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AMERICA IN THE 1920s

The Music

Music in the 1920s was incredibly important. Jazz, with its free form and frenzied style was kind of an FU to older more staid forms of music. Jazz and jazz clubs were an expression of freedom--freedom to experiment and improvise, freedom to dance with whomever one wanted, and in some cases freedom to interact with people of different races in public spaces. 

The Radio

In the 1920s, the United States saw its first commercial radio broadcasts--that is, broadcasts of music, news, and theatrical programs piped out to home listeners.  European audiences had access to these kinds of broadcasts ince about 1890. Radio technology was perfected during in the First World War, and shortly after the war ended KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA became the first licensed public radio station. 

 

Click here to listen to some early radio broadcasts!

Flappers!

The etymology of the word "flapper" can be traced back to the 17th century. A few contenders for early usages of the term include:

  • A young bird, or wild duck, that’s flapping its wings as it’s learning to fly. (Consider how dancing the Charleston is reminiscent of a bird flapping its wings.)

  • A prostitute or immoral woman.

  • A wild, flighty young woman.

  • A woman who refused to fasten her galoshes and the unfastened buckles flapped as she walked.

 



 

Women & Fashion

Women's fashion changed a whole lot during this time. Hemlines got shorter, silhouettes and haircuts became more masculine, women were drinking and dancing in pubilc, and were taking advantage of newfound freedom. Flappers s were often criticized for appearing too masculine and carrying on in an undignified way. Flappers were all IDGAF, let's go vote.

A Flapper's Vocabulary

You know how part of you judges people for not knowing the latest slang? On the flip side, you know how embarrassing it is to learn you're using "old" terms, using terms incorrectly, or feel lost in a conversation when people say things like bae, FOMO, or "Netflix and Chill"? This isn't a new thing. Young people in the 1920s developed their own language based on film reference, pop culture, marketing campaigns, and other media; if you were a big cheese, you didn't get all balled up when someone asked you if you had a clam to spare.  The language you used defined who you were: your class, age, cohorts, level of cool, political leanings. Sound familiar?

All Wet - describes an erroneous idea or individual, as in, "he's all wet."

 

And How - I strongly agree! 

 

Applesauce- an expletive same as horsefeathers, As in "Ah applesauce!"

 

Appleknocker - A rustic; a farm laborer, especially one who picks fruit

 

Attaboy - well done!; also Attagirl! 

 

Baby - sweetheart. Also denotes something of high value or respect.

 

Balled Up - confused, messed up 

 

Baloney - nonsense! 

 

Bank's Closed - no kissing or making out - i.e. - "Sorry, Mac, the bank's closed." 

 

Bearcat - a hot-blooded or fiery girl 

 

Beat it - scam or get lost 

 

Beat one's gums - idle chatter 

 

Bee's Knees - An extraordinary person, thing, idea; the ultimate

 

Beef - a complaint or to complain 

 

Beeswax - business, i.e. None of your beeswax." 

 

Bell bottom - a sailor

 

Berries - That which is attractive or pleasing; similar to bee's knees, As in "It's the berries."

 

Bible Belt - Area in the South and Midwest where Fundamentalism flourishes

 

Big Cheese - The most important or influential person; boss. Same as big shot

 

Big six - a strong man; from auto advertising, for the new and powerful; six cylinder engines 

 

Bimbo - a tough guy 

 

Bird - general term for a man or woman, sometimes meaning "odd," i.e. "What a funny old bird." 

 

Blind Date - going out with someone you do not know

 

Bluenose - An excessively puritanical person, a prude, Creator of "the Blue Nozzle Curse."

 

Bootleg - illegal liquor 

 

Breezer - an convertible car 

 

Bronx Cheer - A loud spluttering noise, used to indicate disapproval. Same as raspberry 

 

Bull - (1) a policeman or law-enforcement officer including FBI (2) nonsense (3) to chat idly, to exaggerate 

 

Bull Session - Male talkfest, gossip, stories of sexual exploits

 

Bum's rush - ejection by force from an establishment 

 

Bump Off - To murder, To kill

 

Butt me - I'll take a cigarette 

 

Caper - a criminal act or robbery 

 

Carry a Torch - To have a crush on someone

 

Cash - a kiss 

 

Cash or check? - Do you kiss now or later? 

 

Cat's Meow - Something splendid or stylish; similar to bee's knees; The best or greatest, wonderful.

 

Cat's Pajamas - Same as cat's meow

 

Chassis - the female body 

 

Cheaters - Eyeglasses

 

Check - kiss me later 

 

Ciggy - cigarette 

 

Clam - a dollar   

 

Copacetic - Wonderful, fine, all right

 

Crush - An infatuation

 

Daddy - a young woman's boyfriend or lover, especially if he's rich 

 

Dame - a female 

 

Dapper - a Flapper's dad 

 

Darb - An excellent person or thing (as in "the Darb" - a person with money who can be relied on to pay the check)

 

Dead soldier - an empty bear bottle 

 

Deb - an debutant 

 

Dick - a private investigator 

 

Dogs - feet

 

Doll - an attractive woman 

 

Dolled up - dressed up 

 

Don't know from nothing - don't have any information 

 

Don't take any wooden nickels - Don't do anything stupid

 

Double-cross - to cheat, stab in the back 

 

Dough - money 

 

Drugstore Cowboy - a guy that hangs around on a street corner trying to pick up girls

 

Drum - A gathering place; a bar.

