American Cinema In The 1920s

These vocabulary flashcards cover the cultural context, key figures, major studios, and technological advancements in American cinema during the 1920s.

Roaring Twenties

A period of economic prosperity and cultural dynamism in Western countries characterized by jazz music, flapper fashion, and advancements in technology.

Harlem Renaissance

A flourishing of African American culture, particularly in literature, music, and art, centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.

Charles “Buddy” Bolden

A musician from New Orleans widely considered to be a “father” of Jazz.

Women's Suffrage

The movement that resulted in women gaining the right to vote in the United States in 1920.

Prohibition (The 18th Amendment)

The ban on the making and selling of alcohol, which forced saloons to close and led to the rise of illegal speakeasies.

Amelia Earhart

The first woman passenger to cross the Atlantic who received an international pilot's license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) on May 16, 1923.

Kellog Brian Pact

A treaty in which nations agreed not to wage war with one another except in cases of self-defense.

The “Little Tramp”

The iconic character portrayed by Charlie Chaplin known for delicate pantomime and expressive acting.

United Artist Studios

A film studio founded by Charlie Chaplin, Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., and Mary Pickford.

Buster Keaton

A master of the visual gag and physical comedy known as "the Great Stoneface" for his deadpan expressions.

“The General” (1927)

A Buster Keaton film featuring a train wreck scene that cost $42,000$, the most expensive scene in a silent film.

Harold Lloyd

The "King in Comedy Thrills" known for playing a mild-mannered, bespectacled man caught in dangerous situations.

Hollywood studio system

A system where large corporations controlled every aspect of film production, financing, and distribution, allowing for high-volume production at low cost.

MGM

Founded in 1924 by Louis B. Mayer, Samuel Goldwyn, Marcus Loew, and Nicholas Schenck with the motto “Ars Gratia Artis” (Art for Art's Sake).

Vertical integration

A strategy used by Adolph Zucker at Paramount Pictures ensuring that studios owned by Paramount could only play Paramount films.

Warner Bros.

A studio formed in 1923 by brothers Jack, Sam, Albert, and Harry, noted for its innovative use of sound in film.

Lee de Forest

The individual who figured out how to record sound on film in 1924.

“The Jazz Singer” (1927)

The first feature-length film with synchronized sound, released by Warner Bros.

Vitaphone

The specific process used by Warner Bros. to synchronize sound and picture.