The Roaring Twenties

Jazz

Originated in the Southern states of America among African-Americans then spread north as African-Americans began to move in search of work. Known for improvisation, fast tempos and lively rhythms. Became the most popular music style in dancehalls, bars and nightclubs in big Northern cities. Provided great opportunities for black musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Bessie Smith. New dance crazes became popular - the Charleston, the One Step, the Tango and the Black Bottom. Some people criticised jazz mostly the older generation since they felt that it encouraged drunkenness and that dances were too sexual

Cinema

Many major movie companies built studios in Hollywood since it enjoyed year-round sunshine. Weekly audiences grew from 35 million in 1919 to 100 million in 1930. Studios introduced the “star system” to promote their main actors. Made sure that the media had full access to the star. Charlie Chaplin, Rudolf Valentino and Clara Bow became popular. By 1929, Hollywood film studios were making over 500 films a year giving employment. The Jazz Singer was released in 1927 - the first film that included sound. The movies horrified many older Americans, they worried about the sexual content and the impact it was having on the young. Introduced the “Hays Code” which was a list of strict rules, including a ban of nudity

Sport

Was a golden age for American sport during the 1920s. Sportspeople like Babe Ruth(baseball) and Bobby Jones (golf) became celebrities. By 1930, Ruth was earning $80 000 a year = nearly £7 million a year today. Radio broadcasts, newspapers and magazines helped bring major sporting events to a mass audience

Crazy crazes

The following all became very popular for a short period of time : a Chinese board game called Mahjong, crossword puzzles, marathon dancing and pole sitting. People would see how long they could dance or sit on top of a pole without stopping or falling off