1920's. . . Experiencing a great social change . . .
The Project:
Students can create a variety of skits, infomercials, documentaries, contemporary guides, mysteries, etc. (and combine them) to cover the essential aspects of the required topics: who, what, why, and how. Each topic/theme must be given at least 2 minutes of attention in the video. Each scene should include: dialogue, proper setting, costumes, and a voice over or some kind of guide to provide accurate historical context for each scene.
The Themes:
Jazz (see General People & Events, Harlem Renaissance, Music)
Ford / Cars (see General People & Events)
Prohibition / Organized Crime (see General People & Events, Gangs / G-men, Prohibition)
Entertainment (see General People & Events, Ads & Fads, Harlem Renaissance, Literature, Music, Sports)
Fundamentalism / Scopes Trial (Science / Medicine, Arts/Film)
Themes for Filming:
History Expert / Masterpiece Theatre
Mystery
Voice over
Documentary
Time Travel Guide
Roles:
Students are expected to fill all or most of the roles listed during the production of the video. While some students will spend more time in certain roles than other roles every one is expected to contribute. Students do not have to be filmed if they do not wish to be on camera; however, students can be extras on camera without any dialogue.
Researcher/Skit Writer: EVERYONE is a researcher. Researchers find information from the textbook, other books, on-line about the topic that they are responsible for (topics are assigned by group members). They write down facts and histories that will add to the authenticity of the film.
Skit Writers: - These people, using the research provided, will write the dialogue (lines) that are to be exchanged on film. Often a researcher will be a skit writer, but not always. Students DO NOT have to fill the entire skit with dialogue.Performer: These students will be actors and actresses in the video. Their goal is to act like a person from the 20’s would in each scenario. Being a performer is NOT required. (Roles may include: Gangsters [Saco and Vanzetti, Capone], Police [Elliot Ness], Flappers, Speakeasy Bar Owners, Henry Ford, John Scopes, William Jennings Bryan, Louie Armstrong, etc.)
Filmer/Editor/Computer Tech: Tech savvy students can fill this role by filming, editing, and using computers to create the final product. They can add music, noises, and effects.
Supplier: Suppliers look into acquiring costumes, set materials, props, etc. that are needed for the video. They label and inventory all items.
1920's - the best site to learn about the decade - the people, places, trends,etc. ***This site is off-line indefinitely.
American Cultural History 1920-1929 - Web site from Kingwood College Library. Links contained in a narrative of the 20's will take you to sites on architecture, events, people, music, books, fads and fashions, theatre.
America's Story from America's Library - Great War and Jazz Age; 1914 - 1928 - From the Library of Congress.
The Lawless Decade (Click "Home" for history to load) - A Pictorial history from Armistice Day to the Crash of '29. Prohibition, flappers, Murders Row, Lucky Lindy, Valentino, and more.
The Politics of Prosperity: the 1920s - A history professor's outline of the events of the 20s will help with research. Related pages and photos are included. Talks about economics of the time period - "many Americans began to work fewer hours, earn higher salaries, invest in the stock market, and buy everything from washing machines to Model T Fords. The culture of consumerism of the 1920s changed the politics of American society and set the tone for American attitudes about money in coming decades."
The Roaring Twenties - Historical Snapshot of Life in the 20's.
The Twenties, a Biography of America - from Annenburg - Web Feet summary: Historians, as well as many journalists and novelists, regard the 1920s as "the beginning of modern America--a decade that helped set the tone for the rest of the century." Based on the Annenberg/CPB production of the same name, this overview of the Roaring '20s is organized much like an interactive encyclopedia, offering quick synopses of key events with links to related topics. Particularly helpful for students of the '20s is the site's timeline of landmark events. The Webography section features links to many related resources
The 1920's Experience -Arts, entertainment, personailties, music, events, inventions, and fads.
