Diversões em Rio Branco: a alegria em meio à crise (1910-1930)

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the organization of the early initiatives in favor of recreation in the city of Rio Branco (Acre), during the time period from 1910 to 1930, using newspapers from that era as a source. This period was marked by the onset of a financial crisis caused by the decline in rubber prices — the main economic activity — around the 1910s. The crisis led to commercial diversification, and in this context, new ventures were inaugurated in the city, such as bars, cinemas, and recreation venues. Concurrently, the local elite enjoyed new sporting experiences, including horse racing, cycling, and foot races. However, notably, soccer became the sport that consolidated the most, with the founding of clubs, the organization of the Acrean League of Land Sports (the organizing body), the construction of social clubs, and, in 1929, the inauguration of the city's first stadium, the José de Melo Stadium. In addition to these sports, the founding of the Acrean Athletic Association in 1929 introduced new sports in the city, such as volleyball and basketball. Women and children began to participate in sporting activities. This marked an important change in the sporting dynamic, which had previously focused on adult men who enjoyed social prestige. During the two decades studied, cinema emerged as a significant space for recreation for the general population. The Tentamen party hall became a manifestation of the local elite's desire to have a specific place that demonstrated social distinction. Finally, parties stood out as the most frequent form of recreation among the population. In Rio Branco, there were no intense processes of industrialization or urbanization; nevertheless, the population experienced the emergence of new recreation practices and sports organization. The transformations that occurred were more of a social nature than physical or structural. Recreation appeared as a manifestation of new modern habits. Thus, despite all economic and political adversities, contrary to the imagined isolation and stagnation, there was recreation in Rio Branco.