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  • Pop Culture Trivia Quiz: What Happened In 1921?

    Pop Culture Trivia Quiz: What Happened In 1921?

    Pop Culture Trivia Quiz: What Happened In 1921?

    21 Trivia Questions for 1921 History

    (answers)
    1. What silent film, a comedy-drama, written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin was released?

    2. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1921?

    3. What paper and ink psychological test was created in 1921?

    4. In 1921, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?

    5. What did the Atlantic City Pageant’s Golden Mermaid pageant later come to be called?

    6. What home improvement retail chain opened in North Carolina?

    7. What was the average household income in 1921?

    8. How many people lived in the United States in 1921?

    9. Who was the top-selling musician or band of the 1920s?

    10. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1921

    11. What silent film made Rudolph Valentino a bonafide movie star

    12. How much did a Gallon of Milk cost in 1921?

    13. How much were 5 pounds of flour?

    14. Who was the President of the United States in 1921?

    15. What miracle discovery was found, to be used as a medication to treat high blood glucose?

    16. How much did an average Ford Model T cost in 1921?

    17. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1921?

    18. What company used the slogan: “I’d Walk a Mile for a …”?

    19. Who was the only person to become both US President and Chief Justice of the United States?

    20. What was the first “fast food” hamburger chain, that opened in 1921?

    21. Who won the 1921 World Series?

    Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

    1. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1921?

    2. What was the highest-grossing movie of 1921?

    3. What automobile comfort and safety device was invented in 1921?

    4. Who was the American Vice-President in 1921?

    5. What popular comedic actor retired from acting in disgrace following a scandal?

    6. What methodology system was created to manage, analyze, and structure a process in 1921?

    7. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1921?

    8. Who was the first actor to ever to play Jesse James on film?

    9. Who was the first “Miss America”?

    10. Who was the Pope in 1921?

    Answers:

    21 Trivia Answers for 1921 History

    1. What silent film, a comedy-drama, written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin was released?
    The Kid

    2. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1921?
    (tie) Wabash Blues by Isham Jones OR Wang Wang Blues by Paul Whiteman OR Cherie by Paul Whiteman

    3. What paper and ink psychological test was created in 1921?
    Rorschach Test (Hermann Rorschach)

    4. In 1921, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
    Men – 60.0 years, Women – 61.8 years.

    5. What did the Atlantic City Pageant’s Golden Mermaid pageant later come to be called?
    The Miss America Pageant

    6. What home improvement retail chain opened in North Carolina?
    Lowes’s (Lucius Smith Lowe)

    7. What was the average household income in 1921?
    $2,938.56

    8. How many people lived in the United States in 1921?
    The population was an estimated 108,538,000 people.

    9. Who was the top-selling musician or band of the 1920s?
    Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra

    10. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1921?
    Main Street by Sinclair Lewis

    11. What silent film made Rudolph Valentino a bonafide movie star?
    The Sheik

    12. How much did a Gallon of Milk cost in 1921?
    58 cents

    13. How much were 5 pounds of flour?
    29 cents

    14. Who was the President of the United States in 1921?
    Woodrow Wilson (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921) and Warren G. Harding (March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923)

    15. What miracle discovery was found, to be used as a medication to treat high blood glucose?
    Insulin

    16. How much did an average Ford Model T cost in 1921?
    $395

    17. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1921?
    $0.26 per gallon

    18. What company used the slogan: “I’d Walk a Mile for a …”?
    Camel Cigarettes

    19. Who was the only person to become both US President and Chief Justice of the United States?
    William Howard Taft

    20. What was the first “fast food” hamburger chain, that opened in 1921?
    White Castle, in Wichita, Kansas

    21. Who won the 1921 World Series?
    In 1921, The New York Giants won, beating the New York Yankees (5 games to 3)

    Trivia Team Bonus Questions:

    1. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1921?
    In 1921, The Ottawa Senators won over the Vancouver Millionaires (3 games to 2)

    2. What was the highest-grossing movie of 1921?
    The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

    3. What automobile comfort and safety device was invented in 1921?
    The Headrest

    4. Who was the American Vice-President in 1921?
    Thomas R. Marshall (March 4, 1913 – March 4, 1921) and Calvin Coolidge (March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923)

    5. What popular comedic actor retired from acting in disgrace following a scandal?
    Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle

    6. What methodology system was created to manage, analyze, and structure a process in 1921?
    The flowchart

    7. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1921?
    Behave Yourself

    8. Who was the first actor to ever to play Jesse James on film?
    His own son, Jesse James Jr, in the 1921 film Under the Black Flag.

