Cultural Change in the 1920's Flashcards
When was the first commerical radio station set up and what was it
The KDKA in Pittsburgh, set up in 1920
How many radio stations were there in 1922
500
What was the first national network of radio stations
NBC, set up in 1926
What was a huge radio event
1927 boxing match between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey, listened to by 50 million people
How much was a radio in the 20’s
$150 (not cheap), usually paid for by credit.
How many families had a radio
60% had purchased one by 1930
What increased with the radio
The attraction for advertising and sponsorships, which paid for programmes
How did radio bring America together
It broadcast important sports events
How big was the cinema industry
By the 1920’s it was the 4 th largest in terms of capital investment, and employed more than Ford or General Motors
How many customers were going to the cinema a day
10 million customers across 20,000 cinemas
Why did people like the cinema
Escapism, excitement and change. It glamourised The Roxy in New York which cost $10 million to build
Who were some famous movie stars
-Clara Bow, ‘It Girl’ - Symbolised modern liberated women
-Theda Bara, ‘The Vamp’ - exuding dangerous sexuality
-Charlie Chaplin
What was the first sound film and when was it released
The Jazz Singer in 1927
What did the growth of sport spectatorship/listening lead to
Sport celebrities started earning vast amounts from sponsorships, with Jack Dempsey making $10 million
Who was the stupid baseball guy you have to know the name of
Babe Ruth
What was the Black American Baseball organisation
The Negro National Baseball League, formed in 1920 with the sport still largely segregated.
How popular was the Negro National Baseball League
They toured the US playing to high crowds of 30,000, often to mixed crowds. They were paid less than half of the white teams and some years were made to play 3 times a day
What led to conflict with Black Americans
KKK, Unions reluctance to recruit members of ethnic minorities and the Great Migration
What showed to huge racism of the 1920’s
President Harding’s bill to outlaw lynching failed to pass congress in 1922
How many people lived in Harlem
165000 people by 1930, represents ghettoisation. Led to increased demand for accomodation
What happened to rent in Harlem
Rents doubled between 1919-27
What was the Harlem Renaissance
The concentration of Black Americans led to flowering of culture including Jazz and dance
What did some hope the white appretiation of Jazz music would lead to
Greater tolerance. In reality it led to a white sanitisation version, with notable white jazz musicians such as Benny Goodman, labelled the ‘King of Swing’
Who was the white musician labelled the ‘King of Swing’
Benny Goodman
What club in Harlem attracted wealthy people
The Cotton Club and Plantation
What did Harlem become
A place where whites experienced what they thought was ‘exotic’
What did the influx of whites in Harlem lead to
Resentment from many black americans, with poet Claud McKay calling Harlem ‘‘an all-white picnic ground’
Who called Harlem an ‘all white-picnic ground’
Claud McKay
What did literature reflect in the 20’s
Widespread disullusionment with the USA (for some reason)
What are some notable pieces of literature in the 20’s
1926 The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway - reflected unhappiness, with a group of ex-patriots leading fruitless lives in Paris, symbolising emptyness of society
1925 Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis - The main character is only concerned with social status and materialism
