19th Century Amusement

In the nineteenth century sports became largely popular in the United States. This was mainly due to the introduction to bat-ball sports when New England started to migrate west. The biggest of those sports was cricket, which became vastly popular within the middle states. Americans changed around the format of this game to create the game of baseball which was just a more organized and “sophisticated” way of playing. It quickly rose to fame in the United States and was unofficially reputed as our national past time.

Another reason that sports became so highly integrated into Americans’ lives was the rise of boxing and the invention of basketball and football. Boxing before the nineteenth century was largely despised because of the violence and gambling that came along with it. However, after the Marquess of Queensberry Rules called to have the boxers wear gloves when they fought the sport rose to national fame almost immediately. With the invention of football and basketball everyone in America had a sport of their choosing to watch and love. Football first began in 1869, while basketball was created later on in 1887. These two sports – although new – were vastly popular in America. People flocked to the games to watch how they were played and to see the athletes who played them. This new fascination led to the sports being incorporated into the collegiate level.

Speaking of collegiate sports – they first began in 1852 with the first rowing match between Harvard and Yale. This was followed by the first baseball game in 1859 between Williams and Amherst, and later followed by the first football game in 1869 between Princeton and Rutgers. Harvard University is actually where the football that Americans play today was created. Beforehand football was more like soccer – a kicking sport. However, Harvard wanted it to be closer related to that of rugby and thus the IFA (Intercollegiate Football Association) adopted the rules to fit Harvard’s version.

It was also during the nineteenth century where Vaudeville shows came to be as the main form of mass entertainment. The first Vaudeville Theater began in 1881 in Manhattan by Tony Pastor. New York was pretty much the Vaudeville capital of the United States soon after as they had ten theaters there (New York is still the capital of theater with Broadway taking over). For the younger generations, “the greatest show on Earth” was invented by Phineas Barnum and James Bailey. It was a three-ring circus with a vast array of acts for the kids – and it is still very popular in today’s society.

The nineteenth century was also dubbed the “age of the bicycle.” The invention of the velocipede – the bike with the really big wheel – was in 1885. The bicycle than became safer with equal sized tires and became a much better way of exercise for everyone. It also helped improve women’s fashion as they were unable to ride with the Victorian hoop dresses, so designers had to come up with a freer and less constrictive style.