Kasson's Amusing The Million

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Amusing the Million is a book about the experiences and popularity of an extremely famous amusement park that opened in 1895, but gained popularity as the technology in the United States advanced. New railroads, and a subway system increased the need for hotels, and entertainment, along with allowing people to have easier access to Coney Island. There are two different interpretations throughout the text, on the more direct level, the story shows the notoriety, and the structural and physical attractions present at the park. “ The primary recreational value of the park, Olmstead insisted, consisted in this contemplation of natural scenery.”(Kasson pg 13) However there is also the more shrouded meaning behind just being an amusement park. Throughout …show more content…
People from all over the world, of all economic statuses, all religions, and all races, came to enjoy this park. People were able to forget about the duties of their daily lives and gain that escape from reality people never realized was so sought after until Coney Island was introduced. It encouraged visitors to shed momentarily their accustomed roles and status. Coney offered a relatively “loose, unregulated social situation which contrasted markedly with the high degree of social attentiveness and decorum demanded in most other public activities.” (Kasson pg.41) With Coney becoming more popular as America ascended into the 1920’s, many people had a number of responsibilities and hardships, especially as the US entered World War 1 in 1914. Kasson describes the effect of Coney as, “It broke down the sense of rigidity that dominated so much of the life of American cities at the turn of the century and lessened personal restraints.” (Kasson pg 41) Jefferey Stanton of westland.net explains that 500,000 attended Coney Island …show more content…
This leads to the other part of John Kasson's argument, that Coney brought people from all different backgrounds and statuses together to just enjoy the park. “The park would offer both physical and imaginative exercise and create a setting where people of all classes might promenade in large groups or picnic in small ones.” (Kasson pg 13) Forgetting the difference in color, or how much money some have compared to others, Kasson argues that this park will be a way for those to forget about the separation present in the outside world, and come together as a species to enjoy what the park has to offer. “Thus Olmstead firmly believed that the aesthetic experience of the park would pay social and moral dividends. It soothes discontent and encourages sociability through restorative contact with nature. It would discipline conduct and uplift public taste by providing a restful and decorous environment.”(Kasson pg 15) Coney Island was also the first real turning point in the section of clothing. Speaking to the modern readers and their perception, Kasson writes, “Modest as they may appear to our eyes, the bathing suits of the time were in every sense looser than customary street
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