Jazz Age Culture. Prohibition Era 1920 – 1933 1920 – 1933 With passage of the 18 th Amendment, it became illegal to manufacture, transport, or sell alcoholic.

Jazz Age Jazz Age CultureCulture

Prohibition EraProhibition Era 1920 – 19331920 – 1933 With passage of the With passage of the 1818thth

Amendment, it became Amendment, it became illegal to manufacture, illegal to manufacture, transport, or sell transport, or sell alcoholic beverages in alcoholic beverages in the USthe US

Prohibition led to a Prohibition led to a dramatic increase dramatic increase in crime and in crime and decrease in tax decrease in tax revenuerevenue

Era ended with the Era ended with the passage of the passage of the 2121stst Amendment which Amendment which repealed Prohibitionrepealed Prohibition

SpeakeasiesSpeakeasiesEstablishments Establishments

which continued to which continued to sell alcohol sell alcohol illegally, despite illegally, despite the banthe ban

Often required a Often required a password or some other password or some other identifying mark to gain identifying mark to gain admissionadmission

Many were operated by Many were operated by organized crime organized crime syndicatessyndicates

BootleggingBootlegging The The illegal illegal

manufacture and manufacture and transport of alcoholtransport of alcohol

Some bootleggers made Some bootleggers made ““bathtub ginbathtub gin” a ” a homemade brew that could homemade brew that could be deadly if not mixed be deadly if not mixed correctlycorrectly

Others were Others were ““moonshinermoonshiners” who s” who made corn liquor in stills made corn liquor in stills hidden in the countrysidehidden in the countryside

Al “Scarface” Al “Scarface” CaponeCapone 1899 – 19471899 – 1947

America’s most notorious America’s most notorious gangster, he ran his crime gangster, he ran his crime syndicate out of Chicago until syndicate out of Chicago until being convicted of tax evasion being convicted of tax evasion in 1931; he eventually died in in 1931; he eventually died in prison of heart failure prison of heart failure complicated by syphiliscomplicated by syphilis

Ran alcohol, prostitution, and Ran alcohol, prostitution, and gambling operationsgambling operations

Ordered the infamous Ordered the infamous St. St. Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day Massacre Massacre in 1929 which in 1929 which eliminated several of his rivalseliminated several of his rivals

St. Valentine’s Day St. Valentine’s Day MassacreMassacre

1920s 1920s HollywoodHollywood

Silent FilmsSilent Films Motion pictures initially Motion pictures initially

did not have sound, so did not have sound, so audiences had to be able audiences had to be able to understand plots to understand plots through entirely visual through entirely visual means; this forced actors means; this forced actors to use highly exaggerated to use highly exaggerated motionsmotions

Many early films were Many early films were comedies because comedies because “slapstick” provided “slapstick” provided effective visualseffective visuals

Most successful actor of Most successful actor of the 1920s was comedic the 1920s was comedic star star Charlie ChaplinCharlie Chaplin

MetropolisMetropolis (1927) Silent film made in Silent film made in

Germany which Germany which many consider to be many consider to be the first significant the first significant “science fiction” film “science fiction” film ever madeever made

Silent movies, since Silent movies, since they used no spoken they used no spoken language, could be language, could be effectively played effectively played anywhere in the anywhere in the world world

The Jazz SingerThe Jazz Singer (1927)

First “talkie” or First “talkie” or film which had a film which had a synchronized synchronized soundtrack for soundtrack for dialoguedialogue

This film’s This film’s success spelled success spelled the end of the the end of the silent picture erasilent picture era

SportsSports Many spectator sports Many spectator sports

were extremely popular, were extremely popular, including golf, tennis, including golf, tennis, boxing, and swimmingboxing, and swimming

BaseballBaseball had become had become ““America’s pass America’s pass timetime””

Football began to gain Football began to gain prominence with the prominence with the founding of the National founding of the National Football League (NFL) in Football League (NFL) in 19201920

““Red” GrangeRed” Grange 1903 – 19911903 – 1991 ““The Galloping The Galloping

Ghost”Ghost” The first American The first American

football star, Grange football star, Grange played for the played for the University of Illinois University of Illinois and then for the and then for the NFL’s Chicago Bears NFL’s Chicago Bears as a star running as a star running backback

