The Changing Attitudes Towards Shorts: A Look Back at the Impact of the 1936 Heat Wave

By August 16, 2026 / 9:57 AM EDT / CBS News

The summer of 1936 was deadly due to extreme heat. At least 5,000 people died from heat-related causes. Cities like New York, Baltimore, and Minneapolis faced relentless temperatures exceeding 100°F. Geoff Williams, who wrote “The Summer of Death,” described it as a time when records were set and remain unbroken to this day.

Lacking air conditioning, many sought solace in movie theaters or outdoors. Williams highlighted this discomfort, stating, “All day, you’re suffering, and then you can’t sleep.” The heat influenced lifestyle changes, including clothing.

Wearing shorts was uncommon and often illegal in places like Yonkers, New York. Mike Spano, current mayor, reflected on this, noting wearing shorts could result in fines and jail time. In 1935, Yonkers Alderman William Slater banned shorts and halter tops, but two New York Daily News reporters challenged the law in 1936, resulting in their arrest.

Despite a $10 fine, their conviction was overturned after a lengthy court battle. A new “modesty ordinance” in 1937 did not last long. Erin Black from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts explained the historical aversion to showing legs. Men in the Elizabethan Era wore shorts known as pumpkin hose, which attracted pests.

By the late 1800s, only young boys wore shorts, but things changed in World War I. British soldiers in Bermuda modified their pants to create Bermuda shorts due to the heat. Black confirmed this was a climate-driven decision.

Women waited longer to adopt shorter attire, but World War II pinup girls like Betty Grable and 1950s fashion trends helped change perceptions. The 1971 James Brown song “Hot Pants” and the disco era elevated shorts in fashion. Catherine Bach’s portrayal of Daisy Duke in “The Dukes of Hazzard” popularized “Daisy Dukes.”

Today, shorts are a staple, even in workplaces, including the office of Mayor Mike Spano in Yonkers. Writer Geoff Williams enjoys this freedom, recalling that in 1936, “I would have been doomed.” This summer’s heat has been challenging, but the widespread acceptance of shorts is something to appreciate.

“Modesty on the line in ‘The Summer of Death'”

Geoff Williams’ account of the devastating 1936 heat wave details Kentucky’s attempts to prevent young women from wearing what was then considered revealing clothing.

For more information: “The Summer of Death: The Great Heat Wave of 1936 and the Making of Modern-Day America” by Geoff Williams is available in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org.

Credits: Produced by Michelle Kessel. Editor: Carol Ross.