Special People and Events of the 1920s
Calvin Coolidge, thirtieth president, 1923-1929 | Coolidge Web Site
Creationism vs. Evolution : Trial : Tennessee vs. John Scopes : The "Monkey Trial" - In 1925, John Scopes was prosecuted for teaching evolution in school. Clarence Darrow of the American Civil Liberties Union was his attorney, and Wm. Jennings Bryan was the prosecutor. another site for Scopes
Ford, Henry - Read about the life of Henry For and the Ford Motor Co.which manufactured the Model T from 1908-1927. In 1927, Ford introduced the Model A. This site will give you a background of the motor company and a timeline, plus quotes from Henry Ford. Excellent coverage of Ford and the automobile at this site: The Twenties, a Biography of America
Harding and the Teapot Dome Scandal - "Involved the secret leasing of naval oil reserve lands to private companies and became a symbol for supposed excesses and government graft and corruption."
Houdini died in 1926.
Lindbergh, Charles Charles Lindbergh - An American aviator. Many links covering all aspects of his life. The PBS American Experience site on Lindbergh
Votes for Women - On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote, became law
Art, Design and Film of the 1920s
Flapper Decor of the 20s. Flapper Architecture.
Greatest Films of the 1920s - Sections on individuals, the greatest silent films, and Academy Award winners.
Hello, Harold Lloyd - one of the most memorable images from silent films is that of Harold Lloyd hanging from the hands of a clock high above the city streets.
Buster Keaton - silent screen funny man; Charlie Chaplin, one of the most famous; Lillian Gish (her official site is blocked)- one of the most enduring stars from the silent screen; Lon Chaney - one of the most prolific film stars of the silent screen; Mary Pickford (use the drop- the wildly popular star; Rudolf Valentino (check the links here; very good info)- best known for his role in the Sheik - the young heart-throb of the decade. Gloria Swanson, "Prima diva of the silent screen"
The Silent Film Bookshelf - also, Slapstick; the silent comedy quicktime cavalcade where you can download quicktime clips.Mug Shots; home page of the forgotten silent comics contains in-depth profiles and further links.
Welcome to the 1920s - Screen and stage information.
Ads and Fads and Clothing of the 1920s
1920s Flapper Fashion - from Fashion-Era.com
Costumer's Manifesto - a large collection of links for 1920s clothing - I did not check for dead links.. The Timeline link on their page is excellent!
Fads of the 20s: Celebrating a Shipwreck - Sitting on top of flagpoles was one of the fads of the 20s and Shipwreck Kelly was one of the experts in this field. Crossword puzzles were very popular in the 20s
Flapper décor - also look into the Charleston - the dance everyone was doing.
Fashion - fun site of slides from the 20s showing the fashion. College site from Oneonta.
Patterns of the 1920's - see dress patterns and more at this historical site.
Political Cartoons of the 1920s
Prohibition articles and cartoons
Sheiks and Shebas - Women's fashion of the 20s.
War and Patriotism - Illustrations from the 1920s. Each link goes to an illustration depicting the decade.
Welcome to the 1920's - Don't miss this fashion show!
Al Capone - This site calls Capone "America's best know gangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the U.S. during the 1920s Prohibition era. ***The rest of these are blocked at school, but the Crime Library website is excellent for research. Made in America from the Crime Scene. The Capone Investigation from the FBI. Bugs Moran, the guy who fought with Capone.
Bonnie and Clyde - Crime Library, blocked
Bootlegger's Paradise - from the Crime Library
Eliot Ness - Original FBI documents.Eliot Ness Biograhy from the Police Stress Line (blocked by Bess)
Trial : Illinois v. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb - In 1924, teenagers Leopold and Loeb were tried and convicted of killing a 14-year-old boy in an attempt to commit "the perfect crime." They were defended by Clarence Darrow, whose 12-hour summation "stands as the most eloquent attack on the death penalty ever delivered in an American courtroom."
Trial : Sacco and Vanzetti - In 1920, these Italian immigrants were arrested for robbing and killing two men. They were tried and convicted in 1921 and put to death in 1927. This site is created by students at the U. of Mich. Also check this site from Famous American Trials. Another trial site. The Greatest Trials of all Time - Sacco and Vanzetti Prejudice at work - a college paper covering the events.
