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The 1920’s and The Jazz Singer
The Roaring twenties refers to the decade of 1920 when society was flourishing culturally and economically. This was when new technologies such as the automobile and telephone were being introduced and when artistically, it was booming. Hollywood was growing at a rapid pace because the newly established art form of entertaining, the movie, was a huge success. Movies were a respectable mode of entertainment and were relatively cheap. In 1927, Alan Crosland’s The Jazz Singer emerged as a trend setter and the new model for movies forever changed. The Jazz Singer tells the story of Jackie Robinowitz, a cantor’s son who wants to be a jazz singer. Although The Jazz Singer does not fit into a specific film movement; it does, however, significantly mark the period it was made in. With the success of The Jazz Singer the film industry saw the emergence of a new genre, the musical as well as the emergence of sound and looks at particular characteristics prominent during the 1920s, American assimilation.
The roaring twenties was an extravagant era, one of indulgence, especially in cinema and entertainment. The 1920s was the decade of the Picture Palaces, grand theaters that could hold 100 piece orchestras, hold over and 1000 guests and was dressed up like the glamour of the decade. At the end of the movie, Jack Robin has finally made it into show business and was appearing in one of these picture palaces. Modern audiences can see the extravagance of the palace with grand architecture and Jack Robin’s name written in lights on a billboard as big as a modern day Jumbotron. The city is lit up by dozens of billboards flashing with bright lights that illuminate the dark sky above. Through this one scene, audien...
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...ed to flocked to the movies.
Works Cited
Carringer, Robert, L. The Jazz Singer. Madison, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1979.
Green, Stanley. Hollywood Musicals Year by Year. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, 1990.
Kenrick, John. “History of The Musical Stage 1920s: Keep the Sun Smilin' Through.” Musicals 101. Last modified 2003. http://www.musicals101.com/1920bway.html.
Kirle, Bruce. Unfinished Show Business: Broadway Musicals as Works-in-process. Carbondale, Illinois: The Board of Trustees, Southern Illinois University, 2005.
The Jazz Singer. DVD. Directed by Alan Crosland. 1927; Los Angeles, CA: Warner Brothers Video, 2007.
Thompson, Kristin , and David Bordwell. Film History : An Introduction. 3 ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.
Virdi, Jyotika. “The Coming of Sound.” Class lecture, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, October 29, 2013.
Bessie Smith was a rough, crude, violent woman. She was also the greatest of the classic Blues singers of the 1920s. Bessie started out as a street musician in Chattanooga. In 1912 Bessie joined a traveling show as a dancer and singer. The show featured Pa and Ma Rainey, and Smith developed a friendship with Ma. Ma Rainey was Bessie's mentor and she stayed with her show until 1915. Bessie then joined the T.O.B.A. vaudeville circuit and gradually built up her own following in the south and along the eastern seaboard. By the early 1920s she was one of the most popular Blues singers in vaudeville. In 1923 she made her recording debut on Columbia, accompanied by pianist Clarence Williams. They recorded "Gulf Coast Blues" and "Down Hearted Blues." The record sold more than 750,000 copies that same year, rivaling the success of Blues singer Mamie Smith (no relation). Throughout the 1920s Smith recorded with many of the great Jazz musicians of that era, including Fletcher Henderson, James P. Johnson, Coleman Hawkins, Don Redman and Louis Armstrong. Her rendition of "St. Louis Blues" with Armstrong is considered by most critics to be one of finest recordings of the 1920s. Bessie Smith was one of the biggest African-American stars of the 1920s and was popular with both Whites and African-Americans, but by 1931 the Classic Blues style of Bessie Smith was out of style and the Depression, radio, and sound movies had all damaged the record companies' ability to sell records so Columbia dropped Smith from its roster. In 1933 she recorded for the last time under the direction of John Hammond for Okeh. The session was released under the name of Bessie Smith accompanied by Buck and his Band. Despite having no record company Smith was still very po...
The Roaring Twenties were a time of prosperity, happiness, liveliness, and new ways. One of the many new ideas that were introduced was jazz music. Jazz fit the atmosphere perfectly, with it's upbeat and exciting sounds. Although jazz seemed to be a new world-wide obsession, there were people who saw it in a different light, one that was a lot darker, perhaps even evil. These people had negative opinions about the music, and saw it as a, "cause of loosening morals and frightening dislocation". The different generations had completely different views on the rapid change, and both views were just as correct, but only one was logical. The music brought change, freedom, and brought black America together with white America.
What comes to mind when thinking of the 1920’s? Most people think of the freedom the United States felt after World War I and that is exactly what jazz and the Charleston symbolize (Boundless.com par. 1). Jazz and the Charleston were extremely controversial in the 1920’s because they promoted a new way of thinking, which outraged the older generations (Knowles 160). Older generations did not like the fact that young people were becoming more and more daring with their actions just by playing music and dancing (Boundless.com par. 6). Today, jazz and the Charleston are thought of as out of date, but without them, music today would be completely different. Jazz and the Charleston revolutionized modern music and dance by altering the rhythm of classical music, changing the culture of American society (Boundless.com par. 1).
