POPULAR CULTURE
Essential Question: How is popular culture of the 20's different than the previous decade? (Thinking like a historian- change and continuity)
In the 1920's, there was a marked change in morals and in how life should be lived. The older generation was more focused on WWI and our economic and social stability, but the young generation was looking for exuberance and a good time. They drove, went to dances and movies, and even dated differently since it was no longer necessary for girls to have a chaperone. Some had the thrill of traveling by airplane instead of by automobile, not by horse, carriage, or foot anymore. They enjoyed the luxuries of indoor plumbing, radios, washers and dryers, as well as electric stoves. Advertising helped the spread of such products. You no longer had to build your own house! Sears mail-order homes were popular; they shipped you the materials and you built your own house with help from a few other guys in the neighborhood. More people were living in cities and women were finding jobs with clerical work, teaching, etc. Physical fitness was important and in cities there were stadiums for baseball and football- you could either spectate or become a star!
In the 1920's, there was a marked change in morals and in how life should be lived. The older generation was more focused on WWI and our economic and social stability, but the young generation was looking for exuberance and a good time. They drove, went to dances and movies, and even dated differently since it was no longer necessary for girls to have a chaperone. Some had the thrill of traveling by airplane instead of by automobile, not by horse, carriage, or foot anymore. They enjoyed the luxuries of indoor plumbing, radios, washers and dryers, as well as electric stoves. Advertising helped the spread of such products. You no longer had to build your own house! Sears mail-order homes were popular; they shipped you the materials and you built your own house with help from a few other guys in the neighborhood. More people were living in cities and women were finding jobs with clerical work, teaching, etc. Physical fitness was important and in cities there were stadiums for baseball and football- you could either spectate or become a star!
How did the automobile change life in the 20's?
Young Americans felt freedom and exuberance from driving- before the invention of the automobile, most people lived their whole life in one area, usually not traveling far outside the town or village where they were born. The Model T was an affordable car for the average family, only costing a few hundred dollars; by the late 1920's almost every family had one car. However, since Ford had a very limited selection of cars, companies like Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, and Cadillac started and Ford had competition. People could drive to work, friends' and family's homes, as well as speakeasies of course! Since thousands of cars were out on the road, America experienced a quick industry peak during this time period because cars were high in demand. The automobile created jobs and more revenue. Furthermore, the chain reaction created by the automobile included the construction of paved roads. More workers were needed to build roads as well. Gas and oil companies also benefitted from the automobile because people needed gas to fill up their cars and oil to make the engines work. "Filling stations" started popping up in America, in small scales in villages and towns and larger in big metropolises (keep in mind architects were needed and designed a lot of unique filling stations).
Young Americans felt freedom and exuberance from driving- before the invention of the automobile, most people lived their whole life in one area, usually not traveling far outside the town or village where they were born. The Model T was an affordable car for the average family, only costing a few hundred dollars; by the late 1920's almost every family had one car. However, since Ford had a very limited selection of cars, companies like Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, and Cadillac started and Ford had competition. People could drive to work, friends' and family's homes, as well as speakeasies of course! Since thousands of cars were out on the road, America experienced a quick industry peak during this time period because cars were high in demand. The automobile created jobs and more revenue. Furthermore, the chain reaction created by the automobile included the construction of paved roads. More workers were needed to build roads as well. Gas and oil companies also benefitted from the automobile because people needed gas to fill up their cars and oil to make the engines work. "Filling stations" started popping up in America, in small scales in villages and towns and larger in big metropolises (keep in mind architects were needed and designed a lot of unique filling stations).
Learn about the influence of the automobile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzh1fyhA7-w
What was the impact of radio and movies in the 20's?
To provide a foundation, the first radios in 1879 were heavy, loud, and didn't work well. However, by the 1920's, the radio was smaller, quieter, and became a place where families could gather and listen to news. Of course, there couldn't be just one radio station so several were developed. Besides listening to entertainment like concerts, the radio opened up peoples' worlds and made them more aware of what was happening around them. People could convey information and interact with one another in a new way. Some houses even had little nooks called a "music room" with space for a radio and comfortable seating. Motion pictures became popular in the 1920's- the movies that had sound were known as "talkies" (talking+ movie), and Nickelodeon movies were well-known as the 5-cent movies. Walt Disney created feature motion pictures, which were at least 40 minutes long. The industry center was in Hollywood where most movies were made, with some being filmed on the east coast. Thousands of movie palaces were springing up across America's landscape. Sex, crime, war, romance, adventure, and comedy were the main themes- which the young people of the day would've enjoyed immensely. Movie theaters were some of the first places to be air-conditioned, so on a hot summer day a couple or a family could relax in comfort. Of course, actors were needed and like today, many people wanted to look like them and have the same beautiful life. Some famous actors of the time were Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and Clara Bow.
