Mussolini and the Fascist Party came to power in Italy.
Mohandas Gandhi was arrested, tried for sedition, and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.
America’s first aircraft carrier, The USS Langley, was commissioned.
Influential Musical Artists include Fats Waller, Fanny Brice, Al Jolson, Marion Harris, and Ethel Waters.
The 2-month-long Railway Shopmen’s Strike of 1922 began, affecting 400,000 workers.
The Movies to Watch include Nosferatu, Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler, Foolish Wives, and Nanook of the North.
The Most Famous Person in America was probably Babe Ruth
The Rose Bowl Stadium officially opened in Pasadena, California.
Coca-Cola’s first polar bear print advertisement appeared in France in 1922.
Price of 24 Dr. Swift’s Root Beer, 8 oz in 1922: $2.25
The Funny Guy was Harold Lloyd
The (Modern) Conversation: Betty White is older than sliced bread. Betty White was born in 1922, and sliced bread was introduced in 1928.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1922
Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Ruth, Betty, Virginia, Mildred, Elizabeth John, Robert, William, James, Charles, George, Joseph, Edward, Richard, Frank
US Life Expectancy
(1922) Males: 58.4 years, Females: 61.0 years
The Stars
Theda Bara, Marion Davies, Pola Negri, Mary Pickford
Miss America
Mary Katherine Campbell (Columbus, Ohio)
Firsts, Inventions, and Wonders
Gummy Bears were created in Germany.
Walgreens introduced the malted milkshake in 1922.
Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight boxing champion, patented a wrench (U.S. patent #1,413,121) on April 18, 1922.
Lincoln Memorial was dedicated.
The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) was established.
The first-ever 3D movie was The Power Of Love, a silent film released in 1922. It was also the first film to have an alternative ending, and the viewer could choose between the happy and sad endings (both shot in 2D) by closing one eye or the other. No copies exist
The Caterpillar Club is an association of people who have successfully used a parachute to bail out a disabled aircraft. “Life depends on a silken thread” is the club’s motto.
The term The Jazz Age was coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1922, the same year that the Great Gatsby is based.
Christian K. Nelson patented the Eskimo Pie ice cream treat.
In the 1897 novel by Bram Stoker, sunlight isn’t fatal to Dracula but only drains most of his powers. It wasn’t until the 1922 film Nosferatu that sunlight was first depicted as deadly to vampires.
The first recorded use of periwinkle as an (English) color name.
The first woman to serve in the US Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton in 1922. She was 87 and served for only one day. She championed prison reform, women’s rights, and education. She was the last member of Congress to have owned slaves.
Readers Digest and Ring Magazine began publication.
When Vegemite was invented in 1922, it almost failed as a product. By 1940, it was so central to the Aussie diet that it became mandatory in their WWII military rations.
The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 influenced the Art Deco design style and repopularized the use of eyeliner in the West.
The Bureau of Public Roads commissioned Gen. John J. Pershing to make a map for construction purposes and to highlight which roads in the U.S. were the most important in the event of war. The “Pershing Map” was the first official topographic road map of the United States.
The Biggest Pop Artists of 1922 include
Elsie Baker, Nora Bayes, The Benson Orchestra of Chicago, Fanny Brice, Henry Burr, Eddie Cantor, Zez Confrey & His Orchestra, Edwin Dale, Vernon Dalhart, Al Jolson, Ernest Hare, Mariona Harris, Charles Harrison, Billy Jones, Isham Jones & His Orchestra, Ted Lewis and His Band, Vincent Lopez and His Orchestra, Ray Miller and His Orchestra, Lucy Isabelle Marsh, Billy Murray, The Peerless Quartet, Joseph C. Smith’s Orchestra, Aileen Stanley, John Steel, Van & Schenck, Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, Bert Williams
Film director Hal Roach released the first of many ‘short’ features called Our Gang. Considered racist by many today, it was groundbreaking to include black and white children playing together in 1922. In 1955, the series of shorts was renamed Little Rascals for television.
The Straw Hat Riot of 1922 was an eight-day riot in New York City over men wearing straw hats past the unofficial date deemed socially acceptable, September 15th.
Hottest day and place ever recorded on Earth: September 13, 1922 – 136 degrees in El Aziza, Libia. (or was it?)
