A decade marked by widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic disparity, American culture in the 1930s actually flourished with a variety of new entertainment. Swing dancing, radio shows, fireside chats, and sound in movies helped stimulate the American public. Beginning in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt ushered in a wave of political programs known as the New Deal to help relieve the anxieties of Americans. Keep on reading to see how American culture changed throughout the Great Depression Era!
Five Major Cultural Events of the 1930s
| New Deal (1933-1939) | Programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to stimulate the economy and aid with the Great Depression |
| Dust Bowl (1930-1936) | A severe drought swept from Texas to Nebraska and killed people, animals, and crops. The Dust Bowl exacerbated the effects of the Great Depression, and many families lost their farms and sought new jobs. |
| Great Depression (1929-1933) | The worst economic downturn began with the stock market crash of October 1929. The U.S. saw a drop in industrial production, widespread unemployment, runs on banks, and increasing poverty and homelessness. |
| Summer Olympics in Berlin (1936) | |
| Prohibition is repealed (1933) | The prohibition law had been expensive and failed to force the nation into sobriety. The law lost the citizens' support and the 21st Amendment was passed in 1933 which ended prohibition. |
Prohibition: A law in the U.S effective between 1920-1933 that banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol.
Cultural Trends of the 1930s
Fig. 1 - Jitterbugging in Memphis, Tennessee 1939
The rapid onset of poverty in the 1930s ushered in major cultural shifts for America. The culture of the thirties became defined by New Deal programs that provided relief to Americans while allowing American culture to flourish. For example, several pieces of legislation under the New Deal supported actors, artists, writers, and musicians.
New technological advancements such as radio and sounds in movies popularized radio shows and film. The music genre, swing jazz, became one of the most popular genres of music throughout the thirties, with swing dancing becoming a pastime.
During these eight years, the FAP [Federal Art Project] artists created thousands of easel paintings, murals, sculptures, posters, and graphic arts; hundreds of art educators taught classes in the fine and practical arts, and community art centers introduced art to rural communities and inner-city neighborhoods."
-Victoria Grieve, The Federal Art Project and the Creation of Middlebrow Culture, 2009
In the quote above, historian Victoria Grieve explains the extent of the Federal Art Project, which was a public program under the New Deal that supported artists throughout the Great Depression.
Pop Culture of the 1930s
Fig. 2 - Louis Armstrong
Music
American music tastes directly reflected the economic crisis that spread throughout the country. In an attempt to forget economic hardships, Americans turned to music and dancing. With African Americans flooding the cities in the Great Migration, they also brought jazz, blues, and gospel music. The music quickly became popular in the North, and performers drew massive audiences.
Swing music (swing jazz) dominated the 1930s and was played on the radio every night. In 1935, the Federal Music Project (FMP) was created to "employ professional instrumentalists, singers, concert performers, and music teachers." 1 Due to the country's economic state, the FMP was designed to support musicians and educate the public on musical opportunities.
Great Migration- The 20th-century migration of African Americans from the South to larger cities in the North
Fig. 3 - A postcard labeled "Looking West on Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, California"
Hollywood
Golden Age of Hollywood
The effects of the Great Depression left the country grasping for a break from reality, which for many came to be found in Hollywood. At the beginning of the Great Depression Era, Hollywood studios took a hit from the economic downturn like other businesses. In the latter part of the 1920s, sound was introduced into film, and in the thirties, the movies grew in popularity. Throughout the despair of the Great Depression, the fantasy produced by the film helped the public keep faith in the government.
Did you know? More than 7,500 movies were released during Hollywood's Golden Age! Millions of Americans watched at least one movie a week during this period.
Radio
The new technological advancements in the media industry led to the popularity of radio and movies. Radio could be listened to in the comfort of the home and was a popular form of entertainment for the entire family, even in poor households. In the 1930s, the radio became the dominant place to get important information. Many families sought entertainment through comedy radio shows like the Jack Benny program and Amos n Andy. While the radio was used for entertainment, it also became a critical tool for spreading news and political messages.
Fig. 4 - Lobby Card for Jack Benny made in 1935
Did you know? In 1938 Orson Welles broadcasted War of the Worlds (by HG Wells) and caused hysteria and panic amongst listeners who believed there was an actual alien invasion!
