The Importance of Music and Entertainment

Music and entertainment was very important during the Great Depression. These things gave people a sense of hope and got their mind off of their lives for awhile. A lot of people listened to music some way or another during the Great Depression. A good song that describes the Great Depression is "Brother, Can you Spare a Dime". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eih67rlGNhU In the Grapes of Wrath, Ma and Rose of Sharon decide their going to just go to the dance and watch and listen to the music. " Know what you and me are gonna do? We're going to that dance and we're gonna set there and watch." Some people just like to go and listen to the music. Music wasn't easy to get however. Not everybody had a radio or some way to listen to it. Music was a very important part of the Great Depression and helped people get through the times.


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People also had to find other ways to entertain themselves. Movies became very popular during the Depression. There were comedies, gangster movies, musicals, dances and othere types of entertainment as well. "From the tents the people streamed toward the platform, men in their clean blue denim and women in their ginghams. They came near to the platform and then stood quietly waiting, their faces bright and intent under the light."(page335) This quote shows that the people were waiting anxiously for the dance to begin. They were looking forward to  being able to dance and get their minds off of some of their worries.  Going to big bands became popular as well. Movies were a great way to help people forget their troubles. Going to a simple movie could boost peoples hopes and help them move on. Even though the Depression was a very hard time to get through, people did find ways to get through it.