As you can probably tell, Marshall and I are writing about the1920’s. It is a fascinating time period. There is a lot to be said about the shift in national perspective on many things, including Prohibition, women’s right to vote, and more. There is also a cultural unbinding of women, (some thought scandalous) that culminated in the fabulous flapper lifestyle, the hallmarks of which were drinking, smoking, driving fast cars and fast boats, and patronizing bars and dance halls. Dresses got shorter, the bob haircut came into fashion, and some women enjoyed a level of freedom that was unheard of in their mother’s generation.
One of the really delightful aspects of looking backwards into a world that you can only read about is the images you uncover.
This is a 1929 Pierce Arrow, one of the most elegant cars ever. If you are not enamored by this dark blue vehicle then you can have one in green.
The ride captures the imagination with its velvet seats, bud vase, and elegant hood ornament, which, on closer investigation, shows a crouching archer. Rumor has it that the model for this figure was a young janitor at the Pierce Arrow manufacturing plant. He attended archery classes in order to get the pose just right.
Hood ornaments are a little like figureheads on boats—they tell a unique story and represent, in this case, the wealth and social position of the owners. Pierce Arrows were the official car for American presidents from Taft until Roosevelt.
Another highlight of the 20s: Coco Chanel became an icon of fashion. She created a less restrictive style for women that was more comfortable and easier to wear. The little black dress became a must-have for many women, representing a new age of daring and liberation. Her signature perfume Chanel 5 is still popular today.
In Hollywood, the actor Douglas Fairbanks represented the swashbuckling style so common in this era. He was a founding member of United Artists and the Motion Picture Academy, and hosted the first Academy Awards in 1929. He is remembered by the films The Mark of Zorro, Robin Hood, and The Thief of Bagdad. If you wanted to see his film, the ticket price was 25 cents.
Music also had its gems. The 1920 sound was jazz with such incredible performers as Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton. The two collaborated on Wild Man Blues, which depended heavily on Armstrong’s flexibility and virtuosity.
Fernand Joseph LaMoth, later known as Jelly Roll Morton, was born into a Creole family. He began playing the piano in clubs at 15. His music became the signature of the jazz scene in Chicago, combining ragtime, boogie-woogie, and jazz. His composition The Jelly Roll Blues is still considered a classic today.
The 1920s would not be complete without Charles Linbergh’s flight across the Atlantic in The Spirit of Saint Louis. The flight took 33.5 hours and captured the imagination of the nation and the world. He became an instant hero and helped usher in a whole new era of aviation.
As a researcher, icons offer a road map into understanding the past. They help us wade through endless details to distill what some of the enduring ideas might’ve been.
In the 1920’s, we have icons that represent excesses of wealth and those that represent optimism, bravery, and soaring talent. We have the paradox of the serious business of the 19th Amendment juxtaposed to the flapper lifestyle; we’ve got Lindbergh’s flight and Jelly Roll Morton's incredible music. Through it all, the great American narrative keeps evolving.
Happy 4th of July.
-Bird Jones