What was Technology Like in the 1920s? | Compelling History #history #documentary

thoring 20s were marked by a convergence of  technological innovation cultural dynamism and economic Prosperity setting the stage  for transformative changes across various facets of society the rise of automobiles radio's  introduction to everyday life and the evolution of motion pictures as a mainstream form of  entertainment played pivotal roles in shaping the cultural landscape of the time reflecting  and influencing the aspirations and values of a rapidly modernizing Nation welcome back to 

compelling history in the fourth episode of our four-part journey through the Roaring 20s  we'll be taking a look at three areas which experienced an explosion in popularity during  this decade make sure you're subscribed to stay tuned for the upcoming episodes and don't  forget to like this video to help support the channel part one automobiles the automobile  revolutionized American Life following the first world war prior to the war War automobiles  were an unreliable novelty Out Of Reach fo

r most people due to their extravagant price tag this  began to change during the Roaring 20s when advancements in manufacturing contributed to a  lowering in price coinciding with an economic boom automobiles became a symbol of freedom  and Adventure allowing people the Liberty to go wherever they wanted at their own pace  wealthy individuals and organizations funded the construction of new infrastructure to  support the growing popularity of automobiles among the richest members of society how

ever it  wasn't just the Elites in 1921 the United States passed the federal aid Highway Act allocating  funds for the development of national highway systems which laid the groundwork for the  extensive Road networks that would later connect the country so how did automobiles  become the dominant means of transportation to understand why automobiles dominated as a  means of transportation during the Roaring 20s we first need to go back 7 years to 1913 when  Henry Ford introduced the assembly li

ne at his plant in Highland Park Detroit the assembly line  divided production into discrete tasks with each worker responsible for a specific part of the  overall process this ensured that each worker could focus on their assigned task leading to  Greater efficiency and productivity workers had a station along a conveyor belt which would carry  the automobiles chassis down the line stopping at each station for that worker to do their part  on the automobile's overall construction this system al

lowed for a smooth flow of work and  minimized idle time dramatically increasing the rate of production a key element to the assembly  line was the standardization of parts used in the manufacturing of Ford automobiles the use of  identical parts and components ensured they were easily interchangeable between models both  during and after production the production of One Automobile was able to take full advantage of  assembly line the Model T the accessibility of the Model T and other automobile

s during the Roaring  20s changed American life forever part two radio broadcasting radio communication began in  the late 19th century when Guglielmo Marone developed the first radio transmitter capable of  sending Morse code over long distances by 1901 he would be able to transmit Morse code across the  Atlantic technological advancements continued and by the end of World War I companies could  leverage improved radio technology for commercial broadcasting notably commencing with the 1920  ele

ction between Warren G Harding and James Cox just in time to cover the election the first  commercial radio station KDKA opened its doors in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania KDKA began broadcasting  news music and variety shows besides election coverage other stations soon followed suit  cropping up in cities across the United States the proliferation of radio stations across the country  gave rise to the start of mass communication of news ideas and Trends which profoundly shaped  American culture for t

he first time in history individuals in a region could instantly receive  important information or general updates from their home instantaneously regardless of location  listeners could tune into breaking news reports and live coverage of important events enhancing  their sense of immediacy and connection to a larger World radio also provided an Avenue for  illiterate individuals in remote areas to gain a better understanding of both local and National  Affairs as mentioned the first video in t

his series consumerism exploded during the Roaring  20s and this was partly aided by the opportunities radio broadcasting presented to advertisers  companies often sponsored radio programs to promote their products or Services during breaks  or even integrated them into the program itself these early sponsorships marked the dawn of  the intertwining of the media and advertising Industries during the nent stages of commercial  broadcasting however programs of this era weren't merely advertisement

s for their sponsors these PR  programs would be basically live stage Productions in various genres among the most popular radio  shows of the Roaring 20s were the Goldbergs a radio comedy drama series created by Gertrude Berg  which followed the daily life of a Jewish Family living in the Bronx New York and Amos and Andy  a comedy following two African-American friends living and going on adventures in Harlem which  would become one of the era's most popular and influential radio programs as ra

dio's popularity  soared during the Roaring 20s a cultural homogenization swept Across America people from  diverse regions and demographics shared common experiences through radio events or breaking  news bulletins popular music entertainment programs and advertising campaigns were broadcast  Nationwide shaping this shared cultural identity and consumer culture the growth of radio like any  new technology inevitably necessitated regulation to control the booming industry 1927 would see the  est

ablishment of the federal radio Commission when the radio Act was signed into law in February of  that year replacing a previous act from 1912 which had no commission overseeing it this act outlined  how radio frequencies would be distributed for commercial use and the standards for broadcasting  on these frequencies part three Motion Pictures The Roaring 20s marked a pivotal era for Cinema  catalyzing its Evolution into a mainstream form of entertainment that resonated with audiences across  di

verse socioeconomic backgrounds as workingclass families and individuals found themselves drawn to  the Allure of the Silver Screen Cinema emerged as a unifying cultural Force offering a captivating  escape from the realities of everyday life the emergence of major Studios like MGM Paramount  and Warner Brothers played a crucial role in this transformation as they churned out a steady  stream of films that captivated audiences with their diverse themes and genres these Studios  not only catered

to the entertainment needs of the masses but also spearheaded technological  advancements that revolutionized the Cinematic Experience One such Milestone was the  introduction of sound films during the mid to late 1920s a groundbreaking Innovation that  forever changed the landscape of Cinema films like The Jazz Singer released in 1927 marked a seismic  shift by seamlessly integrating music singing and recorded speech into featurelength Productions  this technological leap not only enhanced the

realism of films but also Ed vied them with a  newfound emotional resonance propelling Cinema into its golden age Beyond mere entertainment  movies of the era served as a powerful medium for exploring pressing social issues of the time  Productions such as the Sheik 1921 and it 1927 challenged conventional Norms surrounding gender  and sexuality portraying independent and assertive female characters that defied stereotypes this  thematic exploration added depth to the Cinematic experience foster

ing meaningful dialogue and  reflection on the societal changes unfolding during the tumultuous 20s moreover the transition  from Silent to sound films enabled filmmakers to tackle a broader array of social issues ranging  from poverty and immigration to racial tensions while silent films relied primarily on visual  storytelling techniques the Advent of sound opened up new avenues for narrative expression  allowing filmmakers to engage audiences on a deeper level the cultural and economic impact

  of Cinema during the Roaring 20s extend ended far beyond the confines of the movie theater  Hollywood's rise as a global hub for talent and creativity not only fueled the growth of ancillary  Industries like advertising fashion and tourism but also solidified its status as an economic  Powerhouse the studio system characterized by vertically integrated production distribution and  exhibition further maximized the earnings of major film studios consolidating their dominance in the  burgeoning e

ntertainment landscape the Roaring 20s marked a transformative period for Cinema  shaping its trajectory into a dominant cultural force that continues to influence Society to this  day through technological innovation thematic exploration and economic expansion the cinema of  the 20s laid the foundation for the vibrant and dynamic industry that we know today conclusion  thank you so much for watching the third episode of compelling history series on the Roaring 20s I  hope you enjoyed this video

if you did make sure to like And subscribe to help the channel grow  next week we'll be concluding this series with a look at the event which put an end to this  era of prosperity the stock market crash of 1929 oh