Fireside Chats
Fig. 5 - President FDR broadcasting his first fireside chat in 1933
In 1933 President Franklin D. Roosevelt began broadcasting political messages over the radio. The radio messages became known as "fireside chats" and focused on Roosevelt's New Deal policies. Fireside chats became popular as the program embodied an informal talk with the president. The objective of the talks was to calm fears and have an informed American public.
1936 Summer Olympics
One of the most well-known cultural events of the 1930s was the 1936 summer Olympics hosted in Germany. The Nazi party was determined to show its power on the world stage and built large gymnasiums and tracks and televised the Olympics for the first time. Adolf Hitler used the Olympics to display the Nazi's political power and his superior racial ideology. Due to the intense political atmosphere, nations discussed a boycott of the Olympics. The Germans guaranteed Jewish athlete participation in response to international pressure, with only one such athlete competing on the German team.
Did you know? The only Jewish athlete to perform on the German team was a female fencer, Helen Mayer! Mayer, a tall blonde, was finally chosen to represent the Germans after extreme pressure from the International Olympic Committee.
Art in the 1930s
Fig. 6 - American Gothic by Grant Wood (1930)
In 1935 the Federal Art Project provided work for artists throughout the Great Depression. Artists throughout this era looked to the movement of Social Realism that sought to depict the daily life of ordinary people. The art movement highlighted the stark differences in social classes and the injustice that often impacted many communities. The realism movement also saw a rise in the popularity of photography. Photographers sought to capture the detrimental impacts of the Great Depression, specifically in the country's rural areas. For example, Dorothea Lange's photograph of the Migrant Mother is one of the most famous photographs of the era.
Fig. 7 - The Migrant Mother photographed by Dorothea Lange
| Related Art Movements in 1930s America | |
|---|
| American Regionalism | Depicted both rural and urban America |
| Precisionism | Depicted industrial America |
Daily Life in the 1930s
Fig. 8 - Unemployed and Huts Manhattan (1935)
The Great Depression altered almost every aspect of the country's socio-economic landscape. Millions of people had lost their jobs, and those who continued to work often dealt with pay cuts or shorter work schedules. With the loss of income, many people spent time at home playing board games, listening to the radio, or playing cards with neighbors. Regardless of socio-economic status, almost every American saw drastic changes in their daily lives.
Did you know? One of the most popular board games during the Great Depression was Monopoly! Elizabeth J. Magie created the game (in 1904) to help teach the public that capitalism was evil, and even today, we continue to play this popular game!
Many American households adopted the principle of frugality by keeping personal gardens, patching up old clothes, sharing food and dinner with others, and community "thrift gardens." Even white-collared Americans were seen tending to their gardens. To aid with the cost of food, neighbors, and churches arranged potluck dinners for the community to share. Frugality became an integral part of American culture and was applied to almost every facet of life during the era as the public adopted the motto:
Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without." -Great Depression-era motto.
Fig. 9 - Women worked at home during Great Depression in 1939
One of the most prolific societal changes was women entering the workforce throughout the decade. Due to the harsh economic impact, many families were forced to add an additional income. Though the idea of women (especially married women) entering the workforce was highly criticized, the number of female workers increased. Married women were often banned from working due to the belief that they posed an unnecessary source of competition for men. The women who did work stayed in clerical jobs, a socially acceptable position during the era.
Did you know? During the 1930s, the number of working women in the country rose from 10.5 million to 13 million!
Thrift Gardens: During the Great Depression, cities and towns allowed vacant lots to be used for community gardens. Detroit, Michigan's thrift gardens, produced enough food to sustain 20,000 people in one year alone.
American Culture 1930s - Key takeaways
- American culture during the thirties became defined by New Deal programs that provided relief to America while allowing the culture to flourish.
- New technological advances, such as radio, allowed for families to be entertained at home with comedy shows and fireside chats:
- FDR used fireside chats to teach the public about New Deal programs and keep them informed.
- Americans adopted a principle of frugality, patching up worn-out clothing, planting gardens, and planning potlucks.
- Women began entering the workforce (mostly holding clerical positions) throughout the Great Depression. Married women were often banned from working due to the belief that they posed unnecessary competition for men.
1. The Library of Congress, New Deal Programs, 2022
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