Satan in the Dance Hall explores the overwhelming popularity of social dancing and its close relationship to Americas rapidly changing society in the 1920s. The book focuses on the fiercely contested debate over the morality of social dancing in New York City; led by moral reformers and religious leaders like Rev. John Roach Straton. Fed by the firm belief that dancing was the leading cause of immorality in New York; Straton and his followers succeeded in enacting municipal regulations on social dancing and moral conduct within the more than 750 public dance halls in New York City. Ralph G. Giordano conveys an easy to read and full picture of life in the Jazz Age; incorporating important events and personalities such as the Flu Epidemic; the Scopes Monkey Trial; Prohibition; Flappers; Gangsters; Texas Guinan; and Charles Lindbergh; while simultaneously describing how social dancing was a hugely prominent cultural phenomenon; one closely intertwined with nearly every aspect of American society from the Great War to the Great Depression. With a bibliography; an index; and over 35 photos; Satan in the Dance Hall presents an interdisciplinary study of social dancing in New York City throughout the decade.
#150166 in eBooks 2007-04-15 2007-04-15File Name: B002AP9GLW
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Having been to TaliesinBy A. D. SladeI bought the book at Taliesin. which we visited in September. and while Im not a True Believer. one of those who knows everything about FLW. but I was interested to find that Mamahs death was central for Wrights work afterwards. I grew up next to a Wright-design house that was very much what his style became: small windows. hidden front door. and my 64" father refused to go there because he didnt fit in the corridors.The book was very well written. and as short as it was. it covered a lot of ground. I couldnt put it down.8 of 9 people found the following review helpful. more than i expectedBy scarletta client left a copy of "loving frank" at my place of work so i read it and developed a new interest in frank lloyd wright. when i saw this book title. i bought it with trepidation. fearing that it would deal strictly with the murders and not much else. i had hoped for more information on the life of mr wright and his lady. and i was not disappointed.the author has done an almost painful amount of research and this book is thorough and filled with not only fact but also written in such a way as to become a thrilling novel that i found difficult to put down. i hesitate to use the word "gripping" because it is so overused. but for me. i couldnt wait to get back to it at days end.the only thing i have a difficult time understanding is why the author went to such pains to study mr wright when it seems. at least to me. that he has a very active dislike for the man and his lifestyle. when mentioning frank he minced no words. referring to him as self absorbed and irresponsible. whereas when his wife was mentioned. it was always "ppor catherine". "sad catherine". "faithful catherine". his lifestyle was at the time unaccepted to be sure. but it seems odd that mr drennan would spend so many hours researching the life of a man he disliked. in any case. im certainly glad he did. a fine book. especially for students of the genius of frank lloyd wright.7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Terrific True Crime. Answers Questions. Artfully ResearchedBy Claudine WolkDrennans "Death In a Prairie House" is as good a true crime novel as the best Ann Rule books. Drennan meticulously starts at the beginning. as any good true crime novel should. with the parents of Frank lloyd Wright and carefully creates a profile that goes a long way to explaining the reason for Wrights adult behavior. Its fascinating.I first read about Frank Lloyd Wright and Mameh Borthwick in the book "Loving Frank." The story so fascinated me that I wanted to learn more about this strange and horrific tragedy. "Death In a Prairie House" goes a long way to filling in some of the blanks. Whats more. Drennans writing ability is amazing. What else has this guy written. because I want to read it. gosh darnit! Each of his sentences are brilliantly crafted yet completely easy to understand. In addition. he is a true artist who uses vocabulary as his medium! His use and placement of words is truly breathtaking.I only wish there was more we could learn of Mameh. Lloyds "feminist mistress." "Loving Frank" probably provides the best portrait. but it would be nice to know a bit more about her from a biographical standpoint. Drennan does not seem particularly sympathetic to Mameh. nor does he chastise her outright. I suppose he wants to leave it up to the reader to decide or maybe allow history to settle the score once and for all.What you will come away with after reading "Death In a Praire House" is: an open jaw (how can something so horrific have happened?). a better understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright and the progression of his works. and a bit of jealously for the author who can write so well. as well as a whetted appetite for more writing from him.