Although lead paint was recognized as toxic as early as 1897 and banned by the League of Nations in 1922, the US did not ban lead paint until 1971.
Nanook of the North, the first commercially successful feature-length documentary film, was released on June 11.
There was an all-Native American NFL team from 1922-1923 called the Oorang Indians, based out of Ohio.
All telephone service in the US and Canada was silenced for one minute on August 4, 1922, to mark the funeral of Alexander Graham Bell.
While incarcerated in Leavenworth, Jack Johnson, the first black world champion heavyweight boxer, modified a wrench for tightening loosened fastening devices and received a patent for his improvements on April 18, 1922 (Patent #1,413,121)
There are no grizzly bears in California, and there haven’t been since 1922, despite one being on the state flag.
On May 30, 1922, the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs traded two players (Max Flack and Cliff Heathcote)between doubleheader games. Both players played for each team that day.
The US Postmaster General declared all houses had to have mailboxes or forgo mail delivery.
On August 25, 1922, the highest-scoring game in Major League history occurred: the Chicago Cubs defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 26–23, a total of 49 runs.
Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Pharoah Tutankhamun, better known as King Tut.
Briggs & Stratton Flyer was the least expensive car ever manufactured, selling for about $125 in 1922.
Charles Osborne had hiccups for 68 years, from 1922 to 1990, and was entered in the Guinness World Records as the man with the longest attack of hiccups, an estimated 430 million hiccups.
Wimbledon Center Court was completed.
The highest-scoring baseball game was 49 runs when the Chicago Cubs beat the Phillies 26 to 23 on August 25th.
The Bureau of Public Roads commissioned US General John J. Pershing to make a map to highlight which roads in the U.S. were the most important in the event of war. The “Pershing Map” was the first official topographic road map of the United States.
One hundred twelve people died during the Hoover Dam project. The first was J. G. Tierney, a surveyor who drowned on December 20, 1922. His son, Patrick W. Tierney, was the last man to die working on the dam, 13 years later.
In Chicago, the Herrin Massacre occurred in June 1922 in Herrin, Illinois. 19 ‘scabs’ and two union miners (Jordie Henderson and Joe Pitkewicius) were killed in mob action between June 21-22, 1922. #scabsgetslabs
The Cure
Scientists went to a Toronto General Hospital’s children’s diabetes ward with comatose children, dying from diabetic ketoacidosis. They went from bed to bed, injecting the kids with a new extract, insulin. The children woke up within minutes.
The Reward
When Niels Bohr won the Nobel Prize, Carlsberg Brewery gave him a house. The house was located next to the brewery, and it had a direct pipeline to the brewery so that Bohr had free beer on tap whenever he wanted. They injected the last unconscious child, and the first children injected began to awaken.
Nobel Prize Winners
Physics – Niels Henrik David Bohr Chemistry – Francis William Aston Physiology or Medicine – Archibald Vivian Hill, Otto Fritz Meyerhof Literature – Jacinto Benavente Peace – Fridtjof Nansen
Broadway Show
Abie’s Irish Rose (Play) Opened on May 23, 1922, and closed on October 1, 1927
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1922
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis The Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart Gentle Julia by Booth Tarkington The Head of the House of Coombe by Frances Hodgson Burnett Helen of the Old House by Harold Bell Wright If Winter Comes by A. S. M. Hutchinson Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon The Sheik by Edith M. Hull Simon Called Peter by Robert Keable This Freedom by A. S. M. Hutchinson To the Last Man by Zane Grey
Sports
World Series Champions: New York Giants Stanley Cup Champs: Toronto St. Pats U.S. Open Golf: Gene Sarazan U.S. Tennis (Men/Ladies): William (Bill) T. Tilden/Molla B. Mallory Wimbledon (Men/Women): Gerald Patterson/Suzanne Lenglen NCAA Football Champions: California & Cornell & Princeton Kentucky Derby Winner: Morvich Boston Marathon Winner: Clarence DeMar Time: 2:18:10
Carl Fenton I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise Written by George and Ira Gershwin and premiered in the musical The George White Scandals. Described by a critic in 1922 as”The most perfect piece of jazz ever written.” The song was also used in the 1951 MGM musical “An American in Paris.”
