ABSTRACT
Shortly after the establishment of the first taxi-dance halls in Chicago 1 the more discerning proprietors recognized that a big problem confronting the institution was its relationship to the larger public outside which—though only imperfectly conceived—was nevertheless acknowledged to be all important. Thus arose the second stage in the natural history of the taxi-dance hall, the period of institutional consciousness. During this time considerable effort was expended in trying to give to the taxi-dance hall at least a specious respectability by emphasizing the claim that it was in reality, as well as in name, a dancing school.
