Lifestyle Changes of the 1920’s
- Once the economy started recovering from the war, many changes
happened in Canada's society.
- Many people moved into the cities to work in the growing service industry.
This means getting jobs in transportation, government services,
finance jobs, and hospitality.
- these new jobs were possible because for the first time, the working
class started getting enough money that they could buy luxury items
and pay for services from other people.
Examples of 'new' products
- half of all Canadian families owned a car
- the number of radios in Canada went from 10,000 to about 300,000
in just six years
- electric appliances for the home such as toasters, washing machines,
sewing machines, ovens, etc.
Communication and transportation were being improved dramatically. This meant that people could talk to family and friends from a few miles away or from across the country. Radio and telephones allowed people to stay up to date on what was going on in the world. Improved transportation in cars, trucks and planes meant that people could get materials that could never be reached before. All these improvements meant that many people could get their jobs done faster and easier, giving them more time to relax and take part in leisure activities.
Many people now had more money that they needed for just food and shelter as in the past. A lot of them started investing in the Stock Market in order to make profits. The people's desire to have these new products and take part in the country's prosperity led many people to start using credit: taking possession of a product and paying for it later.
- Once the economy started recovering from the war, many changes
happened in Canada's society.
- Many people moved into the cities to work in the growing service industry.
This means getting jobs in transportation, government services,
finance jobs, and hospitality.
- these new jobs were possible because for the first time, the working
class started getting enough money that they could buy luxury items
and pay for services from other people.
Examples of 'new' products
- half of all Canadian families owned a car
- the number of radios in Canada went from 10,000 to about 300,000
in just six years
- electric appliances for the home such as toasters, washing machines,
sewing machines, ovens, etc.
Communication and transportation were being improved dramatically. This meant that people could talk to family and friends from a few miles away or from across the country. Radio and telephones allowed people to stay up to date on what was going on in the world. Improved transportation in cars, trucks and planes meant that people could get materials that could never be reached before. All these improvements meant that many people could get their jobs done faster and easier, giving them more time to relax and take part in leisure activities.
Many people now had more money that they needed for just food and shelter as in the past. A lot of them started investing in the Stock Market in order to make profits. The people's desire to have these new products and take part in the country's prosperity led many people to start using credit: taking possession of a product and paying for it later.
Fads and Fashions
Fads and fashions were not for everyone but Canadians were moving into the modern age.
- Fads are crazes that don’t last long.
- Most people became interesting in dancing, fashion, games, sports,
and other activities.
- One of these fads was a Chinese game called Mah-jong. This game was
the entire rave and many people ordered Chinese furniture, robes,
and other Chinese objects to accentuate the experience. This fad
wore off around 1927.
- Dancing marathons were also popular. People used smelling salts and
ice packs to keep themselves awake. The world's longest dance
happened in August 29, 1930 when Mike Ritof and Edith Boudreaux
started dancing at the Merry Garden Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois. They did
not stop until April 01 1931 after clocking in 5,152 hours and 48 minutes,
claiming the dance marathon record and $2,000.00 cash.
Fads and fashions were not for everyone but Canadians were moving into the modern age.
- Fads are crazes that don’t last long.
- Most people became interesting in dancing, fashion, games, sports,
and other activities.
- One of these fads was a Chinese game called Mah-jong. This game was
the entire rave and many people ordered Chinese furniture, robes,
and other Chinese objects to accentuate the experience. This fad
wore off around 1927.
- Dancing marathons were also popular. People used smelling salts and
ice packs to keep themselves awake. The world's longest dance
happened in August 29, 1930 when Mike Ritof and Edith Boudreaux
started dancing at the Merry Garden Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois. They did
not stop until April 01 1931 after clocking in 5,152 hours and 48 minutes,
claiming the dance marathon record and $2,000.00 cash.
- Women of the 20s sported a flapper look. In winter, they wore galoshes
with buckles unfastened to create the greatest possible flap. They wore
dresses above their knees and their stockings were rolled down. They
also chopped their hair in a bobbed style.
The Automobile
- One of the most obvious signs of prosperity in the 1920s was the growth of
the automobile. The automobile was one of the biggest changes in the
way of living in the 1920s
- Henry Ford wanted to make cheap, affordable machines that everyone
could afford.
- People could go to see relatives 20km away and still be home for supper.
Something it would have taken days to do in earlier times.
- With the automobile, many people had summer cabins or went on vacations.
- Most cars had a crank to start the engine and a rope (in case they got stuck)
Entertainment
- Jazz moved north from New Orleans in the US and was made popular by
such musicians as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.
- The Charleston was the dance of the decade that emerged out of African
American culture.
- “Talkies,” which were talking films, arrived in Canada in 1927. The stars of
these films were idolized and they provided excitement to people:
- Charlie Chaplin
- Rudolph Valentino
- Greta Garbo
Effects on the Boom Years
- One result of the industrial boom in the 1920s was that Canadians gradually
regained confidence in their country.The mood was generally optimistic
and people were willing to take risks.
- Financial success stories inspired ordinary citizens to believe that they too
could get rich by two dollar bets on horses, investing in the Stock Market,
or investing in new economic ventures.