America Shows the World How To Have Fun!

The period from 1894 to 1915 was one in which workers in the United States began to have more leisure time than their predecessors. One reason for this was that industrial employers began to decrease working hours and institute a Saturday half-day holiday, which gave workers more free time for leisure activities.  Vacations began to be regularly offered to workers, although they were usually unpaid ones. The monotony of specialized industrial work and the crowding of urban expansion also created a desire in the worker to have leisure time away from his or her job and away from the bustle of the big city. The Progressive movement was another factor which contributed to the increased value of leisure time for workers, as their health and well-being received more attention. Yet another factor was the installation of electric lighting on the city streets, which made nighttime leisure activities less dangerous for both sexes.

The films in this collection offer ample evidence of many of the activities Americans enjoyed at the turn of the 20th century. Film audiences of the time would have been amused to see other people or themselves on the screen, out enjoying their leisure time. For today's viewer, these films are historical documents of how Americans spent their leisure moments over 100 years ago.
 

Seven small children can be seen from the low angle camera position; the camera is pointed out to sea.
 

Interesting not only for its humorous features, but also for its excellent views of Coney Island and Luna Park. (3 Parts)
 

A lively scene on the famous water chutes at Coney Island
 

A special added attraction for the entertainment of the spectators is a man in a swimming suit who rides down the shoot-the-chutes on one ski.
 

This is the Christian Endeavor excursion touring through the Yellowstone Park under the able management of the Northern Pacific Railway Co.
 

This film was take on a couple trip to the county fair.
(2 Parts)

This picture pans the St. Louis Exposition and also films the dedication Speaker.
 

One of the parades of floating craft held in the waterways of the St. Louis Exposition is shown in this film.
 

The film some people riding elephants, others marching in procession in front of a structure with the sign "Asia" on it. The people are wearing various costumes.
 

The picture includes all of the spires and buildings of the San Diego Exposition.
(2 Parts)
 

This picture shows a group of dignitaries from various countries participating in a parade marking the opening of the Pan-American Exposition.
 

The film begins with a slow pan over the tower building of the exposition, which was lighted by electric lights.
 

The film, photographed from a single camera position, shows the total exposition and its buildings.
 

Two spectators watching two participants perform a game of skill using whips at the Pan-American Exposition.

This picture is an elevation on the then-famous Electric Tower built for the Exposition at Buffalo, New York.
 

A band in uniform passes the camera, and following that are many show horses of various types led by their handlers.
 

On the last day of the Pan-American Exposition a sham battle took place, between the six tribes of American Indians and the United States Infantry stationed at Buffalo. (2 Part)
 

The picture was taken in the Gypsy tent at the Pan-American Exposition and shows ten beautiful Gypsy girls executing the famous Gypsy dance
 

This film pans almost the entire Exposition in Charleston in 1902.
 

This Film shows people walking on the midway at the Charleston Exposition.
 

Shows uniformed men marching, boys pulling a small floral float with a woman riding in it, an elaborate float with a girl in it being pushed by a man
 

Shows the labor day parade through bunting-draped streets, probably in the town of Leominster, Mass.

The first float is drawn by four white horses and is at least twenty feet long. It carries a full load of little school girls, who sit along its full length facing the sides of the street.
 

Shows policemen and men in top hats and formal riding attire carrying large bunches of flowers as they parade on horseback.

Crowds of people in their Easter finery parade on the boardwalk near Green's Hotel, and near a pier in Atlantic City.
 

The cameraman photographed many different people in varied walks of life all of whom are wearing roller skates

A large group of small boys stand on a pier, looking up at what probably is the railing and hoping pennies will be thrown into the water for them to retrieve.
 

The camera was placed on the edge of the pool and the full extent of the film shows the women in the pool.
 

The main feature is the toboggan slide which the bathers use, some sitting, others lying down, head first or feet first.
 

A 50-foot slide is used by the bathers, who toboggan down its slippery surface in all positions.

The scene is the broad piazza of the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, and shows the arrival of tourists.
 

Buffalo Bill can be seen on horseback, lifting his hat to the crowd in this parade of people.