With over a quarter of the American population unemployed and bread lines that extended around the block, why would anybody pay to see a movie in the 1930's? The answer to that question is that movies offered a form of escape from the miseries of poverty. The 1930's has been labeled the "Golden Age of Film" by people that label such things. It was marked by the first "talkies", improvements in sound quality, and better artistry in the production of films. Sixty to seventy million Americans packed the theaters each week to take their minds off of their troubles. Movies were surprisingly affordable in the 1930's. The average cost of a ticket was a quarter of a dollar. At the same time, a gallon of gasoline cost a dime. When you consider that the price of attending a movie was not prohibitive and the fact that movie makers were improving their craft, it is not hard to understand why people wanted to get to the local theater.
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