Powers examines the lives of saloongoers across America, including those in major cities such as New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco as well as smaller cities such as Sioux City, Shoshone, and Oakland. Her investigation offers a fascinating look at the rich lore of the barroom -- its many games, stories, songs, free lunch customs, and especially its elaborate system of drinking rituals that have been passed on for decades. She shows how urban workers used saloons as places to promote their political, social, and economic objectives; saloons were where union leaders first organized their members, machine politicians cultivated the workingman's vote, and immigrants sought the assistance of their countrymen. She also discusses how gender, ethnicity, and class played significant roles in determining the club's membership.
Powers concludes that an underlying code of reciprocity and peer group honor in saloon life unified the regulars and transformed them into a voluntary association. Thus, amid the fumes of beer and cigars, the regulars were able to cultivate thedual benefits of communal companionship and marketplace clout, making the old-time saloon one of the most versatile, ubiquitous, and controversial institutions in American history.
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Powers examines the lives of saloongoers across America, including those in major cities such as New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and San Francisco as well as smaller cities such as Sioux City, Shoshone, and Oakland. Her investigation offers a fascinating look at the rich lore of the barroom -- its many games, stories, songs, free lunch customs, and especially its elaborate system of drinking rituals that have been passed on for decades. She shows how urban workers used saloons as places to promote their political, social, and economic objectives; saloons were where union leaders first organized their members, machine politicians cultivated the workingman's vote, and immigrants sought the assistance of their countrymen. She also discusses how gender, ethnicity, and class played significant roles in determining the club's membership.
Powers concludes that an underlying code of reciprocity and peer group honor in saloon life unified the regulars and transformed them into a voluntary association. Thus, amid the fumes of beer and cigars, the regulars were able to cultivate thedual benefits of communal companionship and marketplace clout, making the old-time saloon one of the most versatile, ubiquitous, and controversial institutions in American history.
Imprint | University of Chicago Press |
Country of origin | United States |
Series | Historical Studies of Urban America, 1998 |
Release date | August 1998 |
Availability | Our supplier does not have stock of this product at present, but they do have demand for it and we can create a special order for you. Alternatively, if you add it to your wishlist we will send you an email message should it become available from stock. |
First published | August 1998 |
Authors | Madelon Powers |
Dimensions | 235 x 160 x 25mm (L x W x T) |
Format | Hardcover |
Pages | 332 |
Edition | New |
ISBN-13 | 978-0-226-67768-2 |
Barcode | 9780226677682 |
Categories | |
LSN | 0-226-67768-0 |