1920S CULTURE

Victorian/Traditional Values Males – workers, earned the money for the family, involved in politics Women – childrearing and domestic duties

Flappers The liberal young, flirtatious woman Cut their hair short in a “bob” Wore short skirts, drank, smoked Dated several different men Worked outside the home Advocate for women’s right to vote

Increase in Literacy – Spread of Newspapers Increase in American education 4 million attended high school by 1926 (1 million in 1914) Leads to increase in literacy rate = increase in shared culture Mass-circulation of newspapers and magazines Reader’s Digest (1922) Time Magazine (1923)

Modernization

Buying Goods on Credit Installment plan – allowed people to buy goods over an extended period, without having to put down much money a the time of purchase. Banks provided loans to people with a low interest rate, encouraging people to borrow money so they could “buy” commodities they otherwise could not afford.

Radio Comes of Age Most powerful communication medium in the 1920s Created a shared national experience 1920s was the first commerical radio station Listeners tuned in to hear entertainment, news, and advertisments By the 1930s, about 40% had radios First radio news show broadcasted from Detroit in 1920 First Rose Bowl broadcasted in 1923

Entertainment on the Radio Baby Snooks and the missing dollar

Hollywood 1927 Became the central location for making movies 85% of all movies were made in or around Hollywood About 800 movies were made a year in the 1920s

The Capitol, movie theater in New York

Let’s go to the movies! The Sheik clip Rudolph Valentino “The Sheik”

Charlie Chaplin The Circus Born in London 1889 Moved to the US in1910 with a vaudeville group Chaplin was a comedian, author, music composer, film director, and film writer Died in1977

Mickey Mouse hits the screen Steamboat Willy Introduced in1928, Produced by Walt Disney Productions Fully synchronized sound Hugely popular; major debut of Mickey and Minnie Mouse

JAZZ AGE 1920s was known as the Jazz age Popular musicians were Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong New York and Chicago became top jazz cultural centers Made popular by America’s middle-class youth Birth of jazz is credited to African-Americans

1920s Literature Authors rallied against the materialism and superficiality of the 1920s F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby”), Lewis Sinclair (“Babbit”), Ernest Hemingway (“The Sun Also Rises”)

Harlem Renaissance- “Black is Beautiful” A literary and artistic movement that celebrated African-American culture. 1900s, Harlem became an African-American neighborhood World’s largest black urban community Described as the capital of “black America”

Langston Hughes I, Too, Sing America   I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen. When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America.

Pre WWI Heroes= Politicians and Military Post WWI Heroes= Popular culture figures (Lindy was the greatest)

Unions Create the Weekend Radio + Hollywood+ Advertising+Henry Ford +Unions = A popular shared culture

American Heroes Charles Lindbergh first man to fly a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic in 1927, landing in Paris, France Born in Detroit 20 month year old son was kidnapped and murdered in 1932

A. Restored old school victorian values. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R3fGL67mas #1 Hero! Q.Why? A. Restored old school victorian values.

American Heroes Babe Ruth 60 home runs in one season for New York Yankees Andrew Rube Foster Established first Negro baseball league Gertrude Elderly First female to swim across the English Channel