Jack DempseyJack Dempsey1895 – 19831895 – 1983World World

Heavyweight Heavyweight champion from champion from 1919 to 19261919 to 1926

First boxer to draw First boxer to draw more than $1 more than $1 million in ticket million in ticket revenues for a revenues for a fightfight

““Babe” RuthBabe” Ruth 1895 – 19481895 – 1948 Played for 21 years Played for 21 years

(1914 – 35), mostly for (1914 – 35), mostly for the NY Yankeesthe NY Yankees

Hit 714 home runs Hit 714 home runs (still 3(still 3rdrd most ever) most ever)

Lived a celebrity Lived a celebrity lifestyle – drank lifestyle – drank heavily, smoked, and heavily, smoked, and womanized – a trend womanized – a trend he started that lives he started that lives on today with many on today with many professional athletesprofessional athletes

The Lost The Lost GenerationGeneration

Term used to Term used to describe the describe the generation which generation which reached adulthood reached adulthood during the 1920sduring the 1920s

These These young people young people were “lost” in that were “lost” in that they felt trapped they felt trapped by the corrupt, by the corrupt, greedy society in greedy society in which they lived which they lived and their own and their own experiences in WWIexperiences in WWI

F. Scott F. Scott FitzgeraldFitzgerald

1896 – 19401896 – 1940 Author of Author of The Great The Great

GatsbyGatsby (1925)(1925) Wrote numerous short-Wrote numerous short-

stories (including stories (including The The Curious Case of Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonBenjamin Button) and ) and screenplays in addition screenplays in addition to his 4 novelsto his 4 novels

Died from a heart Died from a heart attack induced by attack induced by alcoholismalcoholism

Ernest Ernest HemingwayHemingway 1899 – 19611899 – 1961

Author of novels such Author of novels such as as The Old Man and The Old Man and the Seathe Sea, , AA Farewell Farewell to Armsto Arms, , The Sun Also The Sun Also RisesRises, and , and For Whom For Whom the Bell Tollsthe Bell Tolls

Rugged adventurer who liked bullfighting, hunting, mountain climbing, and other dangerous hobbies

Committed suicide due to depression and alcoholism

T.S. EliotT.S. Eliot 1888 – 19651888 – 1965 American author, American author,

playwright, and poetplaywright, and poet Famous works Famous works

include the play include the play Murder in the Murder in the CathedralCathedral, and , and poems poems The Love The Love Song of J. Alfred Song of J. Alfred PrufrockPrufrock, and , and The The Waste LandWaste Land

Eugene O’NeillEugene O’Neill 1888 – 19531888 – 1953 American playwrightAmerican playwright His plays were among His plays were among

the first to include the first to include speeches in American speeches in American vernacular and involve vernacular and involve characters on the characters on the fringes of society, fringes of society, engaging in depraved engaging in depraved behavior, where they behavior, where they struggle to maintain struggle to maintain their hopes and their hopes and aspirations, but aspirations, but ultimately slide into ultimately slide into disillusionment and disillusionment and despair despair

Charles SheelerCharles Sheeler 1883 – 19651883 – 1965 American artistAmerican artist ModernistModernist Supported himself by Supported himself by

working as a working as a commercial commercial photographer who photographer who specialized in specialized in architecture; much of architecture; much of this experience is this experience is reflected in his reflected in his paintingpainting

Works by Works by SheelerSheeler

John MarinJohn Marin1870 – 19531870 – 1953Modernist Modernist

artist best artist best known for his known for his watercolors watercolors and abstract and abstract landscape landscape paintingspaintings

Work by MarinWork by Marin

Edward HopperEdward Hopper 1882 – 19671882 – 1967 Realist painterRealist painter Many of his paintings Many of his paintings

are dark and feature are dark and feature scenes of urban lifescenes of urban life

Focused on using Focused on using light and shadow and light and shadow and on placement of his on placement of his figures within his figures within his paintings to strike the paintings to strike the proper moodproper mood

NighthawksNighthawks by Hopper by Hopper

Harlem Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance African-American African-American

cultural movement of cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s, the 1920s and 1930s, centered around the centered around the Harlem neighborhood Harlem neighborhood of NYCof NYC

