This comprehensive historical analysis of the emergence of Germany's modern leisure industry also provides a major contribution to the social history of working-class life in the nineteenth century.

Preface Introduction Part I: A Time and a Place for Leisure The Industrial Environment Time and Inclination Ability to Pay Conclusions Part II: The Industrialization of Popular Culture The Traditional Festival The Working-Class Parish Fair Conflicts and Resolutions The Segregation of Festival Culture Conclusions Part III: The Lubricant of Leisure Patterns of Consumption Workplace Drinking Drink and the Family Drink and the Labour Movement Conclusions Part IV: From the Street to the Stage Street Entertainment The Taming of Popular Entertainment Tingel-Tangels and Music Halls The Dance Craze Conclusions Part V: The Organization of Leisure Preconditions of Organization Beginnings of Associational Life An Alternative Associational Movement Club Life Conclusions Part VI: The Struggle for Control The Social Question and Rational Recreation Useful Pursuits Lungs of the City Conclusions Part VII: From Control to Commercialization Entertaining the Masses The Rise of the Cinema Commercial Culture versus Working-Class Culture The Triumph of Commercial Culture? Conclusions Part VIII: Conclusions Bibliography; Index