Manufacturing was experiencing a period of tumult at the turn of the 20th century. Strikes and labor unrest were frequent. From 1880 to 1930, some companies attempted to create goodwill between management and workers to quell the unrest and stave off the proliferation of unions.
After a series of labor clashes and a major strike in 1913, Goodyear’s Superintendent, Paul Litchfield, contemplated how best to provide a balance between capital and labor. He believed that a factory should be a, “place where men could make money for good work, have decent working conditions and have a chance to get ahead in the world.” That was the foundational philosophy for the creation of Goodyear Hall and Theater.
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