Controlling Crowds: On the Technological Management of Entertainment Audiences

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Cultural Studies
• History of Technology

Background:

• Large cultural performance venues emerged in early 1900s America.
• Managing large crowds posed risks of political and property damage.
• Venues sought to harness crowd energy and profit potential safely.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how crowd control technologies were developed and utilized in early 1900s American performance venues.
• To analyze the discourse surrounding crowd control technologies and their intended effects.
• To understand the role of these technologies in shaping audience behavior and social order.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of trade literature and technical books.
• Examination of social science scholarship related to crowds and venues.
• Case studies of theaters, music halls, and stadiums utilizing crowd control equipment.

Main Results:

• Crowd control technologies (turnstiles, stanchions, seats) were framed as tools for generating calm audiences.
• Manufacturers and venue operators used language emphasizing orderliness and channeled movement.
• These technologies facilitated the conversion of mass crowds into manageable audiences.

Conclusions:

• Technological solutions were key to accommodating expanding urban populations in performance venues.
• Crowd control technologies played a role in reinforcing the racial order of early twentieth-century America.
• The management of public spaces reflects broader societal structures and power dynamics.