Thread: 1930 US

petal · 25-02-2008, 06:18 PM

The year was 1930 and the world was sliding into a depression. In the U.S., unemployment rose from 3.3 percent in 1929 to 8.9 percent in 1930. Things would only get worse when prices rose as a consequence of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. The protectionist tariff had a negative impact worldwide as international trade declined. Seven hundred and forty-four banks failed in the first ten months of 1930. For those who had money in those banks, it was gone forever. There was no deposit insurance at that time.
One of the most lucrative industries of the time was an illegal one. The Eighteenth Amendment banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol was still in effect, but many Americans were in defiance of Prohibition. Liquor was smuggled into the country, and those who could afford it continued to drink, fueling organized crime machines. Home brew and moonshine were in abundance, but bootleg liquor was could be dangerous. Blindness, nerve damage, and death could result from drinking tainted moonshine.
Some Americans began mixing a Jamaican ginger extract with their drinks. Known as "Jake," it was relatively inexpensive and contained nearly 70 percent alcohol. In 1930, manufacturers diluted it with an industrial chemical--an additive that made it toxic. An outbreak of "Jake paralysis"or "Jake foot" broke out, afflicting an estimated 50,000 people with partial paralysis, mainly in the feet and legs.
The U.S. population at the time of the 1930 census was 123,202,624 with 56.1 percent of the population living in urban areas, versus 43.9 percent in rural areas. Of the nearly 30 million families enumerated, roughly 40 percent (12 million) owned radio sets, and many of those sets began tuning in to The Shadow when it premiered on 31 July 1930.
Also in 1930, Betty Boop made her first appearance in Dizzy Dishes, and the first Looney Tunes cartoon, Sinkin' in the Bathtub starring Bosko and Honey was released.
The food industry was about to be transformed when in 1930, Birds Eye frozen foods began appearing in eighteen stores in Springfield, Massachusetts. By 1934 frozen food was available nationwide.
Another notable culinary innovation of 1930 continues to be a staple in lunchboxes-the Hostess Twinkie.

25-02-2008, 06:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
petal Super Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Horncastle, Lincolnshire Posts: 8,522 Total Awards: 5	1930 US The year was 1930 and the world was sliding into a depression. In the U.S., unemployment rose from 3.3 percent in 1929 to 8.9 percent in 1930. Things would only get worse when prices rose as a consequence of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. The protectionist tariff had a negative impact worldwide as international trade declined. Seven hundred and forty-four banks failed in the first ten months of 1930. For those who had money in those banks, it was gone forever. There was no deposit insurance at that time. One of the most lucrative industries of the time was an illegal one. The Eighteenth Amendment banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol was still in effect, but many Americans were in defiance of Prohibition. Liquor was smuggled into the country, and those who could afford it continued to drink, fueling organized crime machines. Home brew and moonshine were in abundance, but bootleg liquor was could be dangerous. Blindness, nerve damage, and death could result from drinking tainted moonshine. Some Americans began mixing a Jamaican ginger extract with their drinks. Known as "Jake," it was relatively inexpensive and contained nearly 70 percent alcohol. In 1930, manufacturers diluted it with an industrial chemical--an additive that made it toxic. An outbreak of "Jake paralysis"or "Jake foot" broke out, afflicting an estimated 50,000 people with partial paralysis, mainly in the feet and legs. The U.S. population at the time of the 1930 census was 123,202,624 with 56.1 percent of the population living in urban areas, versus 43.9 percent in rural areas. Of the nearly 30 million families enumerated, roughly 40 percent (12 million) owned radio sets, and many of those sets began tuning in to The Shadow when it premiered on 31 July 1930. Also in 1930, Betty Boop made her first appearance in Dizzy Dishes, and the first Looney Tunes cartoon, Sinkin' in the Bathtub starring Bosko and Honey was released. The food industry was about to be transformed when in 1930, Birds Eye frozen foods began appearing in eighteen stores in Springfield, Massachusetts. By 1934 frozen food was available nationwide. Another notable culinary innovation of 1930 continues to be a staple in lunchboxes-the Hostess Twinkie.
	(AKA Mary) How beautiful it is to do nothing and rest afterwards...