Included Included new literary, new literary, artistic, and musical artistic, and musical styles styles which would go on which would go on to heavily influence to heavily influence American culture of the mid American culture of the mid and late 20and late 20thth century century

Claude McKayClaude McKay 1889 – 19481889 – 1948 Writer and poet who wrote Writer and poet who wrote

novels novels Home to HarlemHome to Harlem, , BanjoBanjo, and , and Banana BottomBanana Bottom

One of the first authors of One of the first authors of the Renaissance, McKay the Renaissance, McKay represented a new African-represented a new African-American voice, one which American voice, one which rejected the ideals of rejected the ideals of Booker T. Washington, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, and W.E.B. Du Bois, and Marcus Garvey, in favor of Marcus Garvey, in favor of taking pride in his culture taking pride in his culture and pursuing full civil and pursuing full civil rights and racial solidarityrights and racial solidarity

Langston Langston HughesHughes 1902 – 19671902 – 1967

American novelist, American novelist, playwright, short story playwright, short story writer, and magazine writer, and magazine columnistcolumnist

Pioneered new form of Pioneered new form of poetry known as “jazz poetry known as “jazz poetry”poetry”

Much of his work Much of his work focuses on the focuses on the theme “black is theme “black is beautiful” and beautiful” and takes pride in the takes pride in the diversity of African-diversity of African-American cultureAmerican culture

The The Cotton ClubCotton Club 1920 – 19401920 – 1940Famous Harlem Famous Harlem

nightclub which nightclub which featured jazz featured jazz and blues musicand blues music

Catered to a mostly Catered to a mostly white audience, so white audience, so marked the first marked the first significant exposure significant exposure for many whites to for many whites to black musical stylesblack musical styles

The The Apollo Apollo TheaterTheater

Harlem theater which Harlem theater which originally opened in originally opened in 1914, but didn’t 1914, but didn’t become a become a predominantly black predominantly black venue until 1934venue until 1934

Fell into decline in the Fell into decline in the 1960s and even 1960s and even became just a simple became just a simple movie theater before movie theater before being revived in 1983; being revived in 1983; today it has protected today it has protected federal landmark federal landmark statusstatus

Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong 1901 – 19711901 – 1971 Nicknamed “Satchmo”Nicknamed “Satchmo” Jazz trumpeter and Jazz trumpeter and

singersinger Popularized “scat” or Popularized “scat” or

singing using disjointed singing using disjointed syllables instead of wordssyllables instead of words

Rose to fame quickly Rose to fame quickly during the 1920s and during the 1920s and was equally popular with was equally popular with both black and white both black and white audiencesaudiences

Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington 1899 – 19741899 – 1974 Orchestra leader, Orchestra leader,

pianist, and song pianist, and song writerwriter

Elevated jazz from Elevated jazz from an urban musical an urban musical form to a nearly form to a nearly classical level with classical level with his “big band” stylehis “big band” style

Led his orchestra for Led his orchestra for over 50 yearsover 50 years

Billie HolidayBillie Holiday 1915 – 19591915 – 1959 Crossed jazz over to Crossed jazz over to

standard “pop” standard “pop” (popular music)(popular music)

Also a song writer, Also a song writer, helping write such helping write such hits as “God Bless the hits as “God Bless the Child” and “Lady Child” and “Lady Sings the Blues”Sings the Blues”

Unfortunately, she Unfortunately, she became a lifelong became a lifelong drug addict and died drug addict and died from liver failure after from liver failure after years of legal troublesyears of legal troubles

Josephine BakerJosephine Baker 1906 – 19751906 – 1975 Dancer, singer, and actressDancer, singer, and actress Baker was the first African Baker was the first African

American to star in a major American to star in a major motion picture, to integrate motion picture, to integrate an American concert hall, an American concert hall, and to become a world-and to become a world-famous entertainerfamous entertainer

Extremely popular in Extremely popular in Europe, her exotic stage Europe, her exotic stage show featured her scantily show featured her scantily clad or even nudeclad or even nude

In later years she became In later years she became heavily involved in the Civil heavily involved in the Civil Rights movementRights movement

Charlie PooleCharlie Poole 1892 – 19311892 – 1931 North Carolina North Carolina

musician who, along musician who, along with his band the North with his band the North Carolina Ramblers, Carolina Ramblers, became the first major became the first major national country music national country music recording actrecording act