To provide a foundation, the first radios in 1879 were heavy, loud, and didn't work well. However, by the 1920's, the radio was smaller, quieter, and became a place where families could gather and listen to news. Of course, there couldn't be just one radio station so several were developed. Besides listening to entertainment like concerts, the radio opened up peoples' worlds and made them more aware of what was happening around them. People could convey information and interact with one another in a new way. Some houses even had little nooks called a "music room" with space for a radio and comfortable seating. Motion pictures became popular in the 1920's- the movies that had sound were known as "talkies" (talking+ movie), and Nickelodeon movies were well-known as the 5-cent movies. Walt Disney created feature motion pictures, which were at least 40 minutes long. The industry center was in Hollywood where most movies were made, with some being filmed on the east coast. Thousands of movie palaces were springing up across America's landscape. Sex, crime, war, romance, adventure, and comedy were the main themes- which the young people of the day would've enjoyed immensely. Movie theaters were some of the first places to be air-conditioned, so on a hot summer day a couple or a family could relax in comfort. Of course, actors were needed and like today, many people wanted to look like them and have the same beautiful life. Some famous actors of the time were Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, and Clara Bow.
HERE IS A SILENT MOVIE FROM THE 1920's- WATCH A MINUTE OR TWO TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE LIKE! http://video.pbs.org/video/2157025063/
How did the airplane change society in the 20's and what impact did Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic have on society?
Because of WWI, airplanes were used for fighting but during the 1920's became popular for other reasons. Panes were used to do cool "tricks and stunts" that impressed the audience at carnivals and fairs. However, the airplane did serve a more practical purpose- the government used them to transport mail in a shorter amount of time. It worked out well and was used throughout the decade. For businessmen, the airplane was used to go on trips to other cities (hence the term "going on business"). For the upper crust of society, they used airplanes to travel for fun or vacations, but gradually the common man's family was able to afford a flight. Just like the automobile, people could go to new places and get to know the world around them better. Charles Lindenbergh's flight popularized the airplane even more and made it clear that airplanes were safe for people to use. When he got back Americans were enthusiastic and proud of their country. Lindenbergh realized that planes could connect countries and help us understand different cultures in new ways.
Because of WWI, airplanes were used for fighting but during the 1920's became popular for other reasons. Panes were used to do cool "tricks and stunts" that impressed the audience at carnivals and fairs. However, the airplane did serve a more practical purpose- the government used them to transport mail in a shorter amount of time. It worked out well and was used throughout the decade. For businessmen, the airplane was used to go on trips to other cities (hence the term "going on business"). For the upper crust of society, they used airplanes to travel for fun or vacations, but gradually the common man's family was able to afford a flight. Just like the automobile, people could go to new places and get to know the world around them better. Charles Lindenbergh's flight popularized the airplane even more and made it clear that airplanes were safe for people to use. When he got back Americans were enthusiastic and proud of their country. Lindenbergh realized that planes could connect countries and help us understand different cultures in new ways.
How did advertising change how things were sold in 1920's?
Because of mass production, more people could buy more products than ever before. The transcontinental railroad provided a larger market, and therefore advertising would have to reach larger numbers of people. Now, its purpose had changed: it's not just to inform, but to either 1) convince the possible consumer s/he needs the product, or 2) their product is better than the competition's. Once word got around, a company would have trusting customers and people would buy more and more of a product until it become a household brand (Thinking like a historian- turning points).
Because of improvements in printing technology, advertising with newspapers and magazines was much cheaper and as a result more advertising was done. In other words, more advertising means more awareness and potential customers. Ladies' Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post were common magazines among the middle-class. Since movies and sports became so popular, movie stars and athletes advertised products like toothpaste and coffee just like today. Products were glamorized and seen as exciting or necessary to enjoy life to its fullest.
