Back in time… to the Twenties

1. Back in time… to the Twenties

2. Facts of the Decade • 106,521,537 People in the U.S • 2,132,000 Unemployed, 5.2% • Life Expectancy Male – 53.6 years Female – 54.6 years • 343,000 in the military • Average annual earnings $1,236.00 • Teachers Salary $970.00 • Illiteracy rate reached a new low of 6% of the population • It took 13 days to reach California from New York • There were 387,000 miles of paved road

3. Movies of the 20’s • Films really blossomed in the 20’s • Most U.S. film production at the start of the decade occurred in or near Hollywood on the West Coast, although some films were still being made in New Jersey and in Astoria on Long Island • By the end of the decade there were 20 Hollywood studios • Throughout most of the decade silent movies were the predominate product in the film industry • The Big 5 Studios – They produced more than 90% of the fiction films in America and distributed their films both Nationally and Internationally Warner Bros. Paramount RKO Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Fox Film Corporation/Foundation • The first Mickey Mouse cartoon came out in 1928

4. Earliest TV Recordings 1927-1935 From the dawn of our television technology age comes the restored wonders of original recordings made in the era of mechanical-scanned television. Mechanical TV set’s of the 20’s The first mechanical TV’s were developed by John Logie Baird in England and by Charles Jenkines in the U.S. in the mid 20’s Picture quality was very poor, and the screens were only an inch or so wide TV’s

5. Fighting the Flying Circus • An on-line edition of Eddie Rickenbacker’s WW1 memories • There are 36 chapters in this book ranging from the first stories to the last victory of the great war • Captain Rickenbacker, originally from Ohio was best known as one of the Commanders of the 94th “Hat-in-the-Ring” Squadron, a crack unit of pilots which included many former members of the famed Lafayette Escadrille

6. Trams • In 1920 – 1929 The Venice trams were operated by a uniformed motorman along a north and south route on the concrete boardwalk between Santa Monica and Venice. These trackless electric trams amounted to battery powered upholstered wicker benches with lever type hand controller and mechanical brake at one end.

7. Baseball • The 1919 World Series resulted in the most famous scandal in Baseball history • Eight players from the Chicago White Sox (later nicknamed the Black Sox) were accused of throwing the series against the Cincinnati Reds • Gamblers were often visibly present at ballparks and the fixing of games had been suspected since the mid-1850s.

8. Harlem • Harlem has long symbolized the culture of the African-American experience for its people in the 20th-century • Charles Gilpin was the first African-American actor to perform in an all white production "The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future...History must restore what slavery took away...The Negro has been a man without a history because he has been considered a man without a worthy culture...But already the Negro sees himself against a reclaimed background, in a perspective that will give pride and self-respect ample scope, and make history yield for him the same values that the treasured past of any people affords." A. SchomburgThe Negro Digs Up His Past

9. F. Scott Fitzgerald • Born in St. Paul Minnesota on September 24, 1896 • He wrote about 44 books in his life time • His first writing to appear in print was a detective story in the school newspaper when he was 13 • He joined the army in 1917 and wrote “The Romantic Egotist” • The Side of Paradise was accepted by editor Maxwell Perkins in September • The Side of Paradise made him famous and he married Zelda in New York • Their only daughter ,Frances Scott ,was born October 21, 1921 • His second novel was called Beautiful and Damned • The Great Gatsby was published In April • He went through a depression period called the “crack up” when he didn’t write between 1936-1937 • The last novel, The love of the last Tycoon was half completed in 1939 because he died December 21, 1940

10. Slang • Some slang of the 20’s: Bee’s Knee’s – an extraordinary person, thing, idea Bimbo – a tough guy Breezer - a convertible car Ducky – very good Goofy – in love Handcuffs – an engagement ring Moll – a gangster’s girl Razz – to make fun of Sinker – a doughnut Tomato – a female

11. Prohibition • Prohibition - the act or an instance of forbidding; a state of being forbidden. • The prohibition era began in January 16th, 1920 , when the U.S. prohibited the manufacturing and sale of mostly alcohol • There are 4 main reasons: Medical Economical Political Social • At first Prohibition seemed to succeed, crime rates fell, unemployment decreased and the economy was booming more than ever. • But even after the law was set up, many Americans still carried on drinking and the number became larger and larger.

12. Women’s Fashion • The feminine liberation movement had a strong effect on women's fashions. Most importantly, the corset was discarded! For the first time in centuries, women's legs were seen. A more masculine look became popular, including flattened breasts and hips, and bobbed hair.

13. Men’s Fashion • Outlining the post WWI mood in men's fashion, this essay includes descriptions of knickerbockers, patent leather, and the popularity of Oxford bags.

14. Jazz Age • The flapper was the heroine of the Jazz Age. • With short hair and a short skirt, with turned-down hose and powdered knees - the flapper must have seemed to her mother like a rebel. • the typical flapper was a young women who was often thought of as a little fast and maybe even a little brazen. • However, flappers did more than symbolize a revolution in fashion and mores - they embodied the modern spirit of the Jazz Age.