Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-11-07
NEW PLEASURE
BEING PURSUED
BY US. PEOPLE
WAR HAS PUT CRIAEP IN KIND OF
FUN PREVIOUSLY REACHED
BY AUTOMOBILE

Because the war has put a crimp
in the kind Of fun they used to reach
with an automobile, Americans now
are concentrating their pleasure closer
to fireside, IN the yard or neighbor-
hood fun-spots. They are becoming
homefolks.
Curtailed automobile driving forces
the typical family to spend less time
on the road and more at actual recre-
alton. Industrial workers with more
money buy entertainment on a bigger
scale.
Whole families invaded the parlor
and backyard when they discovered
they couldn't buy gasoline freely and
found the tires becoming worn.
The Book-of- the Month club says
reading took a curious turn-people
developed an Unsuitable appetite for
books about the war. In their snare
time, they absorb material written by
on-the-spot observers and expert in
depreciation on certain phases Of the
conflict a club official says.
''Escapist reading was popular be-
fore Pearl Harbor," he continues, land
fiction books still are going strong, but
non-fictton has reached an eminence
that would not have been possible
without world conflict"
The Macmillan company, publishers.
says that individuals are buying even
the encyclopedia of navies Of the
world, James Fighting Ships" which |
sells for SIG. The book first was print |
ed in the United States July 81.
For the backyard the family built |
or bought an outdoor grill and dis
covered they could enjoy an all-day
picnic right at home.
Other indications Of the trend in
clude:
Reports by stores of sensationally
large sales of small stoves; home ath-
letic equipment, games like badmin-
ton or table tennis. outdoor chairs
and other lawn accessories.
Announcement by McCalls mag
azine that pattern sales-that means
nome sewing-are at new highs.
Those desiring entertainment out
tide the home find it In bowling, golf,
movies, tennis, baseball, horse racing
md gymnastics.
Bowling enthusiasts have increased
It dizzy pace since 1884 and in the
'ast few years women adherents have
ent the game spiraling into a $780,
10000 investment in which 5000, 900
americans participate.
The bowling ball Is a current prob
en- for manufacturers because it has
rubber core. Production ceased |
Iarch 81 but stocks on hand are large
nd the balls last "a lifetime" one !
roducer says
Tennis balls gradually are becoming $
xtinct with manufacturers limited to t
possessed rubber and allowed to pro-
uce only is percent of their normal t
eeds. Ii
Golfers worry only about their tires. q
Tolf ball manufacturers find they can c
verhaul balls-Sometimes merely by G
painting them-and most of the rub 0
sr inside is reusable.
The national council Of the Young
lens Christian association says use r
Y. M. G. A. gymnasiums generally :
up 20 percent since America en- 4
red the war. n
Movie fans have increased in city a
.ntral locations, but neighborhood S,
owing picture theaters suffer - be- e.
Iuse many women who formerly went a
the movies in the afternoon now s.
e engaged in civilian defense work. "
The legitimate stage reports the 81
st receipts since the last World war Il
roadway shows, normally fairly in S
tive at this time Of the year, are o.
aging to capacity crowds. -
Attendance at race tracks and major -
ague baseball games generally Is D
to last year, although off u
some cities because Of local condi-
ons.