[secabeen]

My understanding is that the high point of social club membership was in the late 1800s through WW2. Before 1840, urban population was under 20%, and people couldn't get to the cities. Until 1950, under 10% of homes had Television. In that period, between 1840 and 1950, people were close enough together and transportation was available, but entertainment options in the home were more limited (radio was available, but not until the late 1920s). As such, men (and it was largely men), wanted things to do in the evenings and after work, and social clubs were where a lot of that happened.