    9. Who was the first “Miss America”?
    Margaret Gorman

    10. Who was the Pope in 1921?
    Pope Benedict XV, September 3, 1914 – January 22, 1922

     

  • 1921 History, Facts and Trivia

    1921 History, Facts and Trivia

    1921 History, Facts and Trivia

    Quick Facts from 1921

    • The America Changing Event: The first radio baseball game was broadcast. Harold Arlin announced the Pirates-Phillies game from Forbes Field over Westinghouse KDKA, in Pittsburgh. The Pirates won, 8-5.
    • Soviet Russia and Poland signed the Treaty of Riga, establishing a permanent border between the two countries.
    • The Russian Great Famine of 1921/22 killed 5 million people.
    • The Communist Party of China was formed.
    • Influential Songs include Second Hand Rose and My Man by Fanny Brice, St. Louis Blues by the Original Dixie Land Band, and others.
    • The Movies to Watch include The Kid, The Three Musketeers, The Haunted Castle, and The Sheik.
    • The Most Famous Person in America was probably Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle
    • New York Yankee pitcher Babe Ruth hit his 138th home run, continually growing that record to 714 in 1935.
    • Adolf Hitler became the Chairman of the Nazi Party in his rise to power and prominence in Germany.
    • The price of a pound of peanut butter in 1921 15 cents
    • The Funny Fat Guy was Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle
    • The Other Funny Guy was: Harold Lloyd
    • The Conversation: Did Fatty Arbuckle kill Virginia Rappe?

    Top Ten Baby Names of 1921:

    Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Ruth, Virginia, Mildred, Betty, Frances, Elizabeth
    John, Robert, William, James, Charles, George, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Richard

    US Life Expectancy: 
    (1921) Males: 60.0 years, Females: 61.8 years

    The Stars:

    Theda Bara, Pola Negri, Mary Pickford

    Miss America:

    Margaret Gorman (Washington, DC)

    Firsts, Inventions, and Wonders

    Guccio Gucci started selling his handbags.

    Coco Chanel introduced “Chanel No. 5”.

    On October 23, 1921, an American officer selected the first “Unknown Soldier” body.

    “Andy’s Candies” was founded, but maker Andy Kanelos realized that men would never buy chocolates for women with another man’s name written on them. He renamed his company “Andes”.

    The most popular laboratory rodent, The Black-6 mouse, was bred in 1921 by C.C. Little.

    Radio Shack opened in Boston, Massachusetts.

    White Castle restaurants opened in Wichita, Kansas.

    The United States Figure Skating Association was formed in Colorado.

    Pete Petiot invented the “Bloody Mary” drink.

    Betty Crocker was not a real person – the name was created in 1921 to give a personalized response to consumer product questions by the Washburn-Crosby Company (later part of General Mills).

    The Biggest Pop Artists of 1921 include

    Nora Bayes, Eddie Cantor, Frank Crumit, Carl Fenton and His Orchestra, Mariona Harris, Art Hickman & His Orchestra, Al Jolson, Billy Jones, Isham Jones and His Orchestra, Benny Krueger and His Orchestra, Ted Lewis and His Band, Billy Murray, The Original Dixieland Band, The Peerless Quartet, Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds, Van & Schenck, Ethel Waters, Reinald Werrenrath, Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra

    US Politics

    March 4, 1921 (Friday) Inauguration of Warren G. Harding. The United States also approved the burial of an unidentified soldier from World War I at Arlington National Cemetery. The inscription on the tomb reads, “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”

    The Emergency Quota Act limited the number of immigrants to the United States.