Club Royal led by saxophonist Clyde Doerr The Sheik (Also known as the Sheik of Araby.) This piece of music was inspired by the 1921 film The Sheik starring Rudolph Valentino. Clyde Doerr was a friend of Paul Whiteman. Whiteman secured a contract for Doerr to record for Victor Records. The first recording that Doerr made was The Sheik, and it was so successful that Whiteman severed all contact with Doerr out of resentment.
Fanny Brice Second Hand Rose This song was featured as the piece Brice used to audition for Florenz Ziegfeld in the Film Funny Girl. The piece would appear again on the charts at number 32 in 1965 on the Barbra Streisand album, My name is Barbra. The album would go to number two and would go platinum.
Fats Waller Waller was the son of a lay preacher. His father wanted him to pursue a religious vocation, but his talent for music took him in another direction.
His professional career began at the age of 15 when he became the organist at the Lincoln Theater on 135th St. There is some evidence to suggest that Waller studied as a pianist under Leopold Gadowski and composition with Carl Bohm at the Julliard School. Waller was best known for his popular songs, but while in Britain on his 1939 European tour, he recorded his London Suite. This suite shows his aspirations to become a serious composer.
Fats Waller died too soon, in 1943, of too much alcohol and hard living. His legacy is the music he left behind.
T’Aint Nobody’s Business If I Do Written and Performed by Fats Waller. The 1970’s musical Ain’t Misbehavin, was named after a Fats Waller song. Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I do was performed by Nell Carter in the show. Carter would later star in the 1980s situation comedy Gimme a Break.
Henry Burr My Buddy Music by Walter Donaldson and Lyrics by Gus Kahn, the song was published in 1922. The cover for the sheet music featured a picture of Al Jolson. The song has been recorded by many artists including, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Streisand and Barry White.
Lambert Murphy I Dream Of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair The song was written by composer Stephen Foster. Foster composed this piece during a time that he was separated from his wife, whose name was Jenny, for an extended period of time. It is considered today as one of Foster’s finest compositions. However, when the song was introduced in 1854 it received little attention.
Marion Harris I’m Just Wild About Harry Written by Eubie Blake, (music) and Noble Sissle, (lyrics), for the all-black musical Shuffle Along. This was the first all-black musical that was also completely written and composed by blacks. The song was also used in Harry Truman’s 1948 campaign song.
Paul Whiteman Whiteman started his career in Denver playing the Viola in The Denver Symphony Orchestra in 1907. By 1914 he had moved to San Francisco. During World War I, he led a 40 piece Navy band, playing marches by day and show tunes at night.
In 1918, Whiteman organized a dance band in San Francisco. Not long after he moved to New Jersey and finally settled in New York in 1920. He soon became the best known American band leader especially with his recordings of Whispering and Japanese Sandman.
For his first extended concert tour in the United States, he commissioned George Gershwin to write Rhapsody in Blue.
From 1928 to 1952 Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra was featured on many network radio shows. They also took part in several films starting in 1930 with King of Jazz. The orchestra provided music for six Broadway shows and produced more than 600 phonograph records. Later Whiteman would work as music director for ABC. He died in 1967.
Whiteman’s musical memorabilia including his large library of more than 3000 arrangements was bequeathed to Williams College in Williamstown MA. The memorabilia and sheet music now form The Whiteman Collection.
