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Dance Marathons: America's Brutal Depression-Era Descent
19 Jul
Summary
- Dance marathons were brutal competitions during the Great Depression.
- Robert and Gloria sought fame or prize money through dancing.
- The novel was called America's first existentialist novel.
Horace McCoy's novel, 'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?', vividly portrays the strange and brutal dance marathon competitions of America's Great Depression. The story centers on Robert and Gloria, a couple in Los Angeles whose last hope lies in winning prize money or catching the eye of talent scouts. McCoy's personal experience as a bouncer at such events lends authenticity to the bleak narrative. This challenging tale, imbued with nihilistic underpinnings, prompted Simone de Beauvoir to dub it the first American existentialist novel. Despite its grim themes, McCoy's empathy for the doomed characters imbues the story with powerful emotional resonance.
