Dance Hall Days: Intimacy and Leisure Among Working-Class Immigrants in the United States

"A very important book . . . After you read it, you will never look into faces on the old dance photos in the same way." ―American Historical Review

The rise of commercialized leisure coincided with the arrival of millions of immigrants to America's cities. Conflict was inevitable, as older generations attempted to preserve their traditions, values, and ethnic identities, while the young sought out the cheap amusements and sexual freedom offered by the urban landscape. At immigrant picnics...