Fads and Popular Language In the 1920s

Popular Language/Slang In the 1920s, slang started to gain popularity. Morals were now being questioned, and youth culture was on the rise because of urbanization. Prohibition was causing people to use slang to hide bootlegging, and to help keep speakeasies hidden. Other people just wanted to be unique. Some slang popular back in the 1920’s are the following:

Slang baloney - nonsense cheaters - glasses darb - excellent person or thing dumb Dora - stupid girl flat tire - dull, boring person gaga - crazy/silly gam - girl’s leg hard-boiled - tough hotsy-totsy - pleasing Jake - okay nerts - interjection of disgust ritzy - elegant Sheba - young woman with sex appeal Sheik - young man with sex appeal spifflicated - drunk white cow - vanilla milkshake Slang

Clothing Trends Some clothing that was trendy back in the 1920s for females were: shorter skirts, cloche hats, silk stockings, fake jewelry, furs, and turned down hosiery. Some clothing that was trendy back in the 1920s for males were: knickers, bow ties, and “oxford” bags.

Dance Marathons Dance Marathons became very popular in the 1920s. They gained popularity because it was suppose to be quick easy money for out of work people. Most people went for the money, but other went to gain stardom. The music was played slow to hopefully lull you to sleep, but twice an hour it would be picked up, these were called sprints. The only real rule was, no falling asleep. Some contests would have breaks, but usually only a half hour for the first week, and it would go down until there were none left. There was the occasional staged contestants, to help cause fights and to entertain onlookers. The longest dance marathon recorded was twenty-two weeks and three and a half days. Dancers would do anything to win, one woman would even pickle her feet. Dance marathons were later outlawed due to the hard physical strain.

Games Games started to gain popularity in the 1920s. Whether you were playing with your family or friends, it was a guaranteed good time. Some popular game were, Mahjong, Ouija boards, and Crossword puzzles. Mahjong - is a game similar to Dominos. Ouija boards - a game where you supposable talk to “spirits”. Crossword puzzles - a word game where you fill in the blanks, with the information they give you.

Music Jazz music started to get hot in in the 1920s. Youth started to go out dancing at clubs and speakeasies. That’s where jazz started to get it’s bad name. Jazz started to get blamed for just about every problem. Parents and other adults opposed to jazz, said that young men and women that danced to jazz caused them to be morally loose.

Flappers Flappers were considered the loose moraled, modern women of the 1920s. They wore short skirts baring their arms and lower leg, had bobbed hair, rolled down their hose, and powdered their knees. The typical flapper was a considerably young woman and often offended the older generation. Women were finally starting to forget traditions, and being the stay at home wife, and enjoying who they were.

Overview -*The 1920’s brought on the rise of youth culture.* -Popular Language - Used to seem unique, urbanization played a big role. -Clothing Trends - Also used for uniqueness, to get away from tradition, to be risqué. -Dance Marathons - Big way to make quick money, something to do in spare time. -Games - Help to kill time, Mahjong, Ouija boards, Crossword Puzzle. -Music - Jazz was popular, mainly among youth, blamed for everything, if you danced to Jazz you were considered morally loose. -Flappers - Modern woman of the 1920s, short hair, short skirts, sleeveless baggy dresses, rolled down hose, powdered knees, lots of makeup, thought to be morally loose, offended older generations.

Bibliography Books Webpages - “The Jazz Age, The 20’s.” By the editors of Time-Life Books. Alexandria, Virginia. Webpages - “American Culture History - Decade 1920-1929.” http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade20.html. 2/10/2004 - “StreetSwing’s Dance History Archives - Dance Marathons.” http://www.streetswing.com/hismain/d5marthn.htm. 2/10/2004 - “Slang from the 1920’s.” http://chicago.demoe.com/pictures/slang.html. 2/12/2004 - “Modern America 1914 - Present - Slang.” http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/1914-/language/slang.htm. 2/13/2004 - “The Jazz Age : Flapper Culture & Style.” http://www.geocities.com/flapper_culture. 2/21/2004