Essential question
How is popular culture in the 20’s different than the previous decade?
Before the 20's, during the Progressive Era and WWI, America was focusing on reform and fighting the war. World War I left the U.S. with a very stable and growing economy which made many American's live out the 1920's in prosperity. The strong economy made the U.S. flourish with new inventions which only added to wealth of the country, for example the automobile and the airplane. Even old inventions and ideas were improved, like the radio, movies, and the use of advertising. With the idea of reform over, Americans could now focus on their own lives. Things like the radio, baseball, movies, driving, and buying the various new products became apart of everyday life for most Americans in the 1920's.
Before the 20's, during the Progressive Era and WWI, America was focusing on reform and fighting the war. World War I left the U.S. with a very stable and growing economy which made many American's live out the 1920's in prosperity. The strong economy made the U.S. flourish with new inventions which only added to wealth of the country, for example the automobile and the airplane. Even old inventions and ideas were improved, like the radio, movies, and the use of advertising. With the idea of reform over, Americans could now focus on their own lives. Things like the radio, baseball, movies, driving, and buying the various new products became apart of everyday life for most Americans in the 1920's.
The Automobile
1920 Ford Model-T
• How did the automobile change life in the 20's?
The automobile changed life in the 20's by improving transportation, gave the economy a boost, young people got more freedom and excitement, and families could now visit other relatives and friends. Automobiles also affected American industries. Henry Ford created the Ford Motor Company which made the first affordable car called the Model-T. Ford also expanded his factories which created more jobs, revenues, and improved the American economy. Although the Model-T had now integrated itself into life, most roads back then were primarily dirt which made it difficult to drive and the cars required a lot of fuel to run. This issue caused the nation to construct road creating jobs and strengthening the economy even more.
The automobile changed life in the 20's by improving transportation, gave the economy a boost, young people got more freedom and excitement, and families could now visit other relatives and friends. Automobiles also affected American industries. Henry Ford created the Ford Motor Company which made the first affordable car called the Model-T. Ford also expanded his factories which created more jobs, revenues, and improved the American economy. Although the Model-T had now integrated itself into life, most roads back then were primarily dirt which made it difficult to drive and the cars required a lot of fuel to run. This issue caused the nation to construct road creating jobs and strengthening the economy even more.
Radio and movies
• What was the impact of radio and movies on life in the 20’s
The radio impacted American life in the 20's by creating the public radio. Listening to public radio became a part in everyday life. Radio stations continued to pop up during the 20's. The radio was also cheap and great for all families giving them news and key issues going on around the world. Then soon the radio was used to broadcast music and sermons to everyone.
Movies became a big hit during the 1920's. Silent films were extremely popular, but eventually as the movie industry did to. For example, budgets went up for movie making, new genres were used, and the assembly line style was integrated into productions known as “Hollywood’s ‘entertainment factories.’” The Big Five was created during this time. We know them as Warner Brother’s Pictures, Famous Players-Lasky (Paramount), RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn Pictures (MGM), and Fox Film Corporation/Foundation (20th Century Pictures Company). Also, near the end of the 1920's color and sound was beginning to be used in motion pictures which had a lasting effect on movies today.
The radio impacted American life in the 20's by creating the public radio. Listening to public radio became a part in everyday life. Radio stations continued to pop up during the 20's. The radio was also cheap and great for all families giving them news and key issues going on around the world. Then soon the radio was used to broadcast music and sermons to everyone.
Movies became a big hit during the 1920's. Silent films were extremely popular, but eventually as the movie industry did to. For example, budgets went up for movie making, new genres were used, and the assembly line style was integrated into productions known as “Hollywood’s ‘entertainment factories.’” The Big Five was created during this time. We know them as Warner Brother’s Pictures, Famous Players-Lasky (Paramount), RKO (Radio-Keith-Orpheum) Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn Pictures (MGM), and Fox Film Corporation/Foundation (20th Century Pictures Company). Also, near the end of the 1920's color and sound was beginning to be used in motion pictures which had a lasting effect on movies today.
The airplane
• How did the airplane change society in the 20’s and what impact did Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic have on society?
The airplane became a huge success in the 1920's. Airplanes were used during World War I which added a great military advantage. And then in the 20's airplanes became even more popular. They were being used to entertain the audience by doing tricks and stunts during fairs/carnivals and eventually this became common throughout America. Although the airplane was never really taken seriously by the government, the idea of Air-Mail quickly developed. This soon became popular because now mail could be transported in days instead of weeks. Soon airplanes started transporting people, although is was very costly and only the rich could afford it, but as it became more popular the prices dropped and the prices became cheaper. Lindbergh’s impacted society because he was the first man to fly across the Atlantic. The public became obsessed about his private finding out about his wife and kidnapped/murdered child.