The time period known as the Roaring 20’s was filled with a lot of changes and exciting times. Every age and gender were affected by this era. Many of the changes during this time are still in place today. From courting and dating, the etiquette of women, to the changing of our education. Multiple things from the 1920’s are still being used today in our everyday life; from jobs to clothing to careers.
It was a known as a colorful time, the jazz age and the dollar decade. As World War I (WWI) came to a close many Americans wanted to simply forget about the Europeans and the war and live life to the fullest. Some chose to amuse themselves with soaring stock profits, illegal liquor, short skirts, and what many would look upon as shocking morals. This was a time of dramatic social and economic change. Many people were uncomfortable with this sometimes-racy “mass culture.” The Roaring Twenties was a time filled with youth hosting wild parties. Everything had a feeling of carelessness to it. People from all around the world were doing the same type of things as Americans were. As for the economic change, the total wealth of the U.S. nearly doubled from the year 1920 up until the great crash in 1929. Most African Americans knew this period to be the Harlem Renaissance. Many famous Jazz artists, playwrights, and sculptures came from the Harlem Renaissance. Some of which were Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes and Augustus Savage. Many other discoveries included sports legends, writers and gang life. Some of which were Babe Ruth, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Rudolph Valentino.
In the 1920s, it was the birth of Jazz and the Blues. More importantly, black musicians/artists were becoming recognized during this decade, more before than the 1910s, due to this new genre of music. Since these artists were becoming recognized, three songs really catches the eye of this decade and represents the overall historic event of the 1920s; “social changes and profound cultural conflicts.”
The 1920’s were a time of growth and innovation. The workforce was getting bigger, women finally had the right to vote, and African Americans started to integrate and migrate from the south to the north looking for jobs. The result was a larger working class and the creation of a new, middle class. Society became more consumer-based, allotting for more leisure time. Times could not get any better. Business was booming, America was turning into a world power, skyscrapers dotted the skylines, and a new music started to sweep the nation. However, not everything was good. There was a huge spike in crime, and the heroes of society were also the biggest criminals. Due to Jazz Age and prohibition, the 1920’s were an intense time period with a newfound drive for innovation, the new woman, and a loss of structure.
The Roaring Twenties, also known as The Jazz Age, was a busy and interesting time in history. Movies set new standards in society, changing pop culture for both the best and the worst. The best aspect of how pop culture was changed by society was the change in how people acted and dressed. One negative aspect of how film affected the society of the 1920s was the increase in membership of the Ku Klux Klan, and some growth in gangs and violence. Children and women developed new freedoms and ways of thinking like the characters in the movies they watched. Women became liberated and realized that there was more to them than cooking and cleaning. Going to the movies was a new incentive for children and teenagers to do their chores. All in all, movies changed pop culture in the 1920s and it will never be the same.
Sklar, Robert. Movie-made America: A Social History of American Movies. New York: Random House, 1975. Print.
The “Roaring 20’s” was a time period when life was great. There were new inventions and technologies. Such as, electricity, radios, refrigerators, bathrooms, telephones, airplanes, automobiles and “Talkie.” In addition, Jazz music was popular, flappers were created and many sports were played. The radio helped keep people together. Airplanes were created by the Wright brothers. Airplanes were important at this time because of World War I. “Talkies” were motion pictures with sounds, this increased national figures and idols of hollywood. The automobile was the most advanced technology at this time, it was invented by Fords and Olds. It made transportation faster and many people were more socia...
There were many revolutionary changes in the economy of the roaring twenties that affected the American Dream. Among these were the rapid expansion of the radio, film, advertising, and automobile industries. These all grew exponentially in the 20’s, a decade of economic expansion. “Between 1919 and 1929 horsepower per wage earner in manufacturing skyrocketed by 50 percent, signaling a robust wave of mechanization that increased productivity by 72 percent in manufacturing, 33 percent in railroads, and 41 percent in mining” (Lehrman 2). In the midst of a vastly expanded economy that lasted until 1929, the film industry was one of many that grew. During this prosperous decade, move theatre ticket sales exponentially increased. The radio became an advertising tool not just for companies, but for events as crucial as presidential debates that lead to the outcome of elections. These were just a few of...
The Jazz Singer, released in 1927, is a black and white film that centers on a young man who wishes to conquer his dreams in becoming a professional jazz singer. This film, directed by Alan Crosland, demonstrates new developments from the decade of the 1920’s. During the decade, many new advances; such as the introduction of musicals and other technological advancements, were created. The Jazz Singer utilized these new advances of the decade and incorporated them into each scene. This is evident due to the elements of being the first talkie film, the introduction of the new musical genre and the introduction of the Hollywood stars system. By utilizing the new advances of the decade, Crosland’s film, changed the way cinema would be seen forever.
Zeitz, Joshua. "The Roaring Twenties." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.
Lewis, J. (2008). American Film: A History. New York, NY. W.W. Norton and Co. Inc. (p. 405,406,502).
Thompson, K 2003, ‘The struggle for the expanding american film industry’, in Film history : an introduction, 2nd ed, McGraw-Hill, Boston, pp. 37-54