1920s America: Good Times
1920’s America was a time of jazz, dance, illegal alcohol consumption and generally having a good time- this is clearly the reason that it was known as the ‘roaring 20’s’. Women had more freedom, young people wanted to have a good time after WW1 and scandalise their parents and people had more money and more time to spend on leisure. As a result of this, the entertainment industry boomed in areas such as sport, music, movies and radio.
As workers had more leisure and money they played more sport. The most popular sport in urban areas being baseball and soon good players were earning vast sums of money. Indeed one player, Babe Ruth, was earning $80,000 per annum. Soon many of them were becoming national heroes.
With audience numbers doubling in a century and 95million people a week visiting the cinema, Hollywood was experiencing its golden years and also with the first ‘talkie’ released in 1927. However, many were concerned about the impact of movies especially on the young and so in 1922 Hollywood studios set rules on what could be shown in movies. In 1930, this was expanded on to become Hays Code.
The 1920s soon became the Jazz Age. Traditional Black music such as blues and ragtime came together and soon became a craze. Such performers such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington became famous nationwide. This new music was also encouraged by the new dances that had emerged. The Charleston in particular was very popular and the younger generation used it to scandalise their parents.
In 1920, $2 million worth of radios were purchased but by the end of the century $600 million were being purchased in one year. Between 1923 and 1930, 60% of the American population had purchased radios. This shows the huge increase in desire for this new technology. However, this lead to the dramatic drop in record sells as more and more people could listen to the music they wanted through their radio.
American culture in the 1920s had dramatically changed. Due to the
As workers had more leisure and money they played more sport. The most popular sport in urban areas being baseball and soon good players were earning vast sums of money. Indeed one player, Babe Ruth, was earning $80,000 per annum. Soon many of them were becoming national heroes.
With audience numbers doubling in a century and 95million people a week visiting the cinema, Hollywood was experiencing its golden years and also with the first ‘talkie’ released in 1927. However, many were concerned about the impact of movies especially on the young and so in 1922 Hollywood studios set rules on what could be shown in movies. In 1930, this was expanded on to become Hays Code.
The 1920s soon became the Jazz Age. Traditional Black music such as blues and ragtime came together and soon became a craze. Such performers such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington became famous nationwide. This new music was also encouraged by the new dances that had emerged. The Charleston in particular was very popular and the younger generation used it to scandalise their parents.
In 1920, $2 million worth of radios were purchased but by the end of the century $600 million were being purchased in one year. Between 1923 and 1930, 60% of the American population had purchased radios. This shows the huge increase in desire for this new technology. However, this lead to the dramatic drop in record sells as more and more people could listen to the music they wanted through their radio.
American culture in the 1920s had dramatically changed. Due to the