Essay, Research Paper: Roaring Twenties 2

During the 1920s new economic interests and interactions came into light. These combined with the development of the arts and entertainment helped to form the reputation for the Roaring Twenties . Economics now allowed people to spend more and make more money. The arts and entertainment made people feel better about themselves, and created a sense of camaraderie.
During the 1920s the United States was in an economic high point. Following World War I people had more money to spend due to the wartime boom in the economy. People were able to buy products on credit, or give a small advance, and pay small installments later. This process allowed people more freedom to purchase items, such as refrigerators, radios, and cars, when previously they had not been able to. The 1920s got its reputation as the Roaring Twenties from the economy in part because the economy was booming, and people were purchasing products on credit and stocks on margin. All this exchange of currency created a boom era or a Roaring period of time.
During the 1920s there was an increase in entertainment and arts which were readily accessible to the general public. Movies began at the turn of the 20th century and at first were silent one reel films. Movies also acted as an educator for teens, and they frequently mimicked actors portrayed in the movies. Beginning in the 1920s movies began having sound, and were called talkies . This conversion to sound cost the industry 300 million dollars but the return from movie prices quickly repaid this investment. Movie attendance rose dramatically in the 20s and became one of the most influential for of mass media. Magazines and radio also contributed to the reputation of the Roaring Twenties . In 1922 ten magazines claimed to have a following of at least 2.5 million per issue. Radios were truly the brainchild of the 20s and by 1929 40 percent of households had a radio. Radio carried news, sports coverage, and a variety of entertainment shows primarily sponsored by large corporations.
Jazz and music became an important way of expressing feelings of the 1920s and these productions were put on in Night Clubs and other settings where people could relax. Jazz was popular for its spontaneity and flare, and it soon captured the new record industry. Performers such as Duke Ellington, Joseph Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Bessie Smith all became popular and began to travel around the country to perform at clubs.
While the 1920s was a decade of high spirited good-will, it carried an undercurrent of economic instability which became evident on October 29th, 1929, when the stock market crashed. This was mainly because of a sudden flux of selling stocks, and the fact that buying on margin had created a system where the money to pay out was not actually there. This created havoc among those heavily invested, and lead to an economic depression for years to follow.