In the 1980s Americans continued to find new means of escape from their work schedules and to consider these means an important investment. In 1980 total personal expenditures for recreation were $149 billion; by 1989 the figure had risen to $250 billion. In 1980 sales of sporting goods totaled nearly $17 billion; by 1989 that total had risen to $45 billion. In 1980 Broadway shows took in $143 million; by 1989 their receipts totaled $262 million. Total motion-picture receipts in 1980 were $2.7 billion; by 1989 they had risen to more than $5 billion. In 1980 Americans spent $9 billion on books; by the end of the decade they were spending more than $19 billion. The leisure and entertainment industries were bigger businesses than ever before during the 1980s. According to Margaret Ambry, in 1988 American households spent $126 billion for entertainment, and.....
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