America's economy was smashed to smithereens by the crash of '29, leaving families with no income. The nation was depressed both financially and morally. There was a great drought in the Midwest which caused the exodus of thousands of people heading west in the hopes of finding a better life on the glamourous California coast. Strikes were big news as Unions were created to help protect laborers, jobs and pay. Americans turned to radio and film to boost their flagging spirits. Theater and opera were luxuries few could afford, but one could listen to the radio and go to the movies for very little money. In sharp contrast to reality, the movies of this period depicted a sense of glamour unknown to their audiences. A favorite storyline of this period was the small town kid leaving home to find fame and fortune in Hollywood. Fashion in the thirties was greatly influenced by the Hollywood ideal of style. Hemlines dropped again in the thirties and the waistline returned to a more natural position. Skirts and frocks often clung to the waist and hips but flared out in the gores or pleats to a few inches above the ankle (or mid calf). The silhouette had changed from the twenties boyish, youthful straight lines back into a softer, more feminine one.