Popular Culture in the Roaring 20’s Chapter 28

Consumer Culture New Products Make Life Easier Toaster, Frozen Food, Vacuum Cleaners Advertising Creates Demand Used psychology to tailor ads Change styles frequently Buy Now, Pay Later Credit Installments

Air and Road Travel First to fly across the Atlantic Ocean Charles Lindbergh First to fly across the Atlantic Ocean Planes began to be used for transportation

Automobiles Reshape American Life Automobile provided sense of freedom and independence Automobile stimulated the growth of suburban neighborhoods In the 1920s. 98% of all cars were open to the weather.

The Road System Federal Highway Act (1921) supported automobile industry Constructed over 10,000 miles of road Spread population westward Expanded small business Hot dog stands, drive-in restaurants, motor hotels, billboard advertising, and campgrounds Supported American tourist industry: roadside plaques, battlefield sites, largest ball of yarn, etc

Mass Media Print Media Magazines, newspapers People were reading the same stories Radio Sports, news, programs Movies 1927: first full length “talkie” By 1929, radio had become one of the leading industries of the American entertainment industry. The National Broadcasting Company, NBC, was making $150 million a year.

Comedies like “Amos and Andy” and serialized drama mysteries like “The Shadow” became a part of people’s everyday lives. Orson Wells, the voice of the Shadow, became a fixture in Hollywood with his famous radio show “The War of the Worlds.” Churches also used the radio to evangelize

Music: The Birth of Jazz A New American Music Jazz originated from New Orleans fusion of Creole, French, African, and slave music Combined African rhythms with European instruments Jazz intended to be improvised and danced to Jazz musicians including Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong toured most local speakeasies Duke Ellington composed, arranged, and played jazz in Harlem. Known as a ruthless businessman and a genius, most jazz musicians got their start in Ellington’s band

Sports Fever Why Sports? Decreased working hours, increased leisure time, and more spending money American public wanted entertainment and heroes Developed activities which were uniquely American, not European People reveled in individual accomplishment Red Grange, the “Galloping Ghost was the first millionaire football player