Back in time… to the Back in time… to the TwentiesTwenties

Facts of the DecadeFacts of the Decade

106,521,537 People in the U.S106,521,537 People in the U.S 2,132,000 Unemployed, 5.2%2,132,000 Unemployed, 5.2% Life Expectancy Male – 53.6 yearsLife Expectancy Male – 53.6 years

Female – 54.6 yearsFemale – 54.6 years 343,000 in the military 343,000 in the military Average annual earnings $1,236.00Average annual earnings $1,236.00 Teachers Salary $970.00Teachers Salary $970.00 Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the

populationpopulation It took 13 days to reach California from New It took 13 days to reach California from New

York York There were 387,000 miles of paved roadThere were 387,000 miles of paved road

Movies of the 20’sMovies of the 20’s

Films really blossomed in the 20’sFilms really blossomed in the 20’s Most U.S. film production at the start of the decade occurred in or Most U.S. film production at the start of the decade occurred in or

near Hollywood on the West Coast, although some films were still near Hollywood on the West Coast, although some films were still being made in New Jersey and in Astoria on Long Islandbeing made in New Jersey and in Astoria on Long Island

By the end of the decade there were 20 Hollywood studiosBy the end of the decade there were 20 Hollywood studios Throughout most of the decade silent movies were the predominate Throughout most of the decade silent movies were the predominate

product in the film industryproduct in the film industry The Big 5 Studios – They produced more than 90% of the fiction The Big 5 Studios – They produced more than 90% of the fiction

films in America and distributed their films both Nationally and films in America and distributed their films both Nationally and InternationallyInternationally

Warner Bros.Warner Bros.ParamountParamountRKORKOMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)Fox Film Corporation/FoundationFox Film Corporation/Foundation

The first Mickey Mouse cartoon came out in 1928The first Mickey Mouse cartoon came out in 1928

TV’sTV’s

Earliest TV Recordings Earliest TV Recordings 1927-19351927-1935

From the dawn of our From the dawn of our television technology age television technology age comes the restored comes the restored wonders of original wonders of original recordings made in the era recordings made in the era of mechanical-scanned of mechanical-scanned television.television.

Mechanical TV set’s of the Mechanical TV set’s of the 20’s20’s

The first mechanical TV’s The first mechanical TV’s were developed by John were developed by John Logie Baird in England and Logie Baird in England and by Charles Jenkines in the by Charles Jenkines in the U.S. in the mid 20’sU.S. in the mid 20’s

Picture quality was very Picture quality was very poor, and the screens were poor, and the screens were only an inch or so wide only an inch or so wide

Fighting the Flying Fighting the Flying CircusCircus An on-line edition of Eddie An on-line edition of Eddie

Rickenbacker’s WW1 memoriesRickenbacker’s WW1 memories There are 36 chapters in this book There are 36 chapters in this book

ranging from the first stories to the ranging from the first stories to the last victory of the great warlast victory of the great war

Captain Rickenbacker, originally from Captain Rickenbacker, originally from Ohio was best known as one of the Ohio was best known as one of the Commanders of the 94Commanders of the 94thth “Hat-in-the- “Hat-in-the-Ring” Squadron, a crack unit of pilots Ring” Squadron, a crack unit of pilots which included many former members which included many former members of the famed Lafayette Escadrille of the famed Lafayette Escadrille

TramsTrams

In 1920 – 1929 The Venice trams were operated by In 1920 – 1929 The Venice trams were operated by a uniformed motorman along a north and south a uniformed motorman along a north and south route on the concrete boardwalk between Santa route on the concrete boardwalk between Santa Monica and Venice. These trackless electric trams Monica and Venice. These trackless electric trams amounted to battery powered upholstered wicker amounted to battery powered upholstered wicker benches with lever type hand controller and benches with lever type hand controller and mechanical brake at one end.mechanical brake at one end.

BaseballBaseball

The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous scandal in Baseball historyscandal in Baseball history

Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds the series against the Cincinnati Reds

Gamblers were often visibly present at ballparks and Gamblers were often visibly present at ballparks and the fixing of games had been suspected since the mid-the fixing of games had been suspected since the mid-1850s. 1850s.

