Sporting events of all kinds were enjoyed by many during the 1930’s as a way to not only get their minds off the news and suffering but also by being a part of the game. While the politicians and bankers played their games, the citizens turned to their radios or flocked to the fields to enjoy life without the worries of economic woes, even if just a few hours. “Like many other recreational activities, people did go to the ballpark to get away from the economic horrors of empty wallets and ice boxes” said Ray Robinson, a lifelong resident of Manhattan[1]. Sports did indeed help the nation temporarily overcome sour attitudes but the business itself was not safe from economic turmoil as the decade and the depression progressed.
On October 24th, 1929 the stock market officially “crashed”, beginning the era of the Depression. Stock plummeted and banks began to call in on loans from its clients as an estimated $30 billion worth of stock values seemingly disappeared. President Herbert Hoover stated that any lack of confidence in the economic future was “foolish”[2]. Obviously looking back now we know he could not have been more mistaken of his choice of words. Nonetheless, Americans were not ready to face what was to come. Unemployment had hit an estimated 4 million by 1930 and the number would only increase as time progressed. It is hard to believe that the worst of times were during the golden ages of baseball, as two of the biggest legends, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, were having a home run battle the same year. Yet, the nation still flocked to support their favorite sport as often as they could.
The business aspect of the sport wasn’t safe by any means. Many new teams had previously built new stadiums or completed renovations to their stadiums prior to the stock market crash. With so many people looking for work, attendance dropped significantly from 1930 to 1933. An estimated 40% decrease in attendance cost franchises dearly as they were forced to cut salaries of many of their players an average of 25%; even the great Babe Ruth was a victim of pay decreases[3].
Baseball was not the only sport admired and affected during the Depression. The young National Football League was heavily affected financially, as it was not as popular as baseball at the time. The Depression years of the early 1930s hit the pro football ranks with a vengeance. Although official NFL attendance records list slightly over 6,000 fans for the Boston Braves versus the Chicago Cardinals at Wrigley Gum Field in Chicago; in fact, according to team records, only 700 paying fans showed up for the last game of the season[4]. Some players were only paid an average of $100 a game, as franchises were unable to break even due to lack of attendance.
Like any sport, football was also used to help benefit those who were in need. On Dec. 14, 1930, Knute Rockne led a team of Notre Dame All-Stars against the New York Giants in an event to raise money for the Committee on Unemployed. 55,000 fans attended the exhibition game and more than $110,000 was raised. This was truly a unique experience as football was evolving from collegiate play to professional play. Soon, the NFL and college football would become different from each other and spark more interest in each category of sport respectively.
The early years of the depression were not easy for any sport or man. Off the field, matters were only getting worse as the Hoover administration was unable to put an end or at least make a good impact on the status of unemployment. By 1931 unemployment had risen to an estimated 6 million and by 1933 thousands of banks had shut their doors, causing the general mood of Americans to worsen. Hoover believed that the government should not intervene with the country’s economy and should not help create jobs. His feelings led to more than 20% of the country being unemployed by 1932[5]. Luckily for the country, it was time to elect a new president, which happened to be Franklin D. Roosevelt taking office in 1933.
In 1932, the National Football League made changes to its rules in order to boost popularity and distinguish itself from its college counterpart. The most popular rule change I believe was the allowance of a forward pass from the quarterback from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. This increased the passing game and dramatically changed the way the game is played even to this date. During the earlier part of the decade, pro football was new and not nearly as popular as college football. This could be the most positive, if any, influence the depression had bestowed upon professional football.