The airplane became a huge success in the 1920's. Airplanes were used during World War I which added a great military advantage. And then in the 20's airplanes became even more popular. They were being used to entertain the audience by doing tricks and stunts during fairs/carnivals and eventually this became common throughout America. Although the airplane was never really taken seriously by the government, the idea of Air-Mail quickly developed. This soon became popular because now mail could be transported in days instead of weeks. Soon airplanes started transporting people, although is was very costly and only the rich could afford it, but as it became more popular the prices dropped and the prices became cheaper. Lindbergh’s impacted society because he was the first man to fly across the Atlantic. The public became obsessed about his private finding out about his wife and kidnapped/murdered child.
advertising
1924 Colgate Toothpaste Ad
• How did advertising change how things were sold in the 1920’s?
Mass production in America made prices lower which made items more available to people. Advertising made the public believe that they needed certain products. It also made those customers become more loyal and trusting towards companies. Magazines were greatly affected by consumerism. Instead of containing muckraking, they now had ads for products.
Mass production in America made prices lower which made items more available to people. Advertising made the public believe that they needed certain products. It also made those customers become more loyal and trusting towards companies. Magazines were greatly affected by consumerism. Instead of containing muckraking, they now had ads for products.
sports
• Why were the 1920's known as the “Golden Age of Sports”?
Many sports became very popular in the 1920's. Baseball became apart of everyday life by integrating itself into family pastimes that spread all across the nation, ballparks were created, sports pages popped up in newspapers, and games were even broadcasted over radio. Baseball brought a great number of people to the urban baseball parks, mostly working class, but it made a lot of money. Sports became a part of the mass media influencing America.
Many sports became very popular in the 1920's. Baseball became apart of everyday life by integrating itself into family pastimes that spread all across the nation, ballparks were created, sports pages popped up in newspapers, and games were even broadcasted over radio. Baseball brought a great number of people to the urban baseball parks, mostly working class, but it made a lot of money. Sports became a part of the mass media influencing America.
vocabulary
Consumerism - a social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in ever-greater amounts
Mass Media - the means of communication that reach large numbers of people in a short time, such as television, newspapers,
magazines, and radio
Mass Production - the production of large quantities of a standardized article (often using assembly line techniques)
Prosperity - a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects; good fortune
Mass Media - the means of communication that reach large numbers of people in a short time, such as television, newspapers,
magazines, and radio
Mass Production - the production of large quantities of a standardized article (often using assembly line techniques)
Prosperity - a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition, especially in financial respects; good fortune
apparts
Author – The company Majestic created this advertisement and the illustrator of this piece is James Schucker.
Place and Time - It was published in 1929. The time affected what was shown and said in it because there was a lot of advertising of various products going on. Customers could now call and order products and since radios were quickly becoming apart of everyday life in the 1920's, more and more types of radios popped up from the increase of competition.
Prior Knowledge – I know that radios were in many homes during this time from many improvements that added to what was broadcasted.
Audience –The intended audience of this source is consumers in the 1920's looking for the best and cheapest good looking radio.
Reason - It was produced during this time because radios became apart of everyday life and everyone wanted them. Radios began broadcasting sports games, sermons, news, etc... and was cheap and available to most people.
The Main Idea – The main message of this source is to show that Majestic Radios can be ordered, are more cheap than other radios, and are unique. This source is a great example of how the radio became apart of everyday life and how much advertising influenced the 1920's.
Place and Time - It was published in 1929. The time affected what was shown and said in it because there was a lot of advertising of various products going on. Customers could now call and order products and since radios were quickly becoming apart of everyday life in the 1920's, more and more types of radios popped up from the increase of competition.
Prior Knowledge – I know that radios were in many homes during this time from many improvements that added to what was broadcasted.
Audience –The intended audience of this source is consumers in the 1920's looking for the best and cheapest good looking radio.
Reason - It was produced during this time because radios became apart of everyday life and everyone wanted them. Radios began broadcasting sports games, sermons, news, etc... and was cheap and available to most people.
The Main Idea – The main message of this source is to show that Majestic Radios can be ordered, are more cheap than other radios, and are unique. This source is a great example of how the radio became apart of everyday life and how much advertising influenced the 1920's.
thinking like a historian
• How is the past similar to the present?
The past is similar to the present by our similar ways of life. During the roaring 20's, listening to the radio, driving cars, watching sports, and going out for movies was a part of everyday life and still is today. They had more freedom to do the things they wanted and they could make their own decisions which is still apart of our life.
• How is the past different from the present?
The past is different from today because during the 20's many new inventions came out like the automobile, planes, etc... We don't see as many new inventions today, although the products we currently have continue to get better and better.
• What can we learn from the past?
We can learn about how the things we use everyday became apart of our lives. Most innovations created during the 20's are still used today and are very important to us.
The past is similar to the present by our similar ways of life. During the roaring 20's, listening to the radio, driving cars, watching sports, and going out for movies was a part of everyday life and still is today. They had more freedom to do the things they wanted and they could make their own decisions which is still apart of our life.
• How is the past different from the present?
The past is different from today because during the 20's many new inventions came out like the automobile, planes, etc... We don't see as many new inventions today, although the products we currently have continue to get better and better.
• What can we learn from the past?
We can learn about how the things we use everyday became apart of our lives. Most innovations created during the 20's are still used today and are very important to us.