Spare Time in Texas : Recreation and history in the Lone Star State / by David G. McComb.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McComb, David G.

Series:

Jack and Doris Smothers series in Texas history, life, and culture ; 21.

Jack and Doris Smothers series in Texas history, life, and culture ; 21

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Recreation--Texas--History.

Recreation.

Leisure--Texas--History.

Leisure.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (301 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Austin : University of Texas Press, c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

What do Texans' pastimes and recreations say about their characters? Looking at Texas history from a new angle, David McComb starts from the premise that how people spend their leisure time may well reveal more about their true natures and interests than the work they do or their family connections. In this innovative book, McComb traces the history of various types of recreation in Texas, gathering significant insights into the characters of Texans from the pleasures they have pursued. Reflecting the frontier origins of Texas, McComb starts with the recreations that were most popular with men in a crude, still-developing society—drinking, gambling, and whoring. He goes on to show how, as Texas became more civilized, so did its diversions. He describes how Texans have connected with nature in parks and zoos; watched football and baseball in great stadiums such as the Astrodome and Cotton Bowl; discovered the pleasure of reading in public and university libraries; and enjoyed radio, TV, movies, and live theater in places such as Houston's Alley Theatre. This recreational history reveals that Texans are open-minded and generous; that they respect the land; oppose prostitution but indulge in gambling and drinking; support racial and gender rights; love zoos; champion libraries; take pride in theatrical productions; and adore sports.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Introduction

CHAPTER 1 The Licit and the Illicit

CHAPTER 2 Parks and Other Public Spaces

CHAPTER 3 The Great Stadiums

CHAPTER 4 The Pleasure of Libraries

CHAPTER 5 Theater and the Electric Revolution

Images of Recreation

Conclusions and Afterthoughts

Notes

A Bibliographic Note

Index

Image Credits

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. [277]-279) and index.

ISBN:

0-292-79389-8

OCLC:

646793462