Going outAt first, movies don't have a soundtrack. Some theaters have a piano or organ to provide background music, but the films themselves are silent. Early silent movies are usually two-reelers, lasting less than 20 minutes. Birth of a Nation is the first attempt at a feature length film with a complicated plot. Then come 'talkies,' bursting on the scene in 1927, with a film that features dialog and songs that audiences can actually hear. They love it. Beyond movies and sports, Americans are drawn to the outdoors for leisure. The younger set might be involved in school sports, with women competing seriously for the first time. Adults are more likely to just go 'motoring.' |
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And Now, Talkies Silent films are short and simple, but very popular, packing the theaters. Both actors and directors are learning to manage sets, cameras and lighting. Some directors are women (lower right). Then along comes the Jazz Singer,, taking full advantage of the first-ever soundtrack. Audiences cheer, hoot and even clap after the musical numbers. The main character is Jewish in the film (as in real life), but puts on 'blackface' (top left) to try to make it in the jazz world, which is dominated by Blacks. Blackface performances are common at the time, though Jolson is one of the few to give his character a sympathetic portrayal, for which he is widely praised. To modern viewers, it will likely appear demeaning. | |||||||||
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Fun in Large Crowds Professional sporting events are common by the 1920s, especially in urban centers. Baseball is 'America's game,' with early stars like Babe Ruth that are still widely admired today. Yearly baseball attendance reaches one million in 1920. College sports are likely to include both football and basketball. Meanwhile, horse racing, auto racing and bowling continue to be popular. Offbeat events like auto polo (lower right) are also part of the mix. It's difficult to overstate the appeal of major boxing events, which produce huge crowds standing around just to hear news of the final result (top left). The Dempsey-Carpentier bout is one of several hailed as the 'Fight of the Century.' | |||||||||
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Seeing the Sights The newest sport to sweep America is known simply as 'motoring.' Many cars have soft tops, that fold back to provide grand viewing opportunities (left). The adventuresome are already using their autos for touring and camping. Out West, vistas of the Pacific Ocean or high mountain peaks beckon in almost every direction, though roads are few. Trees along the West Coast are so large that tunnels are sometimes cut through the standing trunks (top right). Auto touring increases after the government unveils a new national system of numbered routes that spans the country, in 1926. In reality, it's little more than a re-designation of existing routes. Many are simple two-lane country roads. | |||||||||
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Skates and Sleds Winter brings more opportunities for recreation. People do things they still enjoy today, although a banquet on the ice is probably not one of them (top left). Women are showing up in many roles previously reserved for men. | |||||||||
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Keeping Them Busy Fitness is stressed in schools, while some cities sponsor after-school activities through such organization as the New York Boy's Club (lower left). | |||||||||