The roadhouse comes to Britain : drinking, driving and dancing, 1925-1955 /
Gutzke, David W., 1949-
The roadhouse comes to Britain : drinking, driving and dancing, 1925-1955 / David W. Gutzke and Michael John Law. - 1 online resource
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Gaudy Shacks and Palaces -- Transatlantic Transgressions -- Driving to the Roadhouse -- Negotiating Class -- Americanization and Modernity -- The Roadhouse in the Public Imagination -- Death of the Roadhouse? -- Appendix: Catalogue of Interwar British Roadhouses.
"This is the first book to examine the cultural phenomenon of the roadhouse in mid 20th-century Britain and its impact on British leisure. The term 'roadhouse' was used in varied ways in the 1930s, from small roadside tearooms to enormous establishments on the outskirts of major cities. These roadhouses were an important component in the transformation of leisure in the 1930s and beyond, reflecting the increased levels of social and physical mobility brought about by new technologies, suburbanisation and the influence of American culture. Roadhouses attracted wealthy Londoners excited by the prospect of a high-speed run into the countryside. During the day, they offered family activities such as tennis, archery, horse riding and swimming. At night, they provided all the fun of the West End with dancing, classy restaurants, cabaret, swimsuit parades and dance demonstrations, subverting the licensing laws to provide all-night drinking. Rumours abounded of prostitution and transgressive behaviour in the car park. Roadhouses formed part of an imaginary America in suburban Britain that was promoted by the popularity of American movies, music and fiction, providing a pastiche of the American country club. While much work has been done on the Soho nightclubs of the 1930s, the roadhouse has been largely ignored. Michael John Law and David Gutzke fill this gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of the roadhouse's cultural meaning, demonstrating how Americanisation was interpreted for British consumers. This original and engaging study will be fascinating reading for all scholars of 20th-century British cultural history"--
9781474294515 (electronic bk.) 1474294510 (electronic bk.) 9781474294522 1474294529 9781350090040 1350090042 1474294502 9781474294508 (hardback)
9781474294515 CodeMantra
2016043345
GBB862791 bnb
018294879 Uk
1900-1999
Roadhouses--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Leisure--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Automobile travel--Social aspects--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Drinking of alcoholic beverages--Social aspects--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Dance--Social aspects--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Relais (Tourisme)--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Loisir--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Voyages en automobile--Aspect social--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Consommation d'alcool--Aspect social--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Danse--Aspect social--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000.
Social & cultural history.
British & Irish history.
HISTORY--Great Britain.--Europe
HISTORY--Modern--20th Century.
HISTORY--Social History.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS--Small Business.
Automobile travel--Social aspects.
Civilization--American influences.
Dance--Social aspects.
Drinking of alcoholic beverages--Social aspects.
Leisure.
Manners and customs.
Roadhouses.
Great Britain--Social life and customs--20th century.
Great Britain--Civilization--American influences.
Grande-Bretagne--Mœurs et coutumes--20e siècle.
Great Britain.
Electronic books.
History.
TX910.G7
647.9541/0904
The roadhouse comes to Britain : drinking, driving and dancing, 1925-1955 / David W. Gutzke and Michael John Law. - 1 online resource
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Gaudy Shacks and Palaces -- Transatlantic Transgressions -- Driving to the Roadhouse -- Negotiating Class -- Americanization and Modernity -- The Roadhouse in the Public Imagination -- Death of the Roadhouse? -- Appendix: Catalogue of Interwar British Roadhouses.
"This is the first book to examine the cultural phenomenon of the roadhouse in mid 20th-century Britain and its impact on British leisure. The term 'roadhouse' was used in varied ways in the 1930s, from small roadside tearooms to enormous establishments on the outskirts of major cities. These roadhouses were an important component in the transformation of leisure in the 1930s and beyond, reflecting the increased levels of social and physical mobility brought about by new technologies, suburbanisation and the influence of American culture. Roadhouses attracted wealthy Londoners excited by the prospect of a high-speed run into the countryside. During the day, they offered family activities such as tennis, archery, horse riding and swimming. At night, they provided all the fun of the West End with dancing, classy restaurants, cabaret, swimsuit parades and dance demonstrations, subverting the licensing laws to provide all-night drinking. Rumours abounded of prostitution and transgressive behaviour in the car park. Roadhouses formed part of an imaginary America in suburban Britain that was promoted by the popularity of American movies, music and fiction, providing a pastiche of the American country club. While much work has been done on the Soho nightclubs of the 1930s, the roadhouse has been largely ignored. Michael John Law and David Gutzke fill this gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of the roadhouse's cultural meaning, demonstrating how Americanisation was interpreted for British consumers. This original and engaging study will be fascinating reading for all scholars of 20th-century British cultural history"--
9781474294515 (electronic bk.) 1474294510 (electronic bk.) 9781474294522 1474294529 9781350090040 1350090042 1474294502 9781474294508 (hardback)
9781474294515 CodeMantra
2016043345
GBB862791 bnb
018294879 Uk
1900-1999
Roadhouses--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Leisure--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Automobile travel--Social aspects--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Drinking of alcoholic beverages--Social aspects--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Dance--Social aspects--History--Great Britain--20th century.
Relais (Tourisme)--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Loisir--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Voyages en automobile--Aspect social--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Consommation d'alcool--Aspect social--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
Danse--Aspect social--Histoire--Grande-Bretagne--20e siècle.
20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000.
Social & cultural history.
British & Irish history.
HISTORY--Great Britain.--Europe
HISTORY--Modern--20th Century.
HISTORY--Social History.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS--Small Business.
Automobile travel--Social aspects.
Civilization--American influences.
Dance--Social aspects.
Drinking of alcoholic beverages--Social aspects.
Leisure.
Manners and customs.
Roadhouses.
Great Britain--Social life and customs--20th century.
Great Britain--Civilization--American influences.
Grande-Bretagne--Mœurs et coutumes--20e siècle.
Great Britain.
Electronic books.
History.
TX910.G7
647.9541/0904