Friday, September 23, 2011

The 1920s


One of my favorite decades of the last century, we've now reached the 1920s, or as it's sometimes known, "the jazz age" or "the roaring '20's." World War I was over, empires destroyed, and with women finally getting the right to vote, the Victorian age was over. Feisty young females cut their hair, bound their breasts if they were large, inched up their skirts, and became flappers, doing such "deplorable" things as smoking, drinking and even swearing like men...if they were daring enough to risk getting caught at speakeasies that is, for this was also the era of prohibition, moonshine, and homemade hooch. Motion pictures picked up steam, and Louise Brooks and Clara Bow became "it girls." Music moved away from ragtime, barbershop, and dixieland (though that still remained popular in the south) to more big band, swing type jazz, and the ukulele gained popularity...as did phrases like "the cat's meow," and "the bee's knees." Then, of course, there was the Charleston...






This was the time the mob began as well, and the brilliant new series Boardwalk Empire (as well as several films) captures this powerful but deadly phenomenon. I highly recommend seeing it if you're a fan of the mob, the '20's or both (especially since it just won many Emmys). Another good thing that came from this era though is radio...after its invention, brands and shows began popping up by the dozens nationwide...something I'm sure music lovers have been thankful for ever since!


Dance 'Til Dawn Barbie
1920s Flapper Barbie

Society Hound Barbie

That's all for this week folks! As usual, any books from this period you want to share, please shoot 'em this-a-way please! Next up: the 1930's!



Music:
Radio Dismuke (1925-35)
Accuradio.com: 1920s and 30s Jazz







1925

1928

Recommended nonfiction:










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