Was the twenties a ‘roaring’ time for everyone? Aims: You should be able to... know reasons for changes in entertainment describe 3 changes to society and entertainment during the 1920s explain the impact of the economic boom on different social groups

X 2 1 Name something America did to be isolated 3 4 5

The 1920s are often called the ‘Roaring Twenties’ to describe the exciting and fast paced life that many experienced during the time. But was it really that great for everyone?

Why did society in the 1920s change? Higher wages meant people had more money to spend on entertainment World War 1 changed the attitudes of many young people who wanted to enjoy life New technologies such as gramophones, radios, cinema etc. People wanted to escape the reality of their own lives which often involved working hard and struggling to get by

The Roaring Twenties Changes in attitudes Music Gramophones and Radios Dance Crazes and Fads The Movies Flappers For each branch try to get 2-3 brief, useful notes

Changing Attitudes: Young Vs Old Before WW1 the attitudes were that you morals were important and sex was taboo After WW1 many young people came to rebel against these attitudes Young people wanted sexiness and excitement in their entertainment and culture Many just wanted to have fun and escape the drudgery of normal life Music, films and leisure time became focused on the ‘It’ (a byword for sex!) culture

Music Two forms of new music became popular: Jazz and Blues They were wild and exciting forms of music that differed from traditional music They were controversial as they were forms of music played by Black Americans They were also played in night clubs like the New York Cotton Club Famous artists included: Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington

Gramophones and Radio Gramophones and phonographs meant people could listen to recorded music at home for the first time Radios also brought music and entertainment shows in to the home for the first time In 1920 there were 60,000 radios in America, by 1929 there were 10 million Local and national stations were set up in 1921 there was only 1 station, by 1922 there were 508. Commercial stations used advertising to make money

Dance Crazes and Fads New dances such as the Charleston, Bunny hug and Tango They replaced old fashioned dances like the Waltz with fast paced exciting moves Tango was a sexually suggestive dance and many older Americans disapproved Other fads such as record breaking became popular: non-stop dance marathons, sitting on flag poles for days became popular. Alongside heroes such as Charles Lindbergh who was the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic

The Movies By million Americans a week visited the cinema Nearly every town had a cinema and tickets cost only a few cents People used it as escapism

Movies cont. First movies were silent and in black and white 1927 first ‘talkie’ film The Jazz Singer By 1930s films were made in colour Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse became household names

Movies cont. Hollywood became the world centre of the film industry produced over 500 films a year Big production companies such as MGM, Paramount and United Artists Film Stars became popular: Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino

Flappers Short bobbed hair, tried to look flat chested and wore a skirt to the knees, used lipstick and rouge, smoked cigarettes and drove ‘Tin Lizzie’ Rebelled against traditional views of women: mothers/wives Very independent and would do things such as go drinking or dancing without men (this was a social taboo!) Some were openly lesbian Older generation disliked the movement set up Anti Flirt Association to control excesses of young

The ‘Roaring’ twenties impacted on the lives of all Americans for some had it good, others were less fortunate. There were many different groups each having its own unique experience of the twenties: Rural Farmers Rich Americans Working class Americans Those who worked in old industries (coal mining, steel working etc.) Immigrants Black Americans Women Which of these groups do you think would have had positive or negative experiences?

Each group will have a character/social group The aim of the task is to get you thinking about how these groups would have felt about living in America at this time For each of the developments you are about to see, as a group you must discuss and decide on how you think they would have felt Each person in your group will take it in turns to explain to the class how your group feels

Development 1 Henry Ford has announced that he has developed a new manufacturing technique to mass produce cars. He has reduced the cost of his car by 2/3 and is selling more than ever. His factory in the city of Detroit is in need of more workers, he’s offering a whopping $5 a day pay. That’s $1300 a year!

Development 2 A law has been passed banning the sale and consumption of alcohol in all states. They’re calling it Prohibition… If you go to the right places you can get moonshine (homemade booze) but you’ll have to pay top dollar for it and risk a run in with the law!

Development 3 New theatres and dance halls are opening up in the town. Providing you dress smartly and have money to spend you too can join in the fun!

Development 4 The government has announced a new law restricting the numbers of immigrants arriving in the country. If they are white and from Western Europe then more of them will be let in. If they are from Eastern Europe then less will be let in – this is for the best as they probably harbour dangerous ideas like communism.

Development 5 Good news! Food is cheaper than ever because farming is so good, we’re producing far more food than the country needs. In fact prices have dropper over 50%. Unfortunately, because of tariffs there is no one else to sell the extra food to. Farm bankruptcies is up 500%!

Development 6 In the Southern states the Jim Crow Laws have made separate (segregated) facilities for White and Black Americans. Black Americans do not have the vote, have less opportunities and get paid the lowest wages the Ku Klux Klan has over 5 million members! They are taking action into their own hands they are beating and lynching Black Americans, Jews and other un-Americans.

Development 7 Want a car, a radio, or a fridge? Can’t afford to pay for it right now? Why not borrow the money from the bank…

Development 8 The Flappers are out of control! They no longer have any respect or morals. They smoke in public, drive cars and even go out dancing without a man to escort them! What has society come to? Further still, they have silly notions about gaining the vote and being allowed to work for a living. Disgraceful!

Development 9 Two Italian anarchists, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomo Vanzetti, have been charged with the murder of two guards in an armed robbery. 61 witnesses have identified them as the killers, but none of them can agree on the details of the crime. 107 defence witnesses have swore to seeing the men somewhere else at the time of the crime. Unfortunately, because the defence witnesses are Italian immigrants the jury has ignored them and found the men guilty of murder. They were executed in 1927.

Development 10 Poor, can’t pay the bills, just lost your job? Well tough! Get of your backsides and look for a job. The government isn’t going to give you any money or sympathy. This is the land of opportunity after all! The President believes that if you don’t have a job it is because you are too lazy to find one.

Write a paragraph explaining what your character really thinks about the ‘Roaring Twenties’