Three O’Clock In The Morning Recorded by Whiteman is 1922 it lasted 8 weeks at #1 on the charts and became Whiteman’s early signature song. The song was also referenced in F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
Top Artists and Songs of 1922
Al Jolson April Showers, Angel Child Give Me My Mammy Coo Coo
Carl Fenton – Carl was really Walter Gustave “Gus” Haenschen. Fenton came from Fenton, Missouri. Gus legally became Carl in 1932. I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise
Club Royal Orchestra The Sheik
Ernest Hare and Billy Jones In The Little Red Schoolhouse
Ernest Hastings My Word You Do Look Queer
Ethel Waters – Starred in Cabin in the Sky, a 1940 Broadway musical, and in the 1943 film version, featuring an all-black cast. There’ll Be Some Changes Made
Fanny Brice – Brice was featured in The Ziegfeld Follies both on stage and on the screen. Second Hand Rose My Man
Fats Waller Taint Nobody’s Biz-Ness If I Do (also heard in Woody Allen’s 1973 film, Sleeper)
Frank Crumit Stumbling
Gallagher & Sheen Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean
Henry Burr (January 15, 1882 – April 6, 1941, real name Harry Haley McClaskey) My Buddy
Isham Jones On The Alamo Ivy Cling To Me
Joseph Smith and his Orchestra Three O’Clock in the Morning
Lambert Murphy I Dream Of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair
Mamie Smith Lonesome Mama Blues
Marion Harris I’m Just Wild About Harry Aggrivatin’ Papa Some Sunny Day Rose of the Rio Grande Blue (And Broken Hearted)
Nora Bayes All Over Nothing At All Good Morning
Paul Whiteman Three O’Clock In The Morning – Signature Song (one of several) Stumbling Do It Again Hot Lips I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise Crinoline Days, Journey’s End Some Sunny Day Coal Black Mammy Oriental (Fox Trot)
Peerless Quartet – Although record-keeping was pretty spotty at that time, the Peerless Quartet had an estimated 108 “charting” singles, between 1904–1928, the 9th-most of the pre-rock, period, according to Billboard’s Joel Whitburn. Way Down In New Orleans
Ray Miller and his Orchestra Sheik of Araby
Trixie Smith My Man Rocks Me (With a Steady Roll) -may be the first song reference with the phrase “rock and roll” Give Me That Slow Drag
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
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
World Changing Event: The US Senate rejected the Versailles Treaty, nullifying the League of Nations.
World Changing Event: The Treaty of Sèvres officially dissolved the Ottoman Empire.
Pancho Villa surrendered, and the Mexican Revolution ended.
The 1920 Summer Olympics were held in Antwerp, Belgium.
The Birth of Mass Media: On November 2, 1920, the first commercially licensed radio station began broadcasting live results of the presidential election.
The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution was enabled in 1920, outlawing the production and consumption of alcohol (more commonly known as Prohibition).
The Nineteenth Amendment To The Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was established.
On September 16, 1920, a bomb exploded on Wall Street outside the NYSE building, killing 33 people and injuring more than 400. The perpetrators were never found.
Influential Songs include: I’ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time by Charles Harrison and others. Also, Swanee was written by George Gershwin and recorded by Al Jolson.
The Movies to Watch include The Mark of Zorro, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The Most Famous Person in America was probably Al Jolson
Price of Wrigley’s Doublemint gum in 1920: 5 cents/pack
Price of Silver: $1.37 an ounce
The Funny Fat Guy was Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle
The Other Funny Guy was: Harold Lloyd
The Color Magazine Cover: National Geographic magazine was the first US publisher to establish a color photo lab in 1920, the first to publish underwater color photographs in 1927, the first to print an all-color issue in 1962, and the first to print a hologram in 1984.
January 10 – Treaty of Versailles Took Effect: The treaty officially ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations on Germany and redrawing European borders.
January 16 – Prohibition Began in the United States: The 18th Amendment, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol, went into effect, ushering in the Prohibition era.
January 19 – American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Founded: The ACLU was established to defend and preserve individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.
February 24 – Nazi Party Established: Adolf Hitler presented the National Socialist Program in Munich, leading to the foundation of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP).
March 1 – Royal Canadian Mounted Police Formed: The Royal Northwest Mounted Police merged with the Dominion Police to create the RCMP, Canada’s federal and national law enforcement agency.
April 4 – British Mandate/Palestine Riots Erupted: Violence broke out between Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, resulting in several deaths and injuries.
April 19 – San Remo Conference Began: Allied Powers met to determine the allocation of mandates for former Ottoman territories in the Middle East.
May 7 – Treaty of Moscow Signed: Soviet Russia recognized the independence of the Democratic Republic of Georgia, though it would invade the country six months later.
May 16 – Joan of Arc Canonized: Pope Benedict XV canonized Joan of Arc as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church.
June 4 – Treaty of Trianon Signed: The treaty formally ended World War I between the Allies and Hungary, resulting in significant territorial losses for Hungary.
June 15 – Duluth Lynchings Occurred: Three African American men were lynched by a mob in Duluth, Minnesota, after being falsely accused of rape.
August 10 – Treaty of Sèvres Signed: The treaty partitioned the Ottoman Empire, leading to significant territorial losses and setting the stage for the Turkish War of Independence.
August 18 – 19th Amendment Ratified: The United States granted women the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
August 26 – First Commercial Radio Broadcast Aired: Detroit’s 8MK (later WWJ) began operations, becoming one of the first commercial radio stations in the U.S.
