The Mafia are some of America's favorite bad guys. They are the subject of countless television series, movies, and books. When people hear the term Mafia or Mob, they may often think of the violent and ruthless tactics they used to get what they wanted. What many do not realize is that, from the early to mid-twentieth century, the Mafia had a hand in many aspects of American culture that people still enjoy today. Prohibition arose out of the Progressive Era at the end of the eighteenth century. In an attempt to reach a more virtuous society, it was concluded that alcohol was a major obstacle as it contributed to crime, poverty, as well as mental instability. This war with alcohol was won with the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919.
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The madams who managed these clubs and brothels were often Cherokee, Chinese, and Mexican decent. There were many madams originally born into slavery who became quite wealthy working in the clubs owned by the Mob. In addition to the black and tans, dance halls became a popular form of entertainment in the 1910s and 1920s. Most were owned by immigrants associated with Italian and Jewish crime outfits. The mixing of races in these dance halls became so prevalent that the Ku Klux Klan dedicated much of their time and efforts attempting to eradicate them. In various cities, the Klan organized campaigns opposing the dance halls. They made efforts to sway local governments into monitoring or shutting down these places they considered deplorable and, if that failed, the Klan would attempt to burn them down. Yet, the clubs continued to flourish. These clubs show that the Mafia did not see color, race or nationality. They saw …show more content…
A prime example of this is the expansion of the motion picture industry. After Thomas Edison invented the motion picture camera and projector, he formed his own production and distribution company. He later joined nine other film companies creating the Motion Picture Patents Company in 1908. The original purpose for this company was to resolve conflicts between competing film industry members but soon became a monopoly, commanding and controlling the producing, distributing and displaying of all movies in the United States. Edison and the Patents Company, also known as the Trust, made it a point to make movies that promoted only ethical, Christian, and American values. A deadline was set for all movie companies to receive licenses. By February of that year, unlicensed companies were referring to themselves as independents and protested Edison and the Trust by carrying on with their businesses without yielding to Edison’s monopoly. These outlaws, mostly Jewish immigrant entrepreneurs, were using Edison’s inventions to make and show their own movies. These movies were shown in five-cent theaters, known as nickelodeons, in lower and middle class neighborhoods. The movies produced by these rebel filmmakers were racier, violent, and considered more entertaining than what Edison and his companies were
The madams who managed these clubs and brothels were often Cherokee, Chinese, and Mexican decent. There were many madams originally born into slavery who became quite wealthy working in the clubs owned by the Mob. In addition to the black and tans, dance halls became a popular form of entertainment in the 1910s and 1920s. Most were owned by immigrants associated with Italian and Jewish crime outfits. The mixing of races in these dance halls became so prevalent that the Ku Klux Klan dedicated much of their time and efforts attempting to eradicate them. In various cities, the Klan organized campaigns opposing the dance halls. They made efforts to sway local governments into monitoring or shutting down these places they considered deplorable and, if that failed, the Klan would attempt to burn them down. Yet, the clubs continued to flourish. These clubs show that the Mafia did not see color, race or nationality. They saw …show more content…
A prime example of this is the expansion of the motion picture industry. After Thomas Edison invented the motion picture camera and projector, he formed his own production and distribution company. He later joined nine other film companies creating the Motion Picture Patents Company in 1908. The original purpose for this company was to resolve conflicts between competing film industry members but soon became a monopoly, commanding and controlling the producing, distributing and displaying of all movies in the United States. Edison and the Patents Company, also known as the Trust, made it a point to make movies that promoted only ethical, Christian, and American values. A deadline was set for all movie companies to receive licenses. By February of that year, unlicensed companies were referring to themselves as independents and protested Edison and the Trust by carrying on with their businesses without yielding to Edison’s monopoly. These outlaws, mostly Jewish immigrant entrepreneurs, were using Edison’s inventions to make and show their own movies. These movies were shown in five-cent theaters, known as nickelodeons, in lower and middle class neighborhoods. The movies produced by these rebel filmmakers were racier, violent, and considered more entertaining than what Edison and his companies were