ABSTRACT
With World War I behind them, Americans began the process of readjustment by focusing on domestic life and politics rather than foreign concerns. With the return of prosperity after a brief postwar recession, American citizens concentrated on economic gains and the acceleration of aggressive consumption that fueled the new economy. Although some groups, such as farmers and unskilled workers, did not benefit substantially from this economic growth, the wider availability of consumer goods together with the rise of installment buying did make it possible for many Americans to acquire the much-desired consumer items that became the symbols of the new era of prosperity. Within this environment, the entertainment industry flourished as disposable income was expended by urban dwellers in pursuit of pleasure. Dancing Mothers (1926) offers a case study in the complications associated with the search for personal satisfaction.