September 16 – Wall Street Bombing Occurred: A bomb exploded in New York City’s financial district, killing 38 people and injuring hundreds.
September 17 – National Football League (NFL) Founded: The American Professional Football Association, later renamed the NFL, was established in Canton, Ohio.
November 2 – First Commercial Radio Station KDKA Began Broadcasting: KDKA in Pittsburgh aired the first commercial broadcast, announcing the results of the U.S. presidential election.
November 2 – Warren G. Harding Elected U.S. President: Republican candidate Warren G. Harding won the presidential election, defeating Democrat James M. Cox.
November 11 – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Dedicated in Paris and London: Both France and the United Kingdom held ceremonies honoring unidentified soldiers who died in World War I.
November 15 – League of Nations Held First Assembly: The League’s inaugural assembly convened in Geneva, Switzerland, aiming to promote international cooperation and peace.
December 16 – Earthquake Devastated Gansu, China: A magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck Gansu province, resulting in an estimated 200,000 deaths.
December 23 – Government of Ireland Act Passed: The British Parliament enacted the act, partitioning Ireland into Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, each with its own parliament.
Spanish Flu Pandemic Ended: The influenza pandemic that began in 1918 concluded, having caused an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide.
Harlem Renaissance Flourished: The cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, reached its peak, celebrating African American cultural expressions.
Women’s Suffrage Expanded Globally: Following the U.S. ratification of the 19th Amendment, several other countries, including Canada and Czechoslovakia, expanded voting rights for women, marking progress in global suffrage movements.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1920
Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Margaret, Ruth, Mildred, Virginia, Elizabeth, Frances, Anna John, William, Robert, James, Charles, George, Joseph, Edward, Frank, Richard
United States 1920 Stats
US Life Expectancy: (1920) Males: 53.6 years, Females: 54.6 years Federal spending: $6.36 billion Consumer Price Index: $20 Unemployment: 5.2% Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.02
The Stars
Douglas Fairbanks, Theda Bara, Pola Negri, Mary Pickford, Olive Thomas
Firsts, Inventions, and Wonders
Magnus Hirschfeld coined the term transsexualism.
The Holland Tunnel was started, allowing motor vehicle traffic between New Jersey and New York City.
Raggedy Andy was introduced. His sister, Raggedy Ann, was created in 1915 (US Patent #D47789).
On August 20, 1920, The first US commercial radio station, 8MK (WWJ), Detroit began daily broadcasting.
On September 29, The first domestic radio sets came to stores in the United States; a Westinghouse radio costs $10.
The American Professional Football Association was formed in 1920 with Jim Thorpe as its president and fourteen teams. It later changed its name to the National Football League in 1922.
Jesse Langsdorf patented the all-weather and wrinkle-free necktie.
Carrie Chapman Catt founded the League of Women Voters during the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) convention in Chicago, Illinois.
“googol” and “googolplex” were coined by the 9-year-old nephew of mathematician Edward Kasner in 1920. He defined a googol as 10^100 and a googolplex as “one, followed by writing zeroes until you get tired.” Kasner decided to standardize it and set a googolplex equal to 10^googol instead.
The Ford Motor Company produced so much factory wood waste that they manufactured it into charcoal and sold it under the name Ford Charcoal. The company was later renamed Kingsford Charcoal.
Snap-on Tools, with interchangeable sockets, began being sold in Chicago.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Force was established.
On May 2, the first game of Negro National League baseball was played, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Nikolai Tesla patented a one-way valve with no moving parts (#1,329,559).
On January 16, 1920, the League of Nations held its first Executive Council meeting of the significant member powers.
Pop Culture Facts & History
May 1, 1920: The longest MLB game (by innings) Brooklyn Robins 1, Boston Braves 1 at 26 innings. The game was called due to darkness.
Hollywood’s first ‘super couple’ was Douglas Fairbanks and Mary ‘America’s Sweetheart’ Pickford, who married in 1920 and divorced in 1936. Both were huge stars in the silent film industry but were also significant players behind the scenes. In 1919, along with Charlie Chaplin and D.W. Griffith, founded United Artists, one of the first movie distribution companies. They appeared in one film together – 1929’s Taming of the Shrew. The couple was also the first to officially handprint by Grauman’s Chinese Theater (1927), the first on Hollywood’s ‘Walk of Fame.’