    US Civil Rights

    The Tulsa Race Riot took place between May 31st and June 1st

    Pop Culture Facts & History

    Wonder Bread began distribution. It went national in 1925 when the Continental Baking Company discovered Taggart Baking, the originator of the product.

    Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize for Physics for his 1916 work ‘The General Theory of Relativity.’

    Iowa imposed the first state cigarette tax, 2 cents per pack.

    On January 21, The full-length silent comedy-drama film The Kid, written, produced, directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin, as his Tramp character, and Jackie Coogan, was released in the United States.

    On October 31, The Sheik, starring Rudolph Valentino, premiered in Los Angeles.

    The first actor to play Jesse James on film was his son, Jesse James Jr, in the 1921 film Under the Black Flag.

    In Atlantic City, New Jersey, the first Miss America Pageant was held and sixteen-year-old Margaret Gorman won the Atlantic City Pageant’s Golden Mermaid trophy. Pageant officials later named her the first Miss America.

    The Rorschach Test does not use a series of random inkblots but ten specific prints selected in 1921 and always shown in the same order.

    We, the book that is thought to have inspired both Brave New World and 1984, was written by Russian writer Yevgeny Zamyatin.

    John Larson invented an early polygraph (lie detector)

    On July 20, Congresswoman Alice Mary Robertson became the first woman to preside over the US House of Representatives floor.

    A small tract of land (“The Wedge“) along the borders of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Ownership of the land was disputed until 1921, but it is now officially recognized as part of Delaware.

    On July 1, The Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded.

    Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father Henri Didon, for the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius (“Swifter, Higher, Stronger”).

    The Horrible

    “Black Wall Street” was the wealthiest Black community in America (in the African-American community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma) before being attacked by an angry mob that killed hundreds of Black residents and destroyed 35 city blocks.

    Workers at an ammonium nitrate factory in Oppau (now part of Ludwigshafen), Germany, tried clearing a clogged silo with dynamite. The resulting explosion killed over 500 people and left 6500 homeless.

    The Scandals

    August 4th – Eight Chicago White Sox players were banned for life for purposefully losing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. They were all acquitted in criminal court, however.

    Silent film actor Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was accused of raping and killing Virginia Rappe. It was probably consensual and accidental.

    Nerd News

    Einstein won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics not for his work on the famous E=mcˆ2 equation or special relativity, but for his work on the photoelectric effect, which forms the basis of photosynthesis.

    Nobel Prize Winners

    Physics – Albert Einstein
    Chemistry – Frederick Soddy
    Medicine – not awarded
    Literature – Anatole France
    Peace – Karl Hjalmar Branting, Christian Lous Lange

    Popular and Best-selling Books From 1921

    A Poor Wise Man by Mary Roberts Rinehart
    The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
    The Brimming Cup by Dorothy Canfield
    Her Father’s Daughter by Gene Stratton-Porter
    The Kingdom Round the Corner by Coningsby Dawson
    Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
    The Mysterious Rider by Zane Grey
    The Sheik by Edith M. Hull
    The Sisters-in-Law by Gertrude Atherton
    The Valley of Silent Men by James Oliver Curwood

    Sports

    World Series Champions: New York Giants
    Stanley Cup Champs: Ottawa Senators
    U.S. Open Golf: James M. Barnes
    U.S. Tennis (Men/Ladies): William (Bill) T. Tilden/Molla B. Mallory
    Wimbledon (Men/Women): Bill Tilden/Suzanna Lenglen
    NCAA Football Champions: California & Cornell
    Kentucky Derby Winner: Behave Yourself
    Boston Marathon Winner: Frank Zuna Time: 2:18:57

    More 1921 Facts & History Resources:

    Most Popular Baby Names (BabyCenter.com)
    Popular and Notable Books (popculture.us)
    Broadway Shows that Opened in 1921
    XXXX Calendar, courtesy of Time and Date.com
    Fact Monster
    1920s, Infoplease.com World History
    1921 in Movies (according to IMDB)
    Retrowaste Vintage Culture
    1920s Slang
    Wikipedia 1921

     

  • Discovery of Insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best

    Discovery of Insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best

    Discovery of Insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best

    The discovery of insulin by Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best on July 27, 1921, revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and has saved countless lives since its introduction. Their groundbreaking work led to the development of insulin therapy, which transformed diabetes from a fatal condition to a manageable one. The story of insulin’s discovery involves collaboration, determination, and a fair share of serendipity.

