News letter of the Voteless District of Columbia League of Woman Voters - 1933

NEWS LETTER OF THE VOTELESS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LEAGUE OF WOMAN VOTERS. November 12, 1933. Mrs. Richard Hogue, President and Mrs. S.H. Horne, Editor. 3 pgs. Typed and mimeographed with illus. The emphasis of the three pages is titled THE TAXI DANCE HALL ORDINANCE IS ENACTED which was one of the victories of the League of Women Voters. They evidently got an ordinance passed that “No female shall be employed in any dance hall, for the purpose of dancing with male patrons of such dance halls.”

“Girls employed in these halls are expected to dance with any man who may choose her and to remain with him on the dance floor for as long a time as he is willing to pay the charges. Hence the significance of the aptly named "taxi dancer" which has recently been given her. ….The dance hall girl seems to represent a type in more than appearance. She may be either blonde or brunette, but apparently she is required to be slender, lithe, beautiful, and vivacious. She need not be thought virtuous, in the conventional sense; she must at least be considered "peppy." For the most part the dancers appeared to be giddy young girls in the first flush of enthusiasm over the thrills, satisfactions, and money which is transient world of the dance hall provides. Their stock in trade seems to be an ability to dance with some skill a great variety of dance steps, and, most important, sufficient attractiveness to draw many patrons to the hall (Cressey 1932:7). It is a mercenary and silent world -- this world of the taxi dance hall. Feminine society is for sale, and adding the price. Dances are very short; seldom do they last more than 90 seconds. At $.10 for each 90 seconds of dancing, a full evening would total the man a tidy sum. These young girls by a few hours of dancing each evening may secure a weekly income of at least 35 or $40.” (From: The Taxi-Dance Hall: A Sociological Study in Commercialized Recreation and City Life by Paul G. Cressey)

The news letter also had articles titled Come and See How Laws Are Made; Grae Dangers To Education In Economy Measures; What The State League Accomplished In The Legislatures in 1933 and Department and Committee Activities. Several minor fold separations, overall in vg cond.