TY - GEN T1 - The roadhouse comes to Britain : drinking, driving and dancing, 1925-1955 A1 - Gutzke, David W., 1949- A1 - Law, Michael John LA - English PP - London ; New York, NY PB - Bloomsbury Academic, An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc YR - 2017 UL - https://ebooks.jgu.edu.in/Record/ebsco_acadsubs_ocn958932477 AB - "This is the first book to examine the cultural phenomenon of the roadhouse in mid 20th-century Britain and its impact on British leisure. The term 'roadhouse' was used in varied ways in the 1930s, from small roadside tearooms to enormous establishments on the outskirts of major cities. These roadhouses were an important component in the transformation of leisure in the 1930s and beyond, reflecting the increased levels of social and physical mobility brought about by new technologies, suburbanisation and the influence of American culture. Roadhouses attracted wealthy Londoners excited by the prospect of a high-speed run into the countryside. During the day, they offered family activities such as tennis, archery, horse riding and swimming. At night, they provided all the fun of the West End with dancing, classy restaurants, cabaret, swimsuit parades and dance demonstrations, subverting the licensing laws to provide all-night drinking. Rumours abounded of prostitution and transgressive behaviour in the car park. Roadhouses formed part of an imaginary America in suburban Britain that was promoted by the popularity of American movies, music and fiction, providing a pastiche of the American country club. While much work has been done on the Soho nightclubs of the 1930s, the roadhouse has been largely ignored. Michael John Law and David Gutzke fill this gap in the literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of the roadhouse's cultural meaning, demonstrating how Americanisation was interpreted for British consumers. This original and engaging study will be fascinating reading for all scholars of 20th-century British cultural history"-- CN - TX910.G7 SN - 9781474294515 SN - 1474294510 SN - 9781474294492 SN - 1474294499 SN - 9781474294508 (hardback) SN - 9781474294508 KW - Roadhouses : Great Britain : History : 20th century. KW - Leisure : Great Britain : History : 20th century. KW - Automobile travel : Social aspects : Great Britain : History : 20th century. KW - Drinking of alcoholic beverages : Social aspects : Great Britain : History : 20th century. KW - Dance : Social aspects : Great Britain : History : 20th century. KW - Great Britain : Social life and customs : 20th century. KW - Great Britain : Civilization : American influences. KW - Relais (Tourisme) : Grande-Bretagne : Histoire : 20e siècle. KW - Loisir : Grande-Bretagne : Histoire : 20e siècle. KW - Voyages en automobile : Aspect social : Grande-Bretagne : Histoire : 20e siècle. KW - Consommation d'alcool : Aspect social : Grande-Bretagne : Histoire : 20e siècle. KW - Danse : Aspect social : Grande-Bretagne : Histoire : 20e siècle. KW - Grande-Bretagne : Mœurs et coutumes : 20e siècle. KW - HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain. KW - HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century. KW - HISTORY / Social History. KW - Automobile travel : Social aspects KW - Civilization : American influences KW - Dance : Social aspects KW - Drinking of alcoholic beverages : Social aspects KW - Leisure KW - Manners and customs KW - Roadhouses KW - Great Britain KW - History ER -