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HISTORY107 - Labor Day

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The history of Labor Day has been on my future blog list for a long time.  Checking my list and the calendar, I decided it would be a timely subject for this blog.   After a short introduction, I will cover the origins of Labor Day, how it was distinguished from May Day, the evolution of labor practices, and end with how Labor Day is celebrated today. I will list my principal sources at the end.   Introduction Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States, celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States. The roots of Labor Day date back to the decades following the Civil War when workers took part in strikes and rallies to demand shorter workdays and better working conditions. In the late nineteenth century, labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s st
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History106 - Movies in the USA: Part 2

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This blog is Part 2 of my two-part series on the history of movies in the USA.  Part 1 covered the early years of movies, 1830 to 1910; the silent years, 1910 to 1927; and the sound era through World War II.  Part 2 will cover post-World-War-II trends through 1980; the transition to the 21 st century; the status of movies today; and finally, a look at the future of movies.   I will list my principal sources for both Part 1 and Part 2 at the end.   Post-World-War-II Trends Through 1980 Decline of the Hollywood Studios.   When World War II ended, the American film industry seemed to be in an ideal position.  Full-scale mobilization had ended the Depression domestically, and victory had opened vast, unchallenged markets in the war-torn economies of western Europe and Japan.  Furthermore, from 1942 through 1945, Hollywood had experienced the most stable and lucrative three years in its history, and in 1946, when two-thirds of the American population went to the movies at least o
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