Dance of the Sleepwalkers: The Dance Marathon FadUniversity of Wisconsin Pres, 1993 - 215 pages The colorful, if bizarre, story of this unusual form of amusement is told here for the first time. Despite the condemnation of vocal critics who regarded this entertainment as unsavory, if not immoral, dance marathons held a peculiar fascination for Americans since they projected traits and values pervasive in America then and now. Dance marathons mirrored the sham side of American culture, its commercialism and opportunism. Operated by paternalistic, often authoritarian, show promoters, dance marathons became for professional and amateur contestants "An Innocent Jail." Two person teams - a female and male - were virtually incarcerated for weeks or months at a time; they were segregated in living quarters, deprived of normal sleep, and required to compete daily in arduous walking and running contests. Spontaneity and freedom were sacrificed for routine and regulation. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Chapter Three The Walkathons | 17 |
How Long Can They Last? | 53 |
Chapter Six Natural Heat Working Heat | 76 |
Photographs | 90 |
The Palace of Wasted Footsteps | 121 |
Chapter Nine Danse Macabre | 139 |
Chapter Eleven Dance of Death | 153 |
Chapter Thirteen The Depressive Thirties | 173 |
The Dance Marathon Craze | 189 |
Notes | 203 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
addition amateur American amusement Apollonian appeared arena athletic attempt attracted audience automaton became become behavior Billboard celebrities City close continued couples critics culture dance endurance contest dance floor dance marathon death Depression derby describes Dionysus dream early Eells effect emcee experience exploited expression fans feel female figures floor judge forced girl give Gloria hand heat hero Hollywood human identified June keep later literary living machine male McCoy's novel minutes movie myth natural needs night noted operation partner performed period personality play popular practices prize professional contestants races radio referred remaining reported response rest Robert role Ross rules sense show business show promoter sleep social sport sprint staff stage story success teams took values vaudeville victim walkathon contest walkathon shows walking wanted wedding women York