Industrial American Entertainment

Amusement Parks

• In the 1800s dance halls and saloons were inappropriate
• To the upper class, amusement parks were more wholesome
• In 1895, New York's Coney Island opened

Coney Island

• Featured roller coasters, water slides, and fun houses
• Southwestern part of Brooklyn, New York
• Was very popular from 1900-1950

Minstrel Shows

• Consists of comic skits, dancing and singing
• Portrayed blacks as dim-witted, lazy and bufoonish
• Were popular from the 1850s-1920s
• These were very cheap to go to and sometimes free

Baseball

• Attending professional baseball games was another way to relax
• In 1876 the National League was formed by the Cincinnati Red Stockings
• In 1901 the American League was formed 
• The first World Series was in 1903
• It only cost 25 cents per ticket for the first games

Why is this important?

• This allowed not only the rich but the middle class to have fun
• They were affordable and were considered classier