence
How would you describe the attractions of Coney Island (Document 18.11)? How would you describe the people in the video? What do you think made Coney Island so exciting to visitors, particularly those of the working class? Why might reformers have been concerned about Coney Island?
What kind of crowd attended the heavyweight boxing fight (Document 18.12)? How is it different from the Coney Island crowd? How does the video portray the fight? What does the audience reveal about the popularity of boxing?
What is the subject of Joseph Rumshinsky’s song “The Living Orphan” (Document 18.13)? How would you describe Rumshinsky’s lyrical approach?
How does Hutchins Hapgood describe the nightlife of East Side shop girls (Document 18.14)? What role did dancing play in these women’s lives? Why might stories like this have been controversial?
According to Thorstein Veblen, what is the value of leisure and consumption for the wealthy (Document 18.15)? Do you think he is critical of consumerism? Why or why not?
Put It in Context
How did urban leisure, commerce, and entertainment differ according to a person’s gender, economic class, and ethnicity?
How did urbanization make changes in consumerism and leisure possible?