In 1933, as Franklin Roosevelt was taking office for the first time, the depression was still affecting the lives of millions both on and off the field. In fact, 1933 was considered the worst year for baseball during the time. Men from all over the globe traveled to Florida in hopes of a ball club signing them to play for their team. While the salaries of baseball players had decreased, it was still more than most wage workers, whose salaries decreased much more than professional athletes. “Players saw their pay slashed by about 25 percent, but they were lucky. The average wage for the American worker fell 50 percent during this time. A player making $3,000 in 1932 was still making twice as much as the typical industrial worker.”[6]
The depression was in full swing by the first 100 days of FDR’s first term in office. These were desperate times, and American citizens were unsure how a democratic government would handle the economy and bring this great nation back from its worse depression. During his first 100 days, FDR convened congress for the entire duration and was able to pass 15 major bills that would all be packaged into his “New Deal” in order to save the country. “Among the programs and institutions of the New Deal that aided in recovery from the Great Depression were the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which built dams and hydroelectric projects to control flooding and provide electric power to the impoverished Tennessee Valley region of the South; and the Works Project Administration (WPA), a permanent jobs program that employed 8.5 million people from 1935 to 1943. After showing early signs of recovery beginning in the spring of 1933, the economy continued to improve throughout the next three years, during which time the real GDP (adjusted for inflation) grew at an average rate of 9 percent per year.[7]”
Thanks to the New Deal, the economy slowly began to pick up as programs were designed to help stabilize the economy. “In the Depression, one of the most important areas for sport and recreation were New Deal programs," said Stephen Hardy, a professor and coordinator of the Sport Studies Program at the University of New Hampshire. "They spent enormous amounts of money. That's been forgotten" Hardy said the Public Works Administration spent $40 million on athletic facilities. Between1935-41, the WPA spent about $1 billion on various recreation and sport facilities. The WPA alone had more than 40,000 sports and recreation projects.[8]
The New Deal was able to lend a hand to sports and recreation on a lower level but many professional ball clubs still faced financial struggles and had to adapt in order to stay alive. Sunday games and well as night games began in order to boost attendance. Certain teams also began to allow women in for free. Despite all of the financial problems each club faced, it still cannot take away from the magical moments that took place during the era of the depression.
One of the most iconic moments in all of sports history occurred in 1932 during the Baseball World Series, when Babe Ruth pointed into the stands and called his shot shortly before hitting a homerun. Never before has anyone called their shot in advanced nor has it ever happened again. Just two years prior he and Gehrig were battling over who would be the home run king. By the time the decade was over, both of their careers would be as well.
Historical moments such as the ones provided by Babe Ruth provided an escape from reality for many around the country. “"It was mental therapy to watch a Jesse Owens or a Babe Ruth perform in person," said John Lucas, Penn State's 72-year-old Olympic historian emeritus.[9]” No one could have predicted how the decade would turn out and no one could have predicted how a simple baseball game would help anyone get through the pain and suffering of the era. The depression was in full force by the time people realized that it was not going to end soon, nor would it be pleasant for anyone. Both the summer and winter Olympics were held in the United States, which proved to be a major financial burden, but the country was devoted to holding the event at any means and was very successful at doing so.
FDR was working hard to put the country back on its feet. He promised the nation that it would prevail and that the only thing there was to fear was fear itself. The nation was skeptical at first but once legislation began to pass and come into effect, people began to notice considerable changes in the economy. Within a month of passing the Emergency Banking Act of 1933, three-quarters of the nation’s banks were back to work, which helped to ease tensions.
It is safe to say that sports were not the only form of distractions during the Great Depression. Many people turned to song, church, and festival in order to pass the time and bring happiness to friends and loved ones. Rodeos were very popular in rural areas, such as Nebraska and Wyoming. During the 1930s, radio’s popularity skyrocketed with news programs, sports broadcasts, and other shows aired to bring families together around the box. The Depression was not depressing all the time.
While comic books soared for young adults, nothing was more sacred to most adults than a good book. The Great Depression brought many popular titles that we know and cherish today, the most popular of which is probably John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath,” written late into the 1930’s. William Faulkner burst onto the scene as well during the decade with his examination of southern culture. Regardless of anyone’s financial status, it is easy for one to lose oneself in a deeper world when reading a book, and that is exactly what many people did.
As mentioned before, the radio made the quality of life much better, as people would flock towards their radio and turn to their favorite program. Television was not available as it is today so for many; the radio was their best form of entertainment. Radio shows were broadcast throughout the nation, including the news, stories, sporting events, and music. Music itself changed dramatically as the decade progressed.
