Life in Utah During the 1920’s The Roaring Twenties Life in Utah During the 1920’s

Student Objective Students will gain an understanding of what life was like in Utah during the 1920’s and be able to identify key innovations and individuals from the decade.

The Roaring Twenties The decade is remembered as an era of change and social experimentation.

Cities Cities became increasingly important in the lives of the people

Morality and Society Prohibition and a ban on cigarettes led to social unrest and protests

The 20’s Also known as the age of jazz Jazz came to Utah in a flurry.

Flappers Women began to drink and smoke in public and go to parties. “Flappers” cut their hair short and often wore felt, bell shaped hats.

Clothing Loose and Light Clothing became more comfortable than in previous generations

Radio There were continued stories called soap operas on the radio and in the newspapers.

Movies Along with craze for jazz music, movie theaters in Utah offered many shows, including the sound or “talkie” movies just two years after the first one was shown in New York City. Soon, local theaters installed sound and showed movies to capacity audiences among them the Jazz Singer with Al Jolson.

Questions -How do you think movies might have changed life in Utah? How do you think movies might have changed Utahns’ perceptions of the nation and world? What king of impact do you think radio and movies had on people’s efforts to promoted plays and musicals in local theaters?

Sports The twenties are remembered for sports spectaculars, Baseball teams from Utah towns played against each other. Football and track also grew in popularity during this period.

Olympics During the 1912 Olympics in Sweden, Utah farm boy and BYU student Alma Richards competed in the high jump event. Richards became the first Utahn to receive an Olympic gold medal.

Boxing Jack Dempsey grew up in the mining towns of Colorado and Utah. He loved fighting, mining, and cowboying, and did all three well. His brother Bernie taught him to fight. Bernie convinced Jack to chew pine-tar gum to strengthen his haw and to soak his face in brine to toughen the skin and prevent cuts. Jack went on to be the national heavy weight champ of the 1920’s