It is 2009 in Houston and the first decade of the new millennium is nearly over.
New Year resolutions have been replaced by the worries of an extended recession
or perhaps another depression. While the news media is fixated on reporting the
doom side of the economy, I am, however, determined to show the positive side
of how Houstonians coped with the Great Depression.
Although times were hard for Houstonians who were broke and down on their luck,
prohibition was definitely not the Texas way for those who needed alcohol to
escape the reality of their lives. Hundreds of whisky stills confiscated in
1928 proved that refreshing home brewed alcoholic beverages were plentiful.
The Houston Buffaloes and the visiting New York Yankees entertained baseball
fans and provided a temporary escape from the economic blues. Hits from
Hollywood would keep movie theaters like the Majestic and Metropolitan filled
with smiling patrons.
The widespread introduction of air conditioning in Houston occurred during the
1920s and
’30s. This new technology would, at the very least, ease the physical discomfort
of this trying period. Times were hard but life went on. Houston was growing
back then in spite of economic difficulties and shows no sign of stopping now.