Because of mass production, more people could buy more products than ever before. The transcontinental railroad provided a larger market, and therefore advertising would have to reach larger numbers of people. Now, its purpose had changed: it's not just to inform, but to either 1) convince the possible consumer s/he needs the product, or 2) their product is better than the competition's. Once word got around, a company would have trusting customers and people would buy more and more of a product until it become a household brand (Thinking like a historian- turning points).
Because of improvements in printing technology, advertising with newspapers and magazines was much cheaper and as a result more advertising was done. In other words, more advertising means more awareness and potential customers. Ladies' Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post were common magazines among the middle-class. Since movies and sports became so popular, movie stars and athletes advertised products like toothpaste and coffee just like today. Products were glamorized and seen as exciting or necessary to enjoy life to its fullest.
Why were the 1920's known as the "Golden Age of Sports"?
In the 1920's, more ballparks were built and either participating in sports or being a spectator were seen as pastimes. In newspapers, sports pages started, telling of the excitement and reporting on games, as well as talking of changes occurring. Sports unified America because all sorts of different social and economic classes could come together and have a good time. According to Mr. Wolfe, who wrote "The Benevolent Brotherhood of Baseball Bugs," said sports "[Make] human beings out of those who would otherwise be self-centered fops." People who would normally be too concerned with their dress, appearance, and manners could now participate in a sport, which was seen as more positive. Thousands of men and women would gather in a stadium to watch baseball or football games. Mr. Wolfe also said "Watch the average business man as he looks over his morning paper and you will see that while he glances over the headlines of the other pages holding the paper spread out in both hands, when he comes to the sporting page he turns it over and begins to read, and it’s a mortal cinch that the banks, brokerage offices, and higher type of commercial institutions provide a larger percentage of the average baseball crowd than all factories and mills in the land," which shows how sports pages were starting to show up in newspapers.
Some famous figures involved in sports were Jim Thorpe, who won the pentathlon and the decathlon in the 1912 Olympics; Walter Camp, who had the All-American football team in 1912-13 and was a pioneer founder of the NFL; Harold "Red" Grange, a football star at the University of Illinois and carried the ball four times and scored a touchdown each time during one game; Jack Dempsey, who was in several "bloody battles"; William Tilden dominated mens' tennis; Bobby Jones, who dominated golf, and Helen Willis, who dominated womens' tennis; Gertrude Ederle, who held eighteen world records and swam the English Channel; Babe Ruth, a big star in baseball who had 29 homeruns in 1919 and 54 by 1960.
In the 1920's, more ballparks were built and either participating in sports or being a spectator were seen as pastimes. In newspapers, sports pages started, telling of the excitement and reporting on games, as well as talking of changes occurring. Sports unified America because all sorts of different social and economic classes could come together and have a good time. According to Mr. Wolfe, who wrote "The Benevolent Brotherhood of Baseball Bugs," said sports "[Make] human beings out of those who would otherwise be self-centered fops." People who would normally be too concerned with their dress, appearance, and manners could now participate in a sport, which was seen as more positive. Thousands of men and women would gather in a stadium to watch baseball or football games. Mr. Wolfe also said "Watch the average business man as he looks over his morning paper and you will see that while he glances over the headlines of the other pages holding the paper spread out in both hands, when he comes to the sporting page he turns it over and begins to read, and it’s a mortal cinch that the banks, brokerage offices, and higher type of commercial institutions provide a larger percentage of the average baseball crowd than all factories and mills in the land," which shows how sports pages were starting to show up in newspapers.
Some famous figures involved in sports were Jim Thorpe, who won the pentathlon and the decathlon in the 1912 Olympics; Walter Camp, who had the All-American football team in 1912-13 and was a pioneer founder of the NFL; Harold "Red" Grange, a football star at the University of Illinois and carried the ball four times and scored a touchdown each time during one game; Jack Dempsey, who was in several "bloody battles"; William Tilden dominated mens' tennis; Bobby Jones, who dominated golf, and Helen Willis, who dominated womens' tennis; Gertrude Ederle, who held eighteen world records and swam the English Channel; Babe Ruth, a big star in baseball who had 29 homeruns in 1919 and 54 by 1960.
