Entertainment during the Great Depression

During the 1930s,[1] the United States was facing its longest and deepest economic downturn, the Great Depression. Spending money on entertainment was out of the question for most people. The United States put the nation back to work, including artists and entertainers in its assistance programs.[2][3][circular reference][4][circular reference]

## Movies

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Many classic films were created during this time, including, Frankenstein, 42nd Street, King Kong, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Gone With the Wind and Three Little Pigs

## Radio

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Listening to radio broadcasting became a source of nearly free entertainment. The radio stations had a little bit of everything for all ages, young and old. One of the most common radio shows for young children was Little Orphan Annie.[5] The show is about an adventurous young girl who had an equally adventurous dog named Sandy. Together, Annie and Sandy would try to solve mysteries. The show was so loved by children that they soon began to purchase small items of merchandise such as pins of Annie. Later, an actual film was released to the public.[5] Adults listened to newscasts, radio theater, the Grand Ole Opry, soap operas, and sermons as well.

## Board games

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The board game Monopoly, published by the Parker Brothers in 1935, was a popular favorite. It cost $1 during the time. With calculation of inflation, that would be $15.45 in 2020. Another popular game was Sorry!, which was adopted by the Parker Brothers in 1934.

## Comics

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The Superman character made his first appearance in Action Comics in April, 1938.[6] The creation of Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel and published by Detective Comics (DC), its popularity led to a surge in interest in the comic book genre.[7]

## References

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1. ^ "How Movies Got Us Through the Great Depression". Best Movies by Farr. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
2. ^ "Art and Entertainment in the 1930s and 1940s". Great Depression and World War II, 1929-1945. Library of Congress. 2002-09-26. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
3. ^ History of the board game Monopoly
4. ^ Sorry! (game)
5. ^ a b Anisa; Michelle. "The 1930s: A Time of Depression". Kyrene School District No. 2098. Archived from the original on 2010-02-14. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
6. ^ Kuta, Sarah. "The First Issue of Superman Just Became the Most Valuable Comic Book in the World". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
7. ^ Voiovich, Jason (May 13, 2025). Bullfrogs, Bingo, and the Little House on the Prairie: How Innovators of the Great Depression Made the Best of the Worst of Times. Jaywalker Publishing. pp. 253–266\. ISBN 978-1737001379.