Cities and Towns:
During the Industrial Revolution of the early 19th century, the “Midwest” region of the United States became the hub of the nation’s economy and commerce. Transportation via the invention of the train and the utilization of the Transcontinental Railroad made these areas accessible to immigrants who would populate this region and cultivate the land through farming and agriculture.
The Great Depression of the 1930’s would forever change midwestern farming culture, however, as a massive drought that would become known as, “The Dust Bowl,” caused many farmers to lose their source of income and migrate to areas unaffected by the harsh environmental conditions. While government implemented programs would help rebuild this part of the country so that farming was reinvigorated and more needed than ever during the war effort of the 1940’s, World War II would ultimately lead to the massive urbanization of cities along the coast, particularly in California. As a result, another wave of migration from the midwest occurred during this time, minimizing the overall population of this part of the United States that has largely lasted to this day.
In Picnic, playwright William Inge sets the events of the plot in an unspecified small town in Kansas, which is a commonality between many of his plays. He largely drew upon his experience growing up in Independence, a small town in Montgomery County in Southeast Kansas. He explained his reason for doing so thusly:
“I’ve often wondered how people raised in our great cities ever develop any knowledge of humankind. People who grow up in small towns get to know each other so much more closely than they do in cities.”
In the 1920’s, Independence was said to have had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the country. According to a report based on Kansas census information from the Institute for Policy and Social Research, 73.7% of Montgomery County as a whole was considered urban in 1950. In the same year’s census, the town of Independence is cited as having a population of only 11,335. Therefore, despite being a small town, the majority of that area was a developed township and urban center.
Towns in this Midwest during this time were centralized to either one or a few main streets, and the buildings found in these areas were focused on resident necessities. As religion was a major part of daily life in Kansas (a subject which will be discussed later in this blog), churches were a prominent feature of most towns. Banks, general stores, repair shops for cars and electronics (such as radios and televisions), and, especially for the Midwest and in the context of Picnic, train stations were a necessary part of any city structure. All of these elements together formed a typical Kansas town in the 1950’s and creates an interesting juxtaposition of a version of urban life amongst a largely rural environment.
Religion and Black Experience in 1950’s Kansas:
In Kansas in the 1950’s, religion, especially Catholicism and Protestant Christianity, were sweeping across the cities. As Carol Tucker of USC News reports on 1957 author and pastor Robert Ellwood, she states:
“‘It was a fine time to go to church … and to build,’ he writes. It was a decade when the American family was embraced as an institution by men and women seeking normalcy after World War II. The economy was booming and people bought nice cars and homes in the suburbs…and everything that went into them – from refrigerators to television sets” (Tucker).
During the 50’s, many states in the South and Midwest (including Kansas) were focused on creating a “perfect family” persona. Since the war had ended and the economy had a boost, many cities were constructed with new schooling and churches. However, under the surface there was a rising battle between the Catholic and Protestant churches. They were fighting to have their establishments built over the other, which really stemmed from their differences in opinion on certain religious topics. In Kansas since 1901, pentecostalism was also a popular form of worship practiced across the state. Nevertheless, from the mid to the late 50’s, almost 50% of Americans were at church on Sunday morning.
Additionally, Kansas historically has always been a predominantly white state. African American men and women have made up only about 4-6% of the state’s population for the past century. This led to severe discrimination and a majority of the black population to congregate in Northeastern Kansas. Around the 1950’s, the blues movement was very present in Kansas, which gave an element of power and escape to those who partook in the music. Wichta, Kansas was responsible for most of blues movement and impact it had on other cities and towns.
Geography and Climate:
Kansas is located in the Midwest of the United States, with its bordering states including Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Missouri. The geography in Kansas is similar throughout the state, with slight variations in various locations. The western part of Kansas is known for its flat surface with many large plains, whereas closer east, one will find a more hilly surface with agricultural forests. Kansas is also home to many rivers, including the Kansas and Arkansas Rivers.
In Kansas, the climate would be considered humid continental to humid subtropical. This consists of cold winter and hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching well above 100 degrees consistently. It also rains quite a bit, with most of the heavy rainfall taking place during the spring and summer. Rainfall averages at 16-47 inches and snow from 5-35 inches annually and in relation to the location in the state. Kansas gets an abundant amount of sunshine throughout the year, but also a massive amount of thunderstorms to match.
Bibliography:
Abbott, Carl. The Metropolitan Frontier: Cities in the Modern American West. Tucson: U of Arizona, 1998. Print.
“Kansas.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Feb. 2017. Web.
O’Connor, Patrick Joseph. “The Black Experience and the Blues in 1950s Wichita.” Black Experience and the Blues in 1950s Wichita | by Patrick Joseph OConnor | Kansas History. Web.
Population, Kansas Statistical Abstract 2015. Rep. Institute for Policy and Social Research, Sept. 2016. Web.
“These 16 Photos of Kansas In The 1950’s Are Mesmerizing.” OnlyInYourState. Web.
Tucker, Carol. “The 1950s – Powerful Years for Religion.” USC News. 16 June 1997. Web.
Whitaker, Beverly. “United States Migration Patterns World War II Era (National Institute).” The National Institute for Genealogical Studies. June 2012. Web.
“William Inge Center for the Arts.” William Inge Biography. Web.
PICNIC Dramaturgy 