“Over the course of the thirties American taste in music changed dramatically. In the mainstream it moved from the bland and unchallenging ‘sweet’ sound of Guy Lombardo and the Jazz Age dance bands to the more rhythmically involved and aggressive horn arrangements of the bandleaders of the Swing Era, such as Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and many others. The first collection of songs, from 1930-1934, features regionally popular artists performing vernacular material. These performances were recorded during the initial wave of interest in ‘race records,’ ‘hillbilly,’ and ‘ethnic’ music by major recording companies that led to the search for ‘new’ performers throughout the southern and western states until the economic strain of the Depression precluded such endeavors.[10]”
Of course the radio was a very important asset to distracting the people of the 1930s, as well as sports. Another form of entertainment that prospered during the Depression was the entertainment from Hollywood. The “silver screen’ produced films that varied as the mood of the viewer changed. In the beginning of the decade, movies filled with despair and violence filled the screen as mobsters with machine guns and criminal characters were portrayed. In 1933, religious movements began to protest the “obscene” images on films, fearing that the films would corrupt the minds of whoever watched them. Catholics threatened to protest and even went as far as having 9 million supporters.
After the threat of boycotts, Hollywood producers decided to enforce a code that “prohibited nudity, profanity, white slavery, miscegenation,” "excessive and lustful kissing," and "scenes of passion" that "stimulate the lower and baser element."[11] It is amazing how much FDR’s New Deal affected the people, as it influenced many producers at the time to create new types of films involving “G-Men” and detectives. Hollywood found a way to work around the new code and provide a new form of cinema, which we still use to this day.
While Americans distracted themselves from the harsh realities of the Depression, our country was not the only country to have suffered. Countries who American traded with had suffered as well due to lack of trade. International trade had decreased 30% and nearly 30 million people world-wide were unemployed. The results of other countries falling due to the depression were catastrophic. Militant dictators began ruling over countries in response. Germany experienced great change with the emergence of the Nazi party with Adolf Hitler as its leader, vowing to restore Germany economically and militarily. In Russia, Joseph Stalin used the outcome of the depression to strengthen his claim to communism in Russia. He incorporated a planned economy and seized farms while shipping millions off to labor camps. Obviously, Americans distracted themselves from those facts as well.
The entire world was affected by Great Depression in some way or another. The results eventually led into World War 2 as Hitler gained more and more power. “The Depression strengthened the federal presence in American life, producing such innovations as national old age pensions, unemployment compensation, aid to dependent children, public housing, federally subsidized school lunches, insured bank deposits, the minimum wage, and stock market regulation. It fundamentally altered labor relations, producing a revived labor movement and a national labor policy protective of collective bargaining. It transformed the farm economy by introducing federal price supports and rural electrification. Above all, the Great Depression produced a fundamental transformation in public attitudes. It led Americans to view the federal government as the ultimate protector of public well-being.[12]”
Nearly 75 years later, we still feel the effects of the Great Depression in many ways, both positive and negative. As we look back, the country was a much grimmer place but it had its shining moments that define its glory in time. Without the election of FDR, who knows how long the depression would have lasted or what the global outcome would have been if the New Deal was not put into place.
Another factor to remember during the era was the impact of prohibition. During this time, alcohol consumption was illegal in the states. “Because of Prohibition, organized crime increased, especially in major cities. Gangsters got richer and more violent as they fought over control of liquor sales and other illegal activities such as prostitution and gambling, which also grew during the 1930s. The public was fascinated by big-city mob bosses who became the subject of newspaper stories and movies. Although they were far from urban speakeasies and gangland crime, rural residents also were fascinated by the underworld activities of mobsters. Gangs and outlaws with names like "Pretty Boy Floyd," "Baby Face" Nelson, Ma and Fred Barker, and Bonnie and Clyde grabbed newspaper headlines. John Dillinger's armed robberies took place mostly in the Midwest, and he was named "Public Enemy Number One."[13]
The criminals brought forth by prohibition have been portrayed throughout time in TV and film. As prohibition ended in 1933, the outcome gave inspiration to those in Hollywood for new ideas and concepts for movies. Many popular films were based on individuals who fought the law during the 1930’s before a code was enforced to restrict violence. To this day, we still have books and films inspired by many who were involved in organized crime. Not to mention the creation of a new sport involved in the transportation of illegal alcohol: NASCAR auto-racing.
