USA --> New Forms Of Entertainment Flashcards
Why was there an increase in entertainment in the 1920’s?(2)
-increase in wealth –> more money to spend on leisure + on labour-saving devices (more time)
-working hours drop from 47 to 44 hours/week –> more leisure time
Importance Radio 1920’s 1+5
Radio was main medium of entertainment in America, by the end of 1920’s 50 million people had a radio
It was important bc:
-spread new ideas (eg. jazz)
-up-to-date news
-not everyone could read, important mean for sharing info.
-advertising –> increased consumer boom = more employment
-listening to sports became a national pastime
Why did Jazz become popular + its impact 3+1
Became popular bc:
- Its connections with new daring dances
- the development of radio & films
- people having more money and spare time
Impact- led to a little improvement in the status of women and black people
What were the mixed feelings about Jazz 2+1
-Older people saw jazz as a corrupting influence because of its connection with bars, drinking, suggestive dances and smoking
-Racists disliked it because of its black American origins and as it lead to races mixing together
-It was prohibited in a number of cities, for example New York and Detroit
Famous Jazz musicians 2+1
-Louis Armstrong and his “Hot Five” band
-Bessie Smith, The Empress of the Blues
However, racism was still a major problem. When Bessie Smith had a serious car crash and was taken to a white-only hospital, she was refused treatment and died
Why did cinemas become popular(5)
-films were a way of escaping from the world’s problems; they showed a glamorous world
-the “Picture Palaces” were pleasant, warm & comfortable
-entrance was cheap (25 cents or less)
-films were changed regularly
-the themes in the films were popular (e.g. comedy, romance, gangsters and monsters)
What happened when movies introduced voices in 1927, now called talkies(3)
-cinema now main form of entertainment
-ticket sales went from 40 million/ week in 1920 to 100 million in 1930
-cinema’s became very influential (lifestyles copied)
