5 Popular Entertainment Pastimes That Were Created In Illinois

Illinois created these five popular entertainment pastimes.

Illinois Is Known For Many Things

The state of Illinois is known for many famous people, places, and things. For example Michael Jordan, Soldier Field, and Deep Dish Pizza. What I have been learning lately is there are many things that have been created in Illinois that kind of fly under the radar that I did not know about. I thought I would share a couple with you today.

Here Are Five Popular Entertainment Pastimes That Were Created In Illinois

#1 Softball

According to urbanmatter.com,

• Softball was created in 1887 by Chicago reporter, George Hancock. A group of friends was waiting for the results of a college football game when one of them throw a boxing glove at another man. He struck it with a broomstick to protect himself. They wrapped it up like a ball and begin hitting the glove around and catching it.

#2 Movies

According to chicagotribune.com,

• In the early 1900s, before there was Hollywood, Chicago was the capital and birthplace of the movie industry including production, distribution, and exhibition. During that era, thousands of movies were made through the studios and companies in the Windy City.

#3 Soap Operas

According to medium.com, 

• A Chicago actress by the name of Irna Phillips created the first opera on the radio in 1930. Then in 1949, she created the first television soap opera.

#4 Improv Comedy Theater

According to wttw.com,

• Viola Spolin was studying from a sociologist at a settlement house in Chicago where she learned about group play. From there, she created some theater games that would influence improv shows.

#5 House Music

According to onestowatch.com,

• In Chicago during the late 1970s, a DJ named Frankie Knuckles spun a new kind of dance music that took the clubs by storm. It would go on to influence many other forms and genres of music.