Interwar London after Dark in British Popular Culture

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Introduction: ‘Dancing Goes on Until Dawn’

   • Mara Arts

   Pages 1-15

3. Interwar London: Nights, Newspapers, Films

   • Mara Arts

   Pages 17-41

4. Women on London’s Night-Time Streets

   • Mara Arts

   Pages 43-75

5. The Metropolitan Police in Interwar Film and Newspapers

   • Mara Arts

   Pages 77-107

6. Suburbs and Public Transport at Night

   • Mara Arts

   Pages 109-155

7. Mirror Image: Newspapers and Films Reflecting Each Other

   • Mara Arts

   Pages 157-180

8. Conclusion

   • Mara Arts

   Pages 181-189

9. Back Matter

   Pages 191-207

   PDF

This book explores the representation of London’s nightlife in popular films and newspapers of the interwar period. Through a series of case-studies, it analyses how British popular media in the 1920s and 1930s displayed the capital after dark. It argues that newspapers and films were part of a common culture, which capitalized on the transgressive possibilities of the night. At the same time both media ensured that those in authority, such as the police, were always shown to ultimately be in control of the night. 

The first chapter of the book provides an overview of the British film and newspaper industries in the interwar period. Subsequent chapters each explore a specific aspect of London’s nightlife. In turn, these chapters consider how films and newspapers of the interwar period depicted women navigating the street at night; the Metropolitan Police’s involvement in nightlife; and the capital’s newly built and expanded suburbs and public transport network. Finally, the book considers how newspapers and films depicted themselves and one another. 

• British popular culture
• Interwar period
• British mass media
• London in popular culture
• British interwar films
• Interwar London
• London nightlife

“One of the most impressive aspects of Interwar London After Dark is its catalogue of interwar films. … This makes the book an important resource, as readers will learn about films they might not have heard about otherwise.” (Michael McCluskey, The London Journal, August 29, 2023)

• Coventry University, London, UK

  Mara Arts

Mara Arts has completed a doctorate at Birkbeck, University of London. Her research focuses on mass culture in interwar Britain. In particular, she investigates the intersections between fiction film, tabloid journalism and popular culture. Her research has previously been included in London on Film, eds. Pam Hirsch and Chris O'Rourke (Palgrave, 2017). Mara regularly presents her research at a range of national and international conferences. In addition to her research activities, Mara also has several years’ experience as a university lecturer, teaching film and media studies at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She currently works at Coventry University where she supports academic teams with curriculum development. Mara is passionate about increasing the visibility of British interwar history and maintains a weekly blog at www.interwarlondon.com

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