Culture and Lifestyles of the
1920’s
Background to the Roaring
Twenties
 Economic prosperity by the mid-1920’s.
 Growth of the secondary and tertiary economic
sectors – no longer just primary industry.
 Wage increases in manufacturing by the mid-1920’s.
 Massive increase of consumerism.
 Urbanization – people moving closer to the cities
(1921-47.4%, 1931 52.5% in Canada and 63.1% in Ontario)
Fashion - Women
 The new style of women’s
dress, known as the
“Flapper” was characterized
by knee high skirts (dresses),
high socks, and open
shoes/boots.
 Women also cut their hair
short, consumed alcohol and
smoked in public; very
revolutionary for the time.
Technological Developments
 The radio (Crystal set
receiver developed 1906)
burst on to the scene by
the 1920’s, providing
cheap entertainment for
millions.
 The telephone (developed
1876) became widely
available
 The airplane was being
used for commercial flying
by mid-decade.
Tech. Developments cont…
Convenience appliances:







electric stoves
vacuum cleaners
toasters
sewing machines
washing machines
etc…
These gadgets helped create “free or leisure time” for men
and women in the 1920’s
 Mass advertising takes effect to encourage consumers to
BUY BUY BUY!
Advertising for the home
‘Healthy’ advice . . .
Beverage anyone?
Henry Ford and the
Motor Car
The Model ‘T’ Ford
Henry Ford set out to
build a car which
everyone could afford
to buy.
The motor car became
incredibly popular
during the 1920’s.
It was slow, ugly and
difficult to drive, and
was nick named the
‘Tin Lizzie’ by the
American people.
Key Quote – Henry Ford
‘A customer can
have any colour he
likes for his car so
long as it's black’
How would this have helped to cut production costs?
Mass Production
 Ford was able to sell cars
cheaply because they were
mass-produced and every
part was standardized (only
one colour and one engine
size were available).
 By producing large
numbers of cars on an
assembly line, Ford needed
fewer skilled workers, and
that cut the cost of paying
wages.
The Car (cont’d)
 The increasing
popularity of the car
created a far more
mobile culture during
the 1920’s.
 Day trips to far
distances were now a
reality.
 Helped open-up
Canada, ending the
isolation experienced
by those living in
remote areas.
Automotive Advertising
Price Comparison . . .
ENTERTAINMENT!
Let’s go to the movies!
 The 1920’s were
dominated by a general
increase in “leisure time”
 By the end of the decade
“talkies” replaced silent
films, providing Canadians
with some cheap (albeit
American) entertainment.
 Popular movie stars of the
decade included Charlie
Chaplin, Rudolph
Valentino, Mary Pickford,
Clara Bow, Greta Garbo,
and Douglas Fairbanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNzVEy_mnE&feature=fvst
Entertainment cont’d
 Jazz music and jazz
clubs were highly
popular.
 “The Charleston” was
the most popular
ragtime jazz dance.
 Dance contests were
widely popular, often
lasting for many hours,
to the point of
complete exhaustion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNAOHtmy4j0&feature=related
Growth of Canadian
Culture
Canadian Art
 Canadian art flourished
during the 1920’s
 Artists such as the Group of
Seven, Emily Carr, and
Paraskeva Clark are most
notable.
 This period was
characterized by landscape
art, as the Group of Seven in
particular sought to paint
Canada’s most defining
images.
 Helped to balance the
American influence…
A final salute to the Roaring
Twenties. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3svvCj4yhYc