When not recording, he When not recording, he earned money as a earned money as a textile mill worker and textile mill worker and as a moonshineras a moonshiner

Died of an alcohol Died of an alcohol induced illness at just induced illness at just 3939

Stop here! Stop here! –next week!–next week!The 1930sThe 1930s

Hollywood Hollywood EscapismEscapism

As the Great Depression As the Great Depression set in, people set in, people desperately wanted to desperately wanted to escape their troubles, escape their troubles, even if only for a few even if only for a few hourshours

Movies offered a cheap Movies offered a cheap form of escapism (most form of escapism (most theaters were also theaters were also heated and air-heated and air-conditioned as well, conditioned as well, allowing people to allowing people to escape the chill or escape the chill or swelter of their swelter of their apartments!)apartments!)

Marx BrothersMarx Brothers Popular comedic act Popular comedic act

of the period, they of the period, they starred in such films starred in such films as Animal Crackers as Animal Crackers (1930), and Duck (1930), and Duck Soup (1933)Soup (1933)

Made feature films Made feature films from 1921 to 1957from 1921 to 1957

13 of their films were 13 of their films were included in the top included in the top 100 comedies ever 100 comedies ever mademade

Walt DisneyWalt Disney 1901 – 19661901 – 1966 Created Mickey Created Mickey

Mouse who first Mouse who first achieved success in achieved success in the cartoon short the cartoon short Steamboat WillieSteamboat Willie (1927)(1927)

Disney would go on Disney would go on to grow an to grow an animation, film, and animation, film, and theme park empiretheme park empire

Snow White and the Seven Snow White and the Seven DwarfsDwarfs

The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz

Gone With the Gone With the WindWind

DraculaDracula & & FrankensteinFrankenstein

Radio SerialsRadio Serials Many people’s chief Many people’s chief

form of entertainment form of entertainment was the radio, which was the radio, which featured episodic featured episodic programming much programming much like television does like television does today, including such today, including such action characters as action characters as the Green Hornet and the Green Hornet and Lone Ranger, as well Lone Ranger, as well as numerous “soap as numerous “soap operas” (dramatic operas” (dramatic programming aimed at programming aimed at women and usually women and usually sponsored by laundry sponsored by laundry soap companies)soap companies)

Grant WoodGrant Wood 1891 – 19421891 – 1942 Artist best known for his Artist best known for his

Regionalist style Regionalist style paintings of the paintings of the American Midwest, American Midwest, especially the painting especially the painting American Gothic (1930) American Gothic (1930) which won him a $300 which won him a $300 prizeprize

Many believed the Many believed the painting was meant to painting was meant to be satirical, but Wood be satirical, but Wood insisted that he insisted that he intended it to represent intended it to represent the steadfast spirit of the steadfast spirit of farmersfarmers

American GothicAmerican Gothic ParodiesParodies

Thomas Hart BentonThomas Hart Benton 1889 – 19751889 – 1975 MuralistMuralist His fluid, almost His fluid, almost

sculpted paintings sculpted paintings showed everyday showed everyday scenes of life in the scenes of life in the United StatesUnited States

Also part of the Also part of the Regionalist style, many Regionalist style, many of his works focus on of his works focus on the Midwest or NY City, the Midwest or NY City, the two places he the two places he spent his entire life in spent his entire life in

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck 1902 – 19681902 – 1968 Author of Author of The Grapes The Grapes

of Wrathof Wrath, a Pulitzer , a Pulitzer Prize winning novel Prize winning novel about the tragedies about the tragedies which befell his which befell his fictional family of fictional family of Oklahoma farmers Oklahoma farmers during the Dust Bowlduring the Dust Bowl

Also wrote Also wrote Of Mice and Of Mice and MenMen, a story about the , a story about the tragic relationship tragic relationship between two poor between two poor migrant farmersmigrant farmers

William FaulknerWilliam Faulkner 1897 – 19621897 – 1962 Nobel Prize winning Nobel Prize winning

novelist and short-novelist and short-story writerstory writer

Nearly all of his works Nearly all of his works are set in the Southare set in the South

His unique style often His unique style often included using stream included using stream of consciousness and of consciousness and focused on a wide focused on a wide range of charactersrange of characters