    • Origins: In 1920, Dr. Frederick Banting, a surgeon, was inspired by an article about the pancreas and diabetes. He theorized that a hormone produced in the pancreas could regulate blood sugar. Banting pitched his idea to Professor John Macleod, a leading diabetes researcher at the University of Toronto, who agreed to provide Banting with laboratory space and the assistance of Charles Best, a medical student.
    • Discovery: Banting and Best began their research in May 1921, focusing on isolating the hormone they believed could treat diabetes. They performed experiments on dogs, surgically removing the pancreas to induce diabetes and then administering their extracted hormone. The treatment successfully lowered blood sugar levels in the test subjects.
    • Naming Insulin: The hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar was named “insulin” by Banting and Best, derived from the Latin word “insula,” meaning “island,” referring to the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas where insulin is produced.
    • Collaboration with James Collip: Banting and Best enlisted the help of biochemist James Collip to purify insulin, making it safe for human use. On January 11, 1922, Leonard Thompson, a 14-year-old diabetic, became the first to receive an insulin injection, dramatically improving his condition.
    • Nobel Prize: In 1923, Frederick Banting and John Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of insulin. Banting shared his prize money with Best, while Macleod shared his with Collip, acknowledging their essential contributions to the breakthrough.
    • Effects on Pop Culture: The discovery of insulin has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and movies, highlighting the importance of this medical breakthrough. It has also been celebrated on postage stamps and has inspired countless researchers to continue exploring new treatments for diabetes.

    The discovery of insulin by Frederick Banting and Charles Best in 1921 marked a turning point in treating diabetes. Their groundbreaking work led to the development of insulin therapy, which has saved millions of lives worldwide. The story of insulin’s discovery has become a significant part of pop culture, inspiring books, documentaries, and movies highlighting medical breakthroughs’ importance.

  • 1921 Music: Popular Music, Songs and Artists

    1921 Music: Popular Music, Songs and Artists

    1921 Popular Music, Songs and Artists

    Make Believe
    Music by Jerome Kern and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for the Broadway Musical Showboat. The Musical was one of the first musicals to use the songs too. This technique will be perfected when Oscar Hammerstein teams with Richard Rodgers for OKLAHOMA to move the story forward. The musical was extremely controversial as it dealt with interracial marriage and was also the first racially integrated musical. Previously white and black performers did not perform on the same stage together. The musical was filmed twice – once in 1936 and again by MGM in 1951.

    Al Jolson
    April Showers
    This was one of Al Jolson’s trademark songs. And was written by Louis Silvers and BG De Silva for a musical called Bomba. The song was used in the Bugs Bunny 1962 short Wet Hare.

    Ben Selvin
    Ben Selvin was an American bandleader and violinist who became a popular and influential figure in the early years of recorded music during the 1920s and 1930s. Over his career, he recorded with various ensembles under different names, including the Knickerbockers. As a prolific musician, Selvin recorded thousands of songs, making him one of the most recorded bandleaders of his time. The Knickerbockers was a popular dance band, and like many of Selvin’s ensembles, the group focused on performing popular tunes and dance music of that era. They gained considerable recognition and success, contributing to the rise of dance orchestras in the early 20th century.

    Isham Jones
    Isham Jones was an American bandleader, saxophonist, bassist, and songwriter who gained prominence in the early 20th century, particularly during the 1920s and 1930s. Born on January 31, 1894, in Coalton, Ohio, Jones began his career as a saxophonist in various bands before forming his own orchestra in 1915. The Isham Jones Orchestra quickly gained fame for its smooth dance music and innovative arrangements.

    Jones was a prolific songwriter, composing many popular tunes of his time, including “It Had to Be You,” “Swingin’ Down the Lane,” “I’ll See You in My Dreams,” and “On the Alamo.” Many of his songs have become jazz and popular music standards, covered by countless artists over the years.

