The Roaring '20's: And American Entertainment

Flappers, motion pictures, Fords, radio, voting, the Charleston. What do these all have in common? They were all big parts of the era in American history we now call, “The Roaring '20's.”

Most of the time when we hear the phrase, “the roaring '20's,” we think of the dancing and the dancers. But there was a lot more to that era than just dancing. I mean, after all, it's not called, "the dancing '20's." So what were the other things that were critical in making the 1920's, "the roaring '20's?"

Well, first we'll start with the new innovations. Like now, there were a lot of new things coming out at that time. To name a few, cars, radios, motion pictures, oh and here's one we use a lot, the band-aid. But that is only a few of the things that were either invented or were big in the '20's. (if you would like a full list, go here, http://www.american-historama.org/1913-1928-ww1-prohibition-era/inventions-in-the-1920s.htm)

Now, being a car guy, I kind of have to delve into some of that history as well. We all know (at least I hope you do) that the Ford Model T was the car that pretty much put the car industry on the map. But did you know there was actually a car before that one made by Ford? It was called the Model N. Boom, I just blew your mind. That's right there was a car called the Model N. It sold for $600, which in today's money is about 16k. Henry Ford sold a hundred Model Ns a day. He sold 100 of them in 1 day. So with the success of the N boosting his morale, Ford introduced the infamous Model T. The Model T sold for $825, or about 22k in today's money. So it was a little more expensive but that didn't keep customers from coming. And remember he introduced the assembly line in 1913. So, by the time the Model T's life was over, in 1927, he was able to sell the coupe for only $290! Which, in today's money, prepare to have your mind blown, is only $4000! (BOOM!) And the price wasn't the only thing that is mind blowing. Do you want to know how many he sold in 18 years of production? Get ready. He sold, 15 MILLION. 15 million Model Ts! That is a lot of cars!

Okay so now we know about one thing that made the '20's “roaring” What about radio. Well, radio shows were pretty much exactly like our TV shows. Except, obviously, that there is no picture in radio. So here is a scenario: You get home from school on Friday at say, 3. That leaves you an hour to get your homework done before Amos 'n' Andy is on! See, told you it was like your favorite TV shows. ;) (Here is a link to a script from that show, http://home.hiwaay.net/~ajohns/retro/A&A19280429_No.30.5.htm)

And to add on to the excitement from the shows, at that time radio was a brand new thing! You like to use or buy the latest and greatest thing, right? Radio was the latest and greatest thing!

Then there were motion pictures, or what we call today movies. Nowadays we take it for granted that we have movies with prerecorded dialogue. But in those days there wasn't even sound with movies. The only sounds were live orchestras playing along with the movie. But in 1927 that all changed for good with the introduction of Warner Bros. "The Jazz Singer." "The Jazz Singer" wasn't the first motion picture with prerecorded sound. But it was the movie that changed everything. Sort of like the Model T not being the first car, but being the car that changed everything.

By the end of the '20's, it was estimated that 75% of ALL Americans went to the theater at least ONCE a week. At least once a week?! Good grief that is a lot of wasted money! I mean do you go to the theater once a week today?! NO! That just proves how popular motion pictures were back in the '20's.

Okay, so let me see what else is on the never ending list? Oh yes, what about women's voting rights.

Everyone probably (hopefully) knows that women didn't always have the right to vote. Yes, as sad as it is, they weren't allowed to vote until August 18, 1920. That was almost one hundred years ago and we're still talking about gender equality. Whaaaat ? Okay, sorry I had to slip that in there somewhere. But it's true, the U.S. ratified women's voting rights and equality 97 years ago and we are still talking about gender equality. Anyway, back to the previously scheduled show. The ratification of the 19^th amendment was huge. After this, women changed a little, they started to wear shorter skirts, they started to smoke, drink. Before the '20's it wasn't considered lady-like to do any of those things. Women also found it easier to find jobs in the same areas that men had jobs in. (Oh no, I'm going to bring up modern politics again! Nah, I'd rather not)

In the 1920's there were a lot of changes. Changes in entertainment, transportation, and the way we lived our lives as Americans. But not everything was good during the “roaring '20's.” There was also the 18^th amendment. (I know what you're thinking, “ah, not more politics” but this one I had to mention)

The 18^th amendment was the law that banned all sales and production of liquor and alcohol products. This amendment was ratified between the years 1918 and 1922. So, right as the '20's were getting started. As you have probably already heard, this amendment created total chaos in the crime world. When you restrict something that is a part of a lot of people's lives, things will go wrong. I know this is an extreme example, but it would be like the

government saying, "oh no, electronic devices are bad for Americans health, and a lot of

people use them for bad things. We must ban them immediately!" That would be crazy! (Look, I'm not a supporter of alcohol, I'm just trying to get the point across that even though some people abuse alcohol doesn't mean everyone does. And the government shouldn't be allowed to take away private things.) What were the bad things going on? Well as you might have guessed people went along buying and producing alcoholic products. Instead, now it was in secret. And now that they weren't allowed to drink alcohol people wanted it more and started abusing it even more than they had been before.

So, as a recap, there were good things and bad things going on in the 1920's. But it would have been an exhilarating time to live in.