Play Guide [1.2MB PDF] - Arizona Theatre Company

TERMS
Probably the world’s most famous
Sphinx, at the Great Pyramids at Giza
MONEY IN 1937 AND 2010
Throughout The Glass Menagerie, Tom, Amanda
and Laura often discuss decisions they make and the
fi nancial implications of such decisions. When Laura
quits attending business college without consulting
her mother, Amanda is horrifi ed to fi nd that their
fi fty dollar investment is completely lost. It can be
challenging to know how much money was actually
worth (in buying power) from an era so much earlier
than our own. How much money are we really
talking about?
The Glass Menagerie
Sphinx: A mythological creature depicted as a lion with a
human head, historically sphinxes were often depicted as
having an inscrutable smile or being secretive about life.
In Oedipus, the sphinx asked people a riddle and if they
could not answer it, she ate them.
Supercilious: Feeling or showing arrogant
contempt or proudness. Amanda warns Tom not to be
supercilious when they are discussing the guest Tom has
invited to dinner.
Victrola: An antique record player. Laura loves playing the
family’s Victrola, but Amanda yells at her not to play it.
-reprinted with permission from Milwaukee Repertory Theatre & Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Study Guides for The Glass Menagerie.
$65 PER MONTH – THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TOM MAKES WORKING AT THE
WAREHOUSE
$65 in 1937 is about $975 in 2010
$50- THE COST OF LAURA’S BUSINESS CLASS
$50 in 1937 is about $750 in 2010
$85 PER MONTH – THE AMOUNT THAT TOM BELIEVES JIM MAKES WORKING AT
THE WAREHOUSE
$85 in 1937 is about $1174 in 2010
1937 COST OF BUTTER WHICH LAURA IS SENT OUT TO PURCHASE
Retail price for butter was about 40 cents per pound.
40 cents in 1937 is about $6 in 2010
Arizona Theatre Company Play Guide 22