Entertainment (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Entertainment in 1920s America
The boom and leisure revolution
The economic prosperity of the 1920s fundamentally transformed American entertainment. With more disposable income and leisure time than ever before, ordinary Americans could afford to enjoy themselves in new ways. This period became known as the "Roaring Twenties" because of the dramatic social and cultural changes that swept across the nation.
The entertainment boom wasn't just about having fun - it represented a fundamental shift in American values and lifestyle. People were moving away from traditional, conservative forms of entertainment towards more modern, exciting, and sometimes controversial activities.
The growth of cinema
From silent films to "talkies"
Cinema experienced explosive growth during the 1920s, even though movies had already been popular before this decade. The film industry was revolutionised by several key developments that made movies more appealing and accessible to mass audiences.
Before 1927, all films were silent. Audiences watched the action on screen while a pianist played music to accompany the story, and captions appeared on screen to show dialogue. However, in 1927, the first "talkie" (talking picture) was released, completely transforming the movie experience.
The introduction of "talkies" in 1927 was a revolutionary moment in entertainment history. This innovation increased demand for cinema even more dramatically, fundamentally changing how people experienced movies.
Hollywood becomes the entertainment capital
The movie industry established itself in Hollywood, California, just outside Los Angeles on the West Coast. This location proved ideal because of its year-round good weather, which was perfect for outdoor filming.
Why Hollywood became the film capital:
Hollywood's success wasn't accidental. The location offered several key advantages:
- Year-round good weather for consistent filming
- Diverse landscapes within easy reach
- Distance from Edison's patent restrictions on the East Coast
- Access to both talent and investment capital
By the end of the 1920s, Hollywood studios were producing an incredible more than 500 films per year.
The rise of celebrity culture
Movie studios didn't just promote their films - they actively promoted their starring actors as celebrities and sex symbols to attract fans. Actors were frequently interviewed in magazines and made public appearances, creating a new phenomenon of celebrity worship.
The First Movie Stars:
Stars like Charlie Chaplin, Rudolf Valentino, and Clara Bow quickly attracted devoted fans who would pay to see their films regardless of the storyline or quality. These actors became the template for modern celebrity culture, with studios carefully managing their public images and personal appearances.
Moral concerns and the Hays Code
The growing popularity of cinema caused significant concern among some Americans. Religious campaigners worried that the sexual content of some films would damage young people's morals. There were organised movements to ban certain films in several states.
Industry Self-Regulation:
The film industry responded by introducing the Hays Code, which banned screen kisses lasting more than three seconds and ensured that crime never paid in movie storylines. This represented one of the first major examples of entertainment industry self-censorship in response to public pressure.
The Jazz Age
What made jazz revolutionary
Jazz emerged as a completely new musical style that combined several different musical traditions, including African spirituals, blues, and brass band music. This fusion created something uniquely American and utterly different from traditional European classical music.
African-American origins and the Great Migration
Jazz began among African-American musicians in the South. As African Americans moved north to cities like New York and Chicago seeking better employment opportunities during the Great Migration, they brought jazz music with them.
The Great Migration and Cultural Spread:
The Great Migration (1916-1970) saw millions of African Americans move from the rural South to urban centres in the North and West. This massive demographic shift didn't just change where people lived - it transformed American culture by spreading jazz, blues, and other African-American art forms across the entire country.
Why jazz became so popular
Jazz attracted massive audiences for several compelling reasons. The music was new and exciting, with a loud, lively sound that energised listeners. Jazz had a strong rhythm that was perfect for dancing, and it rejected the rigid rules of traditional music in favour of improvisation, which made every performance unique and spontaneous.
Jazz clubs and social change
Jazz clubs became important social spaces where something unusual happened for the time period - both black and white young people socialised together. This racial mixing was controversial but reflected the changing social attitudes of the decade.
Breaking Social Barriers:
Jazz clubs represented one of the few spaces in 1920s America where racial integration occurred naturally. This social mixing was revolutionary for its time and contributed to gradually changing attitudes about race relations, though it also generated significant backlash.
Jazz music also led to new dance styles that replaced formal dances like the waltz. Popular new dances included the Charleston, the tango, and the lindy-hop, which were much more energetic and expressive than traditional ballroom dancing.
Revolutionary Dance Styles:
The new jazz-inspired dances broke every rule of traditional ballroom dancing:
- The Charleston: Featured wild leg kicks and arm movements
- The Tango: Introduced close partner contact and dramatic poses
- The Lindy-hop: Combined athletic jumps and spins with jazz rhythms
These dances shocked older generations but perfectly captured the energetic spirit of the decade.
Opposition to jazz
Not everyone embraced jazz music. Because of its African-American roots, some people considered it immoral and even called it "the Devil's music." This prejudice led to concrete action - by the end of the 1920s, at least 60 communities had passed laws banning jazz in public dance halls.
Widespread Opposition:
The opposition to jazz wasn't just cultural preference - it was often rooted in racial prejudice and fear of social change. The fact that 60 communities legally banned jazz demonstrates how threatening this new art form seemed to traditional values and social hierarchies.
Sport and celebrity athletes
Sport experienced tremendous growth in popularity throughout the 1920s. Sports news became a regular feature in newspapers, magazines, and on the radio, helping to create a national sports culture.
Athletes became celebrities in their own right, earning huge salaries not just from playing but also from endorsing products. Babe Ruth, the famous baseball player, exemplified this new type of sports celebrity, becoming a household name across America.
The rise of sports celebrities paralleled the growth of movie stars, creating a new type of fame based on athletic achievement. This marked the beginning of the modern sports-entertainment industry where athletes became brands and marketing personalities.
An age of "crazes"
The "Roaring Twenties" earned its nickname partly because of the rapidly changing crazes - popular activities that became extremely fashionable for short periods before being replaced by something new.
Popular 1920s Crazes:
The decade's fads included:
- Playing mahjong (a Chinese tile game that became wildly popular)
- Solving crossword puzzles (a new form of entertainment)
- Joining book clubs (reflecting increased literacy and leisure time)
- Participating in dance marathons where couples would dance for hours or even days to win prizes
Each craze would sweep the nation before quickly being replaced by the next trend.
The constant succession of new fads reflected the decade's spirit of experimentation and change.
Timeline of major entertainment developments
- Early 1920s: Jazz spreads north with African-American migration
- 1920s: Hollywood becomes established as film capital
- 1927: First "talkie" film released, revolutionising cinema
- Late 1920s: Over 500 films produced annually in Hollywood
- Late 1920s: At least 60 communities ban jazz in public venues
Key Points to Remember:
- The 1920s economic boom gave Americans more money and leisure time, creating demand for new forms of entertainment
- Cinema transformed from silent films to "talkies" in 1927, with Hollywood producing over 500 films yearly by decade's end
- Jazz music, with African-American origins, became hugely popular despite facing opposition in many communities
- Celebrity culture emerged around both movie stars and sports figures who earned money from endorsements
- The decade was characterised by rapidly changing "crazes" and fads, reflecting a society embracing constant change and experimentation