St. Valentine's Day Massacre St. Valentine's Day from the Crime Library and from the Mystery Net
Literature Resource Center - Click on Literature and choose the Literature Resource Center for individual biographies and literature of the time period. This would include: Willa Cather, William Falkner, the Algonquin Group (see below), F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Sinclair Lewis, Eugene O'Neill, Will Rogers.
The National Portrait Gallery; Celebrity Caricature in America; Algonquin Round Table - This self-proclaimed "vicious circle" of writers who met at New York's Algonquin hotel, including Dorothy Parker, Alexander Woollcott, George F. Kaufman, and Franklin P. Adams, was also known as the Algonquin Round Table. Caricature was especially popular between the wars.
Gertrude Stein - better known for her role as muse to and critic of the "lost generation" than for her own work. In Paris, Stein created a literary salon, hosting artists and writers such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Flapper Music (Blocked by Bess) - A brief summary of the music of the 20s and a few audio clips.
Music Fans Celebrate Gershwin's many contributions - CNN site. Also, George Gershwin's site complete with biography.
Roaring 1920s Concert Extravaganza - audio clips to entertain.
Southern music in the 20s - The first commercial radio stations were established, blues music was popular, and country music began. KDKA begins to broadcast - the nation's first commercial radio broadcast in 1920.
**Refer to MARVEL and choose the Literature Database for in-depth information on your poet/author.
Art of the Harlem Renaissance- Rapsodies in Black - excellent background information on several artists and their works. Poets of the Harlem Renaissance gives an overview of the contribution of poets.
Drop me off in Harlem- Drop Me Off in Harlem is a new Web-based resource from ARTSEDGE. This mini-site explores the themes and works that emerged when creative and intellectual voices intersected during the Harlem Renaissance. Each section contains a wealth of primary sources to read, listen to and watch. Visitors can experience the sights and sounds of the Harlem Renaissance through various multimedia presentations. Drop Me Off in Harlem provides a wealth of enriching learning opportunities for middle school and high school students.
Harlem; 1900-1940 - site includes a time line of events so that you can click on a year to see what happened. Entries cover cultural and political figures, organizations, and landmarks.
Perspectives in American Literature - Ch. 9 by Paul P. Reuben, Eng. prof at Cal State-Stanislaus. Provides a bibliography of books and articles, a chronology, discussion of themes, research topics, 26 author entries.
Prohibition / Temperance in the 20s
Anti-Saloon League (1893 - 1933) The Anti-Saloon League from 1893 to 1933 was a major force in American politics. Influencing the United States through the printed word and lobbying, they turned a moral crusade into a Constitutional amendment. The League left a legacy of printed material at a site bequeathed to the Westerville Public Library which houses the Anti-Saloon League Museum
Temperance and Prohibition - Among the topics covered in a number of essays at this site are the reasons so many Americans fought for prohibition, the rise of the Anti-Saloon League, the Women's Crusade of 1873 to 1874, and prohibition itself. Numerous links lead you to other sites on prohibition.
Ohio Dry Campaign of 1918 - excellent history of Prohibition and also cartoon images of the time period.
Women's Temperance Movement# gives you some idea of the women who took action against the saloon and liquor traffic
Science and Medicine Discoveries and Inventions in the 20s
Famous Trials in American History: Tenn vs. John Scopes "The Monkey Trial" - use all of the links on the left-hand side of the page to access a wealth of information
Scopes Trial script from each day; Scopes Trial Museum
Diabetes and the discovery of insulin
Big Bang Theory; Electric appliances; Hubble discovery
Babe Ruth - It is doubtful that any figure in baseball will ever achieve the level of recognition of George Herman (Babe) Ruth.
Black Baseball's Negro Baseball Leagues - For many years, including most of the first half of the 20th century, black Americans were excluded from participation in major league baseball. In 1920, Rube Foster, often called the father of black baseball, founded the Negro National League.
Jack Dempsey, the Manass Mauler - instrumental in making boxing a popular sport.
Red Grange, Galloping Ghost of Illinois - the player who put the NFL on the map.
