The Roaring 20’s
In-Person – 1:10 pm – 2:50 pm
March 10, 17, 31, April 7, 14, 21 (No Class March 24)
The Roaring 20’s…. From American women gaining the right to vote in 1920 to the 1929 stock market crash.
- 1918-1919: 1918 was a terrible year. War raged until November 11thwhen the guns fell silent and influenza was killing millions of people around the world. Babe Ruth emerges as a star; Tarzan hits the big screen. Time is standardized in the United States. Some women get the right to vote in the United Kingdom. There is a mistake on a US stamp and US air mail is introduced. 1919 was not much better: the Spanish Flu continued to rage, while countries dealt with the war’s aftermath, race riots and a red scare. American President Woodrow Wilson wanted to lead the world, get the peace and start an international entity to negotiate agreements without war. Wilson suffers a stroke and becomes an invalid.
- 1920-1921: America does not have a functioning President, women can vote, the country goes dry and there is a presidential election in 1920. In 1921, Warren G. Harding becomes the President and America snaps out of a recession.
- 1922-1923: There is a women’s-only Olympics in Paris, women are not allowed to play soccer at a high level. The radiola is selling, Mussolini takes power in Italy, Hitler is giving anti-Jewish speeches in 1922. In 1923 Harding dies and the Charleston becomes the craze. Hitler attempts to overthrow the German government.
- 1924-1925: American immigration policy changes, Hitler is released from jail, Lenin dies and Stalin becomes the man in the Soviet Union. Gershwin writes Rhapsody in Blue and the first Macy’s Parade takes place. In 1925, the Scopes Monkey Trial takes place, the Great Gatsby is released and the KKK stages a march in Washington. Prohibition and the flappers go hand in hand.
- 1926-1927: The first movie with spoken words, Don Juan, is released, but it is not considered the first talking movie. NBC, Winnie the Pooh and Mary Poppins make their first appearances. Henry Ford introduces the 40 hour week. 1927 is probably the year the modern world emerges. Talking movies, a non-stop solo flight to Paris, Clara Bow is the “it” girl, Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs as part of the New York Yankees “murderers’ row.” The Nazis are a fringe party in Germany.
- 1928-1929: The American economy is still humming but there are signs that something is amiss. The Nazis lose big in German elections, Mickey Mouse or Mortimer Mouse or Steamboat Willie makes its debut. The yo-yo is introduced to Americans and George Gershwin writes An American in Paris but by the end of 1929, the Roarin’ 20’s comes to a smashing end with the collapse of the stock market—the setting for a global depression. Popeye appears in newspaper comics, the car radio becomes a thing and sunglasses are in vogue.
In 1971 at age 15 Evan Weiner started his career in radio and newspapers. He is a global speaker and author on the politics of sports business, and has also won a number of journalism awards.