 

Dry up - shut up, get lost 

 

Ducky - very good 

 

Dumb Dora - a stupid female

 

Earful - enough 

 

Edge - intoxication, a buzz.  i.e. "I've got an edge." 

 

Egg - a person who lives the big life 

 

Fall Guy - Victim of a frame

 

Fire extinguisher - a chaperone 

 

Fish -(1) a college freshman (2) a first timer in prison 

 

Flat Tire - A dull witted, insipid, disappointing date. Same as pill, pickle, drag, rag, oilcan

 

Flivver - a Model T; after 1928, could mean any old broken down car 

 

Flapper - A stylish, brash, hedonistic young woman with short skirts & shorter hair

 

Fly boy - a glamorous term for an aviator 

 

Frame - To give false evidence , to set up someone

 

Gams - A woman's legs

 

Get a wiggle on - get a move on, get going 

 

Giggle Water - An intoxicating beverage; alcohol

 

Gin Mill - An establishment where hard liquor is sold; bar

 

Glad rags - "going out on the town" clothes 

 

Gold Digger - A woman who associates with or marries a man for his wealth

 

Goofy - in love 

 

Hair of the Dog - a shot of alcohol 

 

Handcuff - an engagement ring 

 

Hard Boiled - a tough, strong guy

 

Hayburner - (1) a gas guzzling car (2) a horse one loses money on 

 

Heebie-Jeebies - The jitters

 

High-Hat - To snub

 

Hit on all sixes - to perform 100 per cent; as "hitting on all six cyclinders"

 

Hooch - Bootleg liquor

 

Hood - hoodlum 

 

Hoofer - Dancer

 

Horsefeathers - an expletive ; same usage as applesauce

 

Hotsy - Totsy - Pleasing

 

It - Sex appeal

 

Iron - a motorcycle 

 

Jack - money 

 

Jake - OK, as in , "Everything is Jake."

 

Jalopy - Old car

 

Jane - any female 

 

Java - coffee 

 

Jitney - a car employed as a private bus. Fare was usually five cents; also called a "nickel" 

 

Joe - coffee 

 

John - a toilet

 

Joint - (1) an establishment (2) A club, usually selling alcohol

 

Juice Joint - a speakeasy

 

Keen - Attractive or appealing

 

Kisser - Mouth

 

Know your onions - (1) a reference to C.T. Onions, a renown Shakespeare lexicologist. (2) to know a lot about a subject

 

Left holding the bag - (1) to be cheated out of one's fair share (2) to be blamed for something 

 

Level with me - be honest 

 

Line - Insincere flattery

 

Live wire - a lively person 

 

Middle Aisle - To marry

 

Mrs. Grundy - A priggish or extremely tight-laced person

 

Moll - A gangster's girl      

 

Neck - Kissing with passion                                                          

 

Nifty - great, excellent

 

"Now you're on the trolley!" - Now you've got it, now you're right!

 

Nobody Home - Describes some one who is dumb

 

On the lam - fleeing from police

 

On the level - legitimate, honest

 

On the up and up - *see above*

 

Orchid - an expensive item

 

Ossified - a drunk person

 

Owl - a person who's out late

 

Palooka (1) a below-average or average boxer (2) a social outsider, from the comic strip character Joe Palooka

 

Pet - Same as neck, but more so

 

Piker - (1) a cheapskate (2) a coward (3) derrogatory term for a gypsy or English traveler

 

Pill - (1) a teacher (2) an unlikable person

 

Pinch - To arrest

 

Pipe down - stop talking

 

Pushover - A person easily convinced or seduced

 

Putting on the Ritz - after the Ritz hotel in Paris; doing something in high style

 

Rag-a-muffin - a dirty or disheveled individual

 

Razz- to make fun of

   

Real McCoy - The genuine article

 

Ritzy - Elegant (from the hotel)

 

Rubes - A country  bumpkin

 

Sap - a fool

 

Says you - a reaction of disbelief

 

Scram - Ask someone to leave immediately

 

Sheba - A woman with sex appeal (from the move Queen of Sheba) or (e.g. Clara Bow)

 

Sheik - A man with sex appeal (from the Valentino movies)

 

Shiv - a knife

 

Sinker - a doughnut

 

Speakeasy - An illicit bar selling bootleg liquor

 

Spifflicated - Drunk. The same as canned, corked, tanked, primed, scrooched, jazzed, zozzled, plastered, owled, embalmed,

lit, potted, ossified or fried to the hat

 

Spiffy - An elegant appearance  

 

Spoon - to neck, or at least talk of love

 

Struggle Buggy - making out in the back seat of a car

 

Stuck On - Having a crush on

 

Swanky - Ritzy

 

Swell - Wonderful. Also: a rich man

 

Take for a Ride - To drive off with someone in order to kill them or give them a good beating.

 

Tin Pan Alley - the music industry in New York, located between 48th and 52nd street

 

Tomato - a female

 

Torpedo - A hired gun

 

Upchuck - To vomit when one has drunk too much

 

Wet Blanket - a solemn person, a killjoy

 

What's eating you? - What's wrong

 

Whoopee - (1) To have a good time (2) sex

 

You slay me - that's funny

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