The period from 1910 to 1919, sometimes referred to as the 1910s, was a period of great change for America. The country was about to enter World War I. It was just coming out of the Progressive Era and looking for ways to ensure the safety of its workers. Even the music and art of the period was undergoing a period of immense change.
HISTORIC EVENTS AND TECHNOLOGY
Up until 1914, the Progressive Era was still in full swing. The middle class was deeply unhappy. Big businesses held monopolies that stifled fair trade, which was why the Sherman Antitrust Act was signed into law. Labor unions were gaining support because workers were operating in poor working conditions, which resulted in injuries. 1910 saw the first suffrage parade. After the war started, the Over There decade began and America became the most industrialized country in the world. In 1912, the Titanic sank and Native American Jim Thorpe won gold medals at the Olympic Games. In 1914, the first assembly line was made. Prohibition was passed in 1919 while the Girl Scouts of America and the National Park service were formed.
ART & ARCHITECTURE
During this time, art was being re-imagined. The very definition of art was challenged. A group of painters known as The Eight – Robert Henri, George Luks, William Glackens, John Sloan, Everett Shinn, Maurice Prendergast, Ernest Lawson, and Arthur Bowen Davies – put their controversial works on display, which gave the realist movement added steam in New York. The Ashcan realists’ work started to become famous. Norman Rockwell painted his very first cover for the Saturday Evening Post in 1916.
BOOKS & LITERATURE
It was also a time of change in literature. The works published during this time were considered a “revolt against materialism.” Some of the more well-known books included Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, The Secret Garden, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man, Of Human Bondage, and Tarzan of the Apes. The popularity of books was on the rise. H.G. Wells’ Mr. Britling Sees Through It , and Robert W. Service’s Rhymes of a Red Cross Man were both published during this time. One of the most popular books was The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, which was so popular it was made into a movie.
FADS OF THE PERIOD
As with all periods, it had its fads. A seductive dance known as Vamping became popular for five years because of Theda Bara. The fox trot and tango were all the rage, the latter even becoming banned in Cleveland, Boston, and New York. A great number of toys also became popular, including classics that would last awhile like tinker toys, Lincoln logs, and erector sets. The Ouija Board also experienced immense popularity, as did the new Kodak camera.
COSTUMES/FASHION
Although the Gibson Girl look remained popular for a brief time, like the hobble skirt, women were turning away from the fashion and looking for more comfort. They turned to clothes that were looser and brighter. Necklines got lower as did necklaces. Tea gowns became popular in homes. Corsets gave way to brassieres. Men turned to stripe trousers, starched shirts, and morning coats. Richer men wore top hats and frock coats.
MUSIC
This period in music is known as the Ballroom Decade. Dancing was so popular that most restaurants had a dance floor. Greats of the time include Al Jolson (You Made Me Love You), George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, and Irving Berlin. Songs like Danny Boy, Alexander’s Rag Time Band and war songs like Over There, Til We Meet again, and Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag, Keep The Home Fires Burning were all immensely popular. At the same time, African-Americans kept the blues, jazz, and ragtime music going strong.
THEATER, FILM & RADIO
Theda Bera was the sex symbol of the period, especially for teenagers. Broadway spawned numerous stars because of the Ziegfeld Follies and Vaudeville performances. Among them were Fatty Arbuckle, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, and Fannie Brice. In fact, musicals were a huge draw at the time as well as plays like Sinclar Lewis and George Bernard Show. Cole Porter had huge hits at the time. Movies like A Tale of Two Cities and Les Miserable were also very popular for a nation looking to shake off the stress of war.
Written by Michael S. Atwood