George Polley (The’ Human Fly’) was arrested on the 30th Floor while trying to climb up the outside of the Woolworth Building in New York.
Shipping children through parcel post service was initially legal in the United States. The US Post Office banned the practice in 1920.
The New York Times ridiculed American rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard, stating rockets could never fly. They rescinded the comment after the launch of Apollo 11 in 1969.
The first US postage stamps printed without the words “United States” or US.
Johnson & Johnson employee Earle Dickson used tape and cotton gauze to make a bandage for his wife. He told his bosses about it, they made him a VP, and they named it the ‘Band-Aid.’ It worked out well for all concerned.
By early 1920, every state west of the Mississippi River allowed women to vote. On August 18, 1920, the Tennessee House of Representatives voted to ratify the 19th Amendment by a vote of 50-49.
During the campaign of 1920, President Warren G. Harding was accused of making up a word: normalcy. When asked if he instead meant “normality,” Harding responded, “I have looked for ‘normality’ in my dictionary, and I do not find it there. ‘Normalcy’, however, I did find, and it is a good word.” #normalcy was used in the 1850s, however.
Tuition at Stanford University was free up until 1920.
American socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs ran his campaign from the inside of a jail cell with the slogan “Vote for President Convict #9653,” and he garnered almost a million write-in votes in 1920
Drano became available to start unclogging household drains and toilets.
When the spitball was banned from baseball in 1920, 17 pitchers were grandfathered in, and the last legal spitball was thrown in 1933.
February 14th – The League of Women Voters was founded in Chicago. Also that year, the Republican convention in Chicago endorsed women’s suffrage.
The word ‘robot’ was introduced to the public by Czech writer Karel Capek in his play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots); he credited his brother, Josef Capek, with the word later.
The first early models of the TV were invented.
A pro wrestling match between Joe Stecher and Earl Caddock was filmed for later viewing by cinema audiences. The film of Stecher’s win over Caddock is the oldest existing professional wrestling movie.
A Secret Court, headed by University President Abbott Lawrence Lowell and the acting Dean, was convened at Harvard University to rid the school of homosexuals, resulting in nine expulsions
Eddie Eagan is the only athlete to have won gold for different events at the Summer and Winter Olympics, winning his first while boxing in 1920, and his second while on the 4-man bobsled in 1932.
America’s oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade, 6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade (AKA 6abc IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade, 6abc Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Channel 6 Mellon PSFS Thanksgiving Day Parade, Channel 6 MasterCard Thanksgiving Day Parade) and initially the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade was first held.
The Number One Hits of 1920
December 5, 1919 – January 16, 1920 Henry Burr – Oh! What A Pal Was Mary
January 17, 1920 – January 30, 1920 Al Jolson – I’ve Got My Captain Working For Me Now
January 31 – April 30, 1920 Ben Selvin’s Novelty Orchestra – Dardanella
May 1, 1920 – May 7, 1920 Edith Day – Alice Blue Gown
HIV probably originated in Léopoldville, modern-day Kinshasa, the capital of the Belgian Congo.
During prohibition, an exemption was made for whiskey prescribed by a doctor and sold through a pharmacy. The Walgreens pharmacy chain grew from 20 retail stores to almost 400 during this period, from 1920 to 1933.
The Tragedies
French passenger ship Afrique sank near La Rochelle, killing 533 people.
On December 16, 1920, an 8.5 earthquake rocked the Gansu province in China, killing an estimated 200,000 people.
November 21, 1920, Bloody Sunday: The Irish Republican Army, on the instructions of Michael Collins, kill fourteen British undercover agents in Dublin, most in their homes
The Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1920 included at least 37 tornadoes across the Midwest and Deep South states on March 28, 1920. The tornadoes left more than 380 people dead and at least 1,215 injured.
Tragedy/Mystery
On September 16, 1920, a horse-drawn wagon filled with explosives was blown up on Wall Street in NYC, killing 38 people and injuring hundreds. The perpetrators were never caught.
RIP
Jimmy, a canary, had a funeral procession led by a 15-piece band, a white hearse to carry the body, and two coaches for 2 miles that 10,000 people along the funeral route viewed.
Prank
Thomas Edison pranked The American Magazine (and its readers) by claiming that he had invented a phone that could contact the spirit world.