Vocabulary:
Mass Media- several types of communication like newspapers, magazines, radios, or billboards that reach very large numbers of people.
Consumerism- increased consumption of goods, usually conducive to an economy.
Prosperity- being successful, flourishing, or thriving, usually in a financial context (such as the stock market of the 1920's).
Mass Production- when goods are produced or manufactured in large amounts, usually by standardized by machinery and mechanization.
Mass Media- several types of communication like newspapers, magazines, radios, or billboards that reach very large numbers of people.
Consumerism- increased consumption of goods, usually conducive to an economy.
Prosperity- being successful, flourishing, or thriving, usually in a financial context (such as the stock market of the 1920's).
Mass Production- when goods are produced or manufactured in large amounts, usually by standardized by machinery and mechanization.
PRIMARY SOURCE ALALYSIS
AUTHOR- The only information this article has is that the New York Times published it. This source is a newspaper and is not that biased- the author(s) show both sides by using quotes as support.
PLACE AND TIME- This source was produced in New York on December 12, 1920. At this time movies were just starting to become popular (keep in mind times overlap a little bit). If this source was published in the later 1920's it might not have been so controversial.
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE- I already know that after WII, traditional and new values were starting to clash more than before. The Lord's Day Alliance refers to a group of people that believe Sunday should be set aside for rest (and not going to movies!) Movies were being offered on more days out of the week than before.
AUDIENCE- This source was created for those who want to attend a meeting the Thursday before about opposing the movie that'll play on Sunday. Those planning on going to movie theaters might want to know they could be missing out on an afternoon of entertainment and fun. This source does show a little bit of both sides, using quotes as support. If the audience was targeted at a specific audience, the article could be biased towards the Lord's Day Alliance group or those who want movies on Sunday.
REASON- This source was created to inform people that a group believed in the Lord's Day Alliance opposed movies on Sunday because apparently the 7th day was set aside for worship and rest by God.
THE MAIN IDEA- This source is saying that the Motion Theatrical Association of the World thinks movies on Sunday are a wholesome form of entertainment. They say it keeps people out of trouble and out of prisons as well. Some are opposed to this so a meeting will be held at Apollo theater.
SIGNIFICANCE- This source is important because it shows the clashing values of the 1920's between the young and old. Young people of the time would have enjoyed a night of relaxation at a movie, while the older generation would have believed in resting and going to church instead. This source matters to us today because we should be lucky we don't have to worry as much about religion and secularism clashing. Now we have issues like reading books with religion and magic/fantasy, which is a problem for some parents today and even curriculums may have to be altered (Thinking like a historian- using the past). This is also my "make a connection between the 1920's and today").
PLACE AND TIME- This source was produced in New York on December 12, 1920. At this time movies were just starting to become popular (keep in mind times overlap a little bit). If this source was published in the later 1920's it might not have been so controversial.
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE- I already know that after WII, traditional and new values were starting to clash more than before. The Lord's Day Alliance refers to a group of people that believe Sunday should be set aside for rest (and not going to movies!) Movies were being offered on more days out of the week than before.
AUDIENCE- This source was created for those who want to attend a meeting the Thursday before about opposing the movie that'll play on Sunday. Those planning on going to movie theaters might want to know they could be missing out on an afternoon of entertainment and fun. This source does show a little bit of both sides, using quotes as support. If the audience was targeted at a specific audience, the article could be biased towards the Lord's Day Alliance group or those who want movies on Sunday.
REASON- This source was created to inform people that a group believed in the Lord's Day Alliance opposed movies on Sunday because apparently the 7th day was set aside for worship and rest by God.
THE MAIN IDEA- This source is saying that the Motion Theatrical Association of the World thinks movies on Sunday are a wholesome form of entertainment. They say it keeps people out of trouble and out of prisons as well. Some are opposed to this so a meeting will be held at Apollo theater.
SIGNIFICANCE- This source is important because it shows the clashing values of the 1920's between the young and old. Young people of the time would have enjoyed a night of relaxation at a movie, while the older generation would have believed in resting and going to church instead. This source matters to us today because we should be lucky we don't have to worry as much about religion and secularism clashing. Now we have issues like reading books with religion and magic/fantasy, which is a problem for some parents today and even curriculums may have to be altered (Thinking like a historian- using the past). This is also my "make a connection between the 1920's and today").