Divine Randomness: September 2011

Friday, September 30, 2011

The 1930s

Another Friday is upon us, and with it brings another decade spotlight...this time the 1930s. This era, of course, is mainly known for the great depression: folks "made do or did with out, used it up, and wore it out" and made countless sacrifices. But it was also part one of the golden age for film with classics like Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, and King Kong were made. Horror films also got their starts this decade with both Dracula starring Bela Lugosi and Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff making their debuts (something goths would love many years later).

Hollywood darling Shirley Temple and Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made going to the movies a way for even the youngest to escape the grind of day to day life during the depression that seemed to have no end. As if that weren't enough, the Midwest had to cope with debilitating dust storms, and many decided to head west to California. The mob grew in power too, bringing us legendary names like Al Capone, Babyface Nelson, and Bonnie and Clyde.

Musically, not much changed from the previous decade, with the ukulele still prominent and big band not really taking off until the end of the decade. FDR was elected president, and with the help of his progressive programs, we were able to begin lifting up the economy. Meanwhile, over in Britain, the royal family got a shakeup when King Edward VIII decided to abdicate the throne to marry Wallis Simpson and his brother, George, became king in his place. Another thing I love that this decade brought? Art Deco. This popular design began popping up all over the country mainly in architecture, but even in posters, silverware, and even jewelry and many examples can still be seen today, such as Union Station in LA:

and the Fox Theatre in Fullerton, which is currently being restored:

Steppin' Out Barbie

That's it for this week...next up, the 1940's!

For music links, see the previous post for the 1920s.

Buy

Kit series

August 1932

November 10-24, 1932

December 11-25, 1932

April 1933-May 19, 1933

August, 1933

February, 1934

December 26, 1932-January 3, 1933

March-April, 1933

Late May, 1933

June, 1933

Autumn, 1933

Summer, 1934

July 28-August 5, 1934

August 18-28, 1934

August, 1934

October, 1934

June 20-July 9, 1935

August, 1995

August 22-September 2, 1935

September 9-16, 1935

Dear America series

Recommended nonfiction:

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!