11.3 Outdoor Activity and Sports in the Late 1800s

Music and Theater

  • Ragtime:

    • Emerged in the 1880s, blending African American spirituals and European musical forms.
    • Originated in the saloons of the South.
    • Scott Joplin: A prominent African American composer and performer of ragtime.
      • Toured African American communities from New Orleans to Chicago.
      • Maple Leaf Rag: Joplin's famous rag that brought him recognition in the 1900s.
    • Significance: Ragtime contributed to the development of jazz.

  • John Philip Souza:

    • A popular band leader who composed numerous marches for military bands.
    • Director of The United States Marine Band.
    • Notable works: Stars and Stripes Forever and Semper Fidelis.

  • Symphony Orchestras:

    • Established in major cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia before 1900.
    • Became world-renowned.

  • Metropolitan Opera House:

    • Built during this era, attracting international singers and conductors.

  • Live Theatrical Performances:

    • Attracted large audiences, especially in big cities.
    • Companies booked major stars to draw crowds.
    • Popular female stars:
      • Sarah Bernhardt (French actress).
      • Lily Langtry (British actress).
      • Jenny Lind (Swedish Nightingale, a singer).
    • Various theatrical options: serious drama, melodrama, vaudeville shows.
    • Edwin Booth: A well-known Shakespearean actor.
    • Melodramas: Featured villains, fair heroines, and dashing heroes.
    • Vaudeville shows: Included songs, dance, slapstick comedy, and chorus lines.

  • Circus:

    • Barnum and Bailey Circus: Founded by P. T. Barnum in 1881, advertised as the "greatest show on earth".
    • Logistics: Arrived by railroad, with elephants assisting in setting up the tent.
    • Acts: Trapeze artists, acrobats, clowns, lion tamers, and trained horses.

  • Wild West Show:

    • Buffalo Bill Cody's show toured across the country and Europe.
    • Featured cowboys, trick riders, sharpshooters, and reenacted Indian attacks.
    • Popular among Eastern audiences.

Spectator Sports

  • Boxing:

    • Drew large crowds; fans followed via telegraph transmissions.
    • Notable fighters:
      • John L. Sullivan: captured the heavyweight title in 1882, fought with bare knuckles, and offered 10,00010,000 to anyone who could last four rounds with him.
      • Gentleman Jim Corbett: defeated Sullivan in 1892 after 21 rounds, using the Marquess of Queensbury rules.

  • Baseball:

    • Origin: Abner Doubleday and New Yorkers created baseball by combining aspects of two children's games in 1845.
    • Growth: By 1850, approximately 50 baseball clubs existed, with 12 in New York alone.
    • Professionalization: The Cincinnati Red Stockings became a professional touring team by 1869.
    • Leagues: The National League was formed in 1876, followed by the American League in 1901.
    • World Series: The first World Series took place in 1903, with the Boston Pilgrims winning against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
    • Exclusion: African Americans were excluded, leading to the creation of the Negro American League and Negro National League.
    • Popularity: Summer afternoon games attracted large crowds, such as the 1887 championship game between Detroit and St. Louis, drawing over 50,000 spectators.
    • Evolution: By the 1890s, the game closely resembled modern baseball.

Outdoor Activities

  • Bicycling:

    • Gained popularity, nearly becoming a craze.
    • Early bicycles: Featured large front wheels and solid rubber tires, making it primarily a male activity.
    • Safety bicycle: Introduced in 1885 with equal-sized wheels and air-filled tires.
    • Accessibility: Bikes without a center cross frame allowed women to participate, influencing changes in women's fashion for cycling.

  • Tennis:

    • Originated in England in 1873 and quickly spread to America.
    • Became a leisure activity.

  • Football:

    • Evolved from soccer, which had been played in America since colonial times.
    • Danger: Early football was dangerous; 44 college players died in one season due to injuries, with no helmets worn.

  • Basketball:

    • Invented by James Naismith in 1891 at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts.
    • Purpose: An indoor sport for the winter months.
    • Early equipment: Bushel baskets and a soccer ball were used.
    • Spread: Quickly gained popularity in YMCAs and schools across America.

Amusement and Diversions

  • Sideshows:

    • P. T. Barnum's perspective: "A sucker is born every minute," highlighting how people were willing to pay to see unusual acts, even if they suspected fraud.
    • Typical acts: Included the Bearded Lady, Two-Headed Cow, Fire Eater, and 100-Year-Old Man.

  • Amusement Parks:

    • Provided a fantasy escape for working families.
    • Atmosphere: Featured storybook-like settings with grand architecture and vibrant colors.
    • Quote from Bruce Blend: "It was a world removed, shut away from the sordid clatter and turmoil of the streets," from "Amusing the Million."