    The Isham Jones Orchestra featured many talented musicians, such as Benny Goodman and Woody Herman, who would later become successful bandleaders themselves. Jones continued to perform and record music until his retirement in the 1950s. He passed away on October 19, 1956, in Hollywood, Florida, but his legacy continues to influence musicians and listeners.

    Fanny Brice
    My Man
    My Man (and Funny Girl) are regaining popularity now by Lea Michele as the Character of Rachel Berry in Glee uses Barbara Streisand and Funny Girl as her inspiration for star success.

    Marion Harris
    Look For The Silver Lining
    Written by Jerome kern the song was originally written for the musical Zip, Goes A Million. It was then reused in another musical called Sally, where it became popular. The song was also rewritten to be the Anthem for the ILGWU called Look For The Union Label. Recently the song was used in the popular Masterpiece Classic series Downton Abbey.

    I Ain’t Got Nobody
    The song though popular on its own in the 1920s. It would later become more popular still when paired as a melody with I’m Just a Gigolo. This combination was performed by artists like Cab Calloway, Louis Prima, and David Lee Roth.

    Original Dixie Land Band
    St. Louis Blues
    Composed by W. C. Handy in 1914. the song was inspired by a melody that Handy Heard while out of work in St. Louis. It also took some inspiration from a woman who inspired him to write, “ma man’s got a heart like a rock cast into the sea.” Many artists have recorded the song, from The Original Dixie Land Band to Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, and David Sanborn. At his death in 1958, WC Handy received 25,000 dollars in royalty annually.

    Paul Biese Trio and Frank Crumit
    Mimi
    Written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. It would later become popular again in the 1932 film “Love Me Tonight” and sung by Maurice Chevalier.
    Richard Rodgers would later achieve major success with Oscar Hammerstein. ( See Make Believe).

    Van and Schenk
    A’int We Got Fun
    It was used as Eric Northman’s ringtone in a 2010 episode of Trueblood. Also used as part of a pivotal point in F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby.

    Top Artists and Songs of 1921

    Aileen Stanley
    My Mammy
    My Man
    Al Jolson – Although he usually wore blackface in live performances, he was also known for fighting against anti-black discrimination on Broadway
    Avalon
    O -H-I-O (O-My-O!)
    Ben Selvin
    Say It With Music
    Cherie
    Benson Orchestra of Chicago
    Bimini Bay
    Billy Murray & Billy Jones
    Down By The O-HI-O
    Eddie Cantor
    Margie
    Ethel Waters – in 1949, Ethel was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance in Pinky.
    There’ll Be Some Changes made
    Fanny Brice – Her marriage to Nick Arnstein was the basis for the Broadway Musical and Film Funny Girl.
    My Man – Signature Song
    Second Hand Rose
    Frank Crumit
    Sweet Lady, All By Myself
    Isham Jones
    Wabash Blues – Signature Song (#1 for six weeks)
    Mamie Smith (May 26, 1883 – September 16, 1946)
    What Have I Done
    Royal Garden Blues
    Marion Harris -” The Queen of the Blues”
    Look For The Silver Lining
    I’m A Jazz Vampire
    I Ain’t Got Nobody – Signature Song
    I’m Nobody’s Baby
    Beale Street Blues
    Nora Bayes – AKA Eleanor Goldberg, was married five times, and adopted three children.
    Make Believe
    Original Dixieland Jazz Band called themselves the Creators of Jazz because they made some of the earliest jazz recordings, in 1917.
    St. Louis Blues
    Palesteena
    Patrick Waddington
    Night May Have Its Sadness
    Paul Biese Trio and Frank Crumit
    MiMi
    Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra were the most popular band of the 1920s.
    Say It With Music
    Caresses
    My Mammy
    Bright Eyes
    Cherie
    Song of India
    My Man (Mon Homme)
    April Showers
    Make Believe
    Learn To Smile
    Gypsy Blues
    Prince’s Orchestra
    Deep In Your Eyes
    Ted Lewis (June 6, 1890 – August 25, 1971)
    All By Myself
    Van and Schenck
    Ain’t We Got Fun? – Signature Song