As the 1930s came to an end, America faced a new challenge across the seas as a war was beginning to unfold. The second Great War would ultimately end the depression as the war ended, but the effects of the depression would last forever. Once the Second World War began, Americans had to find new ways to distract themselves from the horror overseas, immediately after having to overcome financial disparity for over a decade.
While the decade was long and difficult, as we look back we can enjoy the finer events that came about. Never before was there such an amazing display of athleticism by baseball stars. New music and film was ushered in, completely changing the style of entertainment as a society. When I think back to the 1930’s I imagine the tough times that Americans had to endure, for the fact that it will be impossible to forget. But I also cherish the moments that the decade has given us today.
Today, entertainment provides us with an escape from reality just as it did 75 years ago. The Depression era proved that anyone can make it through the toughest of times simply by finding ways to entertain your mind and distract yourselves by enjoying the simpler things in life. Professional ball clubs experienced a decline in revenue, but fans still found ways to enjoy their favorite sport whether it was on the radio or enjoying games live in the “cheap seats”. The nation came together and helped each other by offering new stories and films to enjoy.
The first appearance of Superman was such a joy to young adults at the time that it sparked an increased interest in comic books. Decades later, those very comic books are the leading form of entertainment in movies now. Who would have known that a simple illustrated comic book would have such an impact on society for decades to come?
It is safe to say that the Depression did bring many positives to the world with its creativity of citizens at the time. The way football is played today would probably not be the same if it weren’t for the need to boost interest in football and get people to attend games. The NFL may not be around today if it weren’t for the need to distance itself from the style of college football. Movies were forever changed, and we may or may not have the forms of entertainment we do today without those changes.
In all, I thank the pioneers of the 1930’s for their creativity and their enthusiasm to provide entertainment, since it paved the way for new forms of entertainment for today. I can only compare the era to the Renaissance as then people were the same; simply trying to find ways to get through the best of times and the worst of times. While history books portray images of poor children and long bread lines, I will always think of the 1930’s as the time Babe Ruth walked supreme.
[1] Ken Belson Apples For a Nickel, and Plenty of Empty Seat, January 6th, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/sports/baseball/07depression.html?pagewanted=all
[2] PBS Timeline of the Great Depression
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/timeline/rails-timeline/
[3] Ken Belson Apples For a Nickel, and Plenty of Empty Seat, January 6th, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/sports/baseball/07depression.html?pagewanted=all
[4] Football Historian American Heroes, Viewed April 10th, 2014
http://www.footballhistorian.com/football_heroes.cfm?page=32
[5] The Great Depression, 2014
http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression
[6] Andrea Adelson Sports were affected during the Great Depression, January 20th, 2009
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-01-20/sports/sportseconomy20_1_american-sports-history-new-deal-millions-of-americans
[7] The Great Depression: Hard Road To Recovery, 2014
http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression
[8] Andrea Adelson Sports were affected during the Great Depression, January 20th, 2009
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2009-01-20/sports/sportseconomy20_1_american-sports-history-new-deal-millions-of-americans
[9] Jim Corbett Sports: '30S Relief From Depression, May 16, 1999
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19990516&slug=2960962
[10] Manufacturing Music, American Popular Music in the 1930’s
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug03/jukebox/front.html
[11] Digital History: Hollywood and the Great Depression
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/hollywood_great_depression.cfm
[12] Digital History: The Great Depression in Global Perspective, 2013
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3433
[13] Farming in the 1930s: Prohibition
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_27.html