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The roaring 20s
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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.
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 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 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...
The Roaring Twenties, with all of its abundance and new freedoms, can certainly be described as a break from tradition of every sort. Womanhood was being redefined, music was undergoing a jazzy revolution, and new inventions were transforming day to day life. This break from tradition represented the ideals of the 1920s, but the grave experiences such as the “red scare” and the disillusioned culture also played a huge role in this era.
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 Roaring Twenties was America’s golden age. F. Scott Fitzgerald once said,“The parties were bigger, the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper” (“People” PBS). The cultural undertone of the twenties was very different from the times before and during World War I. “ For the first time, more Americans lived in cities than on farms…people from coast to coast bought the same goods…listened to the same music, did the same dances, and even used the same slang” (“Roaring” History). The Twenties was a time of social and cultural change. During this time, things like the automobile and jazz became more popular and mainstream. These things were possible because America
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.
Danzer, Gerald A. "Chapter 21 The Roaring Life of the 1920s." The Americans. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. 640-45. Print.
The “Roaring twenties” began after World War 1, and the younger generation began to revolt against their elders. Flappers were the newer generation of women who were on the wild side and wore short dresses and went to extravagant parties (History 1). The jazz age was the growth of the young generation. It lead to new dances in rebellion to the older generation who detested jazz (History 1). The Charleston for example, is a dance that requires rapid footwork. In 1922, the movie The Jazz singer was released, it was the first movie with sound. Four years later, Technicolor was invented and movies became more enjoyable. Gangsters and Bootleggers found many ways to drink illegally during the prohibition. Many people went to speakeasies to buy alcohol. A group of gangsters decided to deal alcohol because of high demand. The most prominent gangster was Al Capone (History 2).
The 1920s were a pivotal period in American history because the nation established many of the structures that it required to promote a lifestyle that is enjoyed by many diverse people across the country today. In the United States, the 1920s were a distinct decade because a majority of its citizens enjoyed immense wealth, and this period marked an expansion in the country’s establishment of infrastructure and the people who lived during this time contributed significantly to music and the arts. For the first time in history, more Americans moved to the cities and the surrounding suburbs, which created a cultural shift to emphasis on the middle class working individual, rather than on the rural farmer. It is important to understand the implications of the 1920s on modern American culture, because this was an essential decade that had a significant influence on the American way of thinking in addition to the American way of life.
Also known as the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties, the American people felt that they deserved to have some fun in order to forget the emotional toll and social scars left from the war. The Jazz Age was appropriately named due to the illegal activities and good times, which included music, parties, and flapper girls. Jazz was a new style of music that originated out of the New Orleans area, where one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time – Louis Armstrong – began his career. The energy of jazz was a very new and almost uncomfortable style for the very traditional, rigid family of the 1920s. Young people in particular seemed to enjoy this new music the most, as it made them feel carefree. The energy of jazz was symbolic of the era’s trans...
Clara’s experience with the motion picture industry gives us a picture of what it was like in the 1920’s. It was new and intriguing, enticing and corrupt. The motion picture industry underpaid Bow, which is almost inconceivable today. The environment of Hollywood now pays actors and actresses corpulent amounts of money...but that may be the only change. The “star-maker” environment is still as enticing and corrupt as yesterday’s.
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.
Stanley, Robert H. The Movie Idiom: Film as a Popular Art Form. Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc. 2011. Print
Whitley, Peggy. "American Cultural History - The Twentieth Century: 1910 - 1919."American Cultural History. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2014. .