The 1920s was a time of change for many people, including those who were in the movie business. It was a time of great technological advancements that ushered in sound and film. It was also the decade that saw the first Blue laws, as well as the introduction of silent films to the entertainment market. These changes would have an impact on many people, both during the 1920s and well into the future.
Silent films
Silent films were a form of entertainment during the 1920s. Often accompanied by live music, these movies provided a glimpse into the unmediated world of the times. They represented angst, crime, and sin. They also served as the foundation for talking pictures.
While the technology to make synchronized sound and video was not available in the 1920s, filmmakers still recognized the power of music to create the mood and atmosphere of their movies. Many of the early movies were directed by a single person or a team. The filmmakers were inspired by the legends and myths of their times, which they turned to as the basis for their scenarios.
Some of the most famous silent film stars of the 1920s include Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Harold Lloyd. Mack Sennett originated the slapstick comedy style of the silent era and helped refine the genre. Among his best-known films are The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1925), City Lights (1931), and The Circus (1934).
In the 1920s, American filmmaking techniques focused on the homogenization of cultures and the continued exploitation of types. This strategy was aimed at creating an image that would remain relevant to audiences for generations.
In the late 1920s, cinema became more standardized in the United States. Aside from a few exceptions, most silent movies were hand-cranked. The frame rate of most of these films was between 16 and 23 frames per second. Some of these can appear jerky.
While most movies adapted theater music, there were some original musical scores composed specifically for the silent era. Some of these were written by major composers. Some were the result of special collaborations.
The 1920s were also the age of the “film-as-art” movement. European filmmakers were particularly interested in the visual possibilities of the medium. They also sought freedom from the shackles of the former world order. They were especially influenced by the work of D.W. Griffith.
While the music and images of the early movies were powerful, they could not compete with the cinematic illusions created in the talking pictures of the late 1920s. As a result, many of the early classics have been lost forever.
Sound
The 1920s was the dawn of a new era in movie entertainment. The transition from silent to talking films transformed the American film industry and the way people viewed movies. A host of comedians, literary types, and fashion icons made movies a form of entertainment enjoyed by millions around the world.
The Jazz Singer, released in 1927, is a classic example of a film with recorded sound. Though it wasn’t the first feature-length sound film, it was the first to achieve properly synchronized sound.
The introduction of sound in films was a relatively new concept, and it was not without its pitfalls. Its introduction was met with apprehension by many citizens. For one thing, most theaters weren’t equipped to play the new technology. For another, the technology itself was complicated.
Despite its shortcomings, the technology began to catch on in the mid-1920s. By the late 1920s, more than 10,000 cinemas had retrofitted themselves to receive and display sound.
During this time, a number of companies began to experiment with different applications of sound in film. These experiments included a variety of different sounds, such as the use of a microphone. Some studios were reluctant to use the new technology, but others were willing to put their money where their mouth is.
Among these was the “goat glanding” technique, a method of adding sound to silent films. The process involved a combination of a phonograph and a recording device.
The other aforementioned gizmo was a sound-on-film system developed by a team at the Western Electric Research Bureau. The device, which was known as a de Forest audion, was a forerunner to the triode vacuum tube, which would be used in more advanced sound-on-film systems in the late 1940s.
The introduction of sound to cinema sparked a flurry of research and development. A corresponding magazine, Photoplay, was published to discuss the new technology.
The first feature-length movie with synchronized sound was The Jazz Singer. This adage, however, wasn’t just a marketing ploy, as it marked the beginning of a long tradition of movies with recorded sound. In addition to its record-breaking sales, the film was recognized for its importance in the motion picture world. It was later awarded a special Academy Award.
Blue laws
There is no doubt that movies played a huge part in the lives of Americans during the 1920s. The decade was a time of unprecedented prosperity for the middle class, which led to a booming popularity for entertainment.
One of the key sources of social tension during the 1920s was prohibition. But it wasn’t the only law in the books. Many states also passed blue laws. These laws restricted certain activities on Sundays, usually prohibiting sports, public entertainment, and the sale of alcohol.
Blue laws were enforced at different times throughout the twentieth century, though many restrictions were removed in the 1960s. The Supreme Court recognized the religious origins of these laws, ruling that they were constitutional.
But some Americans were unnerved by the increase in the visibility of Black culture. This fear was compounded by the anti-Communist “Red Scare” of 1919 and 1920, which prompted nativist hysteria.
In the twenties, new technology and financial prosperity fueled a booming economy. Movies, radio, and print media were a big part of the economy. Some Americans went to the movies more than once a week.
The rise of the Ku Klux Klan, which saw the 1920s as a period of uplift for Black Americans, discomfited some whites. In the South, Jim Crow segregation laws prevented Black women from voting.
However, the Great Migration of Black Americans in the 1910s and 1920s was also a source of anxiety for some whites. They began to feel as if the economic uplift was threatening the social hierarchy of the Jim Crow system.
The 1920s represented the greatest film output in the US movie market. It also brought the first talkies. The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, was a huge hit.
Although the popularity of movies decreased during the Depression, the average American went to the theater at least once a week. By the end of the decade, 90 million people attended movies weekly.
In addition, more than 500 radio stations were established. This led to the creation of national icons like Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, and Gloria Swanson.
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks was an iconic American hero during the 1920s. He was a nimble and daring stuntman who was also a talented actor. He was one of the kings of Hollywood during this time, starring in many swashbuckling films and becoming the first president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Douglas Fairbanks was born in Denver, Colorado on May 23, 1883. He started out as a stage performer at a young age. His father was an alcoholic, and he worked odd jobs to make ends meet. When he was 11, he dropped out of school to pursue his acting career.
His first movie, The Lamb, was based on a plot involving a lamb being turned into a lion. It proved to be a success.
After a short stint on Broadway, Fairbanks decided to try his hand at Hollywood. He worked for Triangle Pictures until 1919 when he formed his own company, United Artists. He was the first to complete films for this new corporation.
Fairbanks’ films were well-received. He was a leading star of the film industry in the 1920s, making 29 movies in five years. He was a popular actor and helped create the swashbuckling genre.
He also helped create the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The three stars of the film industry, Fairbanks, Chaplin, and Pickford, became known as the “King and Queen of Hollywood” during this time. They were married in 1920, and divorced in 1933. They had a child, and they worried that an affair would ruin their careers.
The swashbuckling genre took off in the 1920s. Douglas Fairbanks made many movies featuring this style, including The Mark of Zorro (1920), The Thief of Baghdad (1924), and The Three Musketeers (1921). He was an excellent actor who was considered to be a master of swashbuckling. His costumes, sets, and action scenes were brilliant.
By 1927, he had become the first president of the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences. He was a famous actor, a renowned director, and the founder of a production company.