HarlemHarlem

Harlem has long symbolized the culture of Harlem has long symbolized the culture of the African-American experience for its the African-American experience for its people in the 20th-centurypeople in the 20th-century

Charles Gilpin was theCharles Gilpin was the

first African-Americanfirst African-American

actor to perform in an actor to perform in an

all white productionall white production

"The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future...History

must restore what slavery took away...The Negro has been a man without a history because he has been considered a man without a worthy culture...But already the Negro sees himself against a reclaimed

background, in a perspective that will give pride and self-respect ample scope, and

make history yield for him the same values that the treasured past of any people

affords." A. Schomburg

The Negro Digs Up His Past

F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

Born in St. Paul Minnesota on September 24, 1896Born in St. Paul Minnesota on September 24, 1896 He wrote about 44 books in his life timeHe wrote about 44 books in his life time His first writing to appear in print was a detective story in the school His first writing to appear in print was a detective story in the school

newspaper when he was 13newspaper when he was 13 He joined the army in 1917 and wrote “The Romantic Egotist”He joined the army in 1917 and wrote “The Romantic Egotist” The Side of Paradise was accepted by editor Maxwell Perkins in The Side of Paradise was accepted by editor Maxwell Perkins in

SeptemberSeptember The Side of Paradise made him famous and he married Zelda in The Side of Paradise made him famous and he married Zelda in

New YorkNew York Their only daughter ,Frances Scott ,was born October 21, 1921Their only daughter ,Frances Scott ,was born October 21, 1921 His second novel was called Beautiful and DamnedHis second novel was called Beautiful and Damned The Great Gatsby was published In AprilThe Great Gatsby was published In April He went through a depression period called the “crack up” when he He went through a depression period called the “crack up” when he

didn’t write between 1936-1937didn’t write between 1936-1937 The last novel, The love of the last Tycoon was half completed in The last novel, The love of the last Tycoon was half completed in

1939 because he died December 21, 19401939 because he died December 21, 1940

SlangSlang

Some slang of the 20’s:Some slang of the 20’s:

Bee’s Knee’s – an extraordinary person, thing, ideaBee’s Knee’s – an extraordinary person, thing, idea

Bimbo – a tough guyBimbo – a tough guy

Breezer - a convertible carBreezer - a convertible car

Ducky – very goodDucky – very good

Goofy – in loveGoofy – in love

Handcuffs – an engagement ringHandcuffs – an engagement ring

Moll – a gangster’s girlMoll – a gangster’s girl

Razz – to make fun of Razz – to make fun of

Sinker – a doughnutSinker – a doughnut

Tomato – a femaleTomato – a female

ProhibitionProhibition

ProhibitionProhibition - the act or an instance of forbidding; a state - the act or an instance of forbidding; a state of being forbiddenof being forbidden. .

The prohibition era began in January 16The prohibition era began in January 16 thth, 1920 , when the , 1920 , when the U.S. prohibited the manufacturing and sale of mostly U.S. prohibited the manufacturing and sale of mostly alcoholalcohol

There are 4 main reasons:There are 4 main reasons:MedicalMedicalEconomicalEconomicalPoliticalPoliticalSocialSocial

At first Prohibition seemed to succeed, crime rates fell, At first Prohibition seemed to succeed, crime rates fell, unemployment decreased and the economy was booming unemployment decreased and the economy was booming more than ever. more than ever.

But even after the law was set up, many Americans still But even after the law was set up, many Americans still carried on drinking and the number became larger and carried on drinking and the number became larger and larger. larger.

Women’s FashionWomen’s Fashion

The feminine liberation movement had a strong effect The feminine liberation movement had a strong effect on women's fashions. Most importantly, the corset on women's fashions. Most importantly, the corset was discarded! For the first time in centuries, women's was discarded! For the first time in centuries, women's legs were seen. A more masculine look became legs were seen. A more masculine look became popular, including flattened breasts and hips, and popular, including flattened breasts and hips, and bobbed hair. bobbed hair.

Men’s FashionMen’s Fashion

Outlining the post WWI mood in men's fashion, this Outlining the post WWI mood in men's fashion, this essay includes descriptions of knickerbockers, patent essay includes descriptions of knickerbockers, patent leather, and the popularity of Oxford bags. leather, and the popularity of Oxford bags.

Jazz AgeJazz Age

The flapper was the heroine of the Jazz Age.The flapper was the heroine of the Jazz Age. With short hair and a short skirt, with turned-With short hair and a short skirt, with turned-

down hose and powdered knees - the flapper down hose and powdered knees - the flapper must have seemed to her mother like a rebel.must have seemed to her mother like a rebel.

the typical flapper was a young women who was the typical flapper was a young women who was often thought of as a little fast and maybe even a often thought of as a little fast and maybe even a little brazen. little brazen.

However, flappers did more than symbolize a However, flappers did more than symbolize a revolution in fashion and mores - they embodied revolution in fashion and mores - they embodied the modern spirit of the Jazz Age. the modern spirit of the Jazz Age.