Nobel Prize Winners
Physics – Charles Édouard Guillaume Chemistry – Walther Nernst Medicine – Schack August Steenberg Krogh Literature – Knut Hamsun Peace – Léon Victor Auguste Bourgeois
1st Appearances & 1920’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts
Raggedy Andy, wooden Pogo Sticks, and Lionel Trains became the rage
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1920
A Man for the Ages by Irving Bacheller The Great Impersonation by E. Phillips Oppenheim Kindred of the Dust by Peter B. Kyne The Man of the Forest by Zane Grey Mary-Marie by Eleanor H. Porter Harriet and the Piper by Kathleen Norris The Lamp in the Desert by Ethel M. Dell The Portygee by Joseph C. Lincoln The Re-Creation of Brian Kent by Harold Bell Wright The River’s End by James Oliver Curwood
1920 United States Census
Total US Population: 106,021,537 1. New York, New York – 5,620,048 2. Chicago, Illinois – 2,701,705 3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1,823,779 4. Detroit, Michigan – 993,069 5. Cleveland, Ohio – 796,841 6. St. Louis, Missouri – 772,897 7. Boston, Massachusetts – 748,060 8. Baltimore, Maryland – 733,826 9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – 588,343 10. Los Angeles, California – 576,673
Sports
World Series Champions: Cleveland Indians Stanley Cup Champs: Ottawa Senators (NHL) U.S. Open Golf: Edward (Ted) Ray U.S. Tennis (Men/Ladies): William (Bill) T. Tilden/Molla B. Mallory Wimbledon (Men/Women): Bill Tilden/Suzanne Lenglen NCAA Football Champions: California Kentucky Derby Winner: Paul Jones Boston Marathon Winner: Peter Trivoulides 2:29:31
1. Swanee – Al Jolson Al Jolson was known as “The World’s Greatest Entertainer” – the highest-paid and most well-known actor/singer/comedian of the 1920s and 30s. Swannee was originally sung by Al but was written by George Gershwin. Gershwin would go on to write many other popular songs that would come out of his Broadway successes with his brother Ira, most notably Porgy and Bess and Strike up the Band.
2. When My Baby Smiles At Me – Ted Lewis A bandleader, Ted was probably best known for his catchphrase: “Is EVERYBODY Happy?” Although originally recorded in 1920, the song became the title of a movie musical, in 1948 starring Betty Grable and Dan Dailey. Dailey would win an academy award for his starring role in the film.
3. Whispering – Paul Whiteman Whispering was recorded by Paul Whiteman and his orchestra and was written by John Schonberger and Vincent Rose. The song actually has lyrics but they were not used on the first recording. According to the Literature that was provided by Victor, the recording studio, the song used an instrument that sounded like a “boson’s-pipe-slide-trombone-whistle.”
4. I’ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time – Charles Harrison Like many songs from this era, ‘Apple Blossom Time’ originally came out in 1920 but made a comeback in the 1940s during WW 2. The song, sung by The Andrew Sisters, had meaning for many who were waiting for the return of our troops. Other songs in this category are I’ll Be Seeing You, and I’ll be Home for Christmas.
5. Tell Me, Little Gypsy – Art Hickman Originally sung by Art Hickman, ‘Gypsy’ was written by the immortal Irving Berlin. Berlin’s first hit was Alexander’s Rag Time Band. Mr. Berlin would go on to write music for more than half of the 20th century. Two of his most popular are Blue Skies and White Christmas. His influence is still felt today.
Al Jolson Chloe I’ve Got My Captain Working For Me Now Swanee Tell Me Wonderful Kid From Madrid You Ain’t Heard Nothin Yet
Art Hickman Avalon Hold Me Tell Me Little Gypsy The Love Nest
Ben Selvin Dardanella, My Island of Golden Dreams, Afghanistan
Bert Williams – In World War II, the United States ship SS Bert Williams was named in his honor. The Moon Shines on the Moonshine
Billy Murray I’ll See You In Cuba
Carl Fenton Cuban Moon
Charles Harrision I’ll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time Pretty Kitty Kelly That Old Irish Mother of Mine
Eddie Cantor – nicknamed “Banjo Eyes” because of his big, round eyes. He was also the man who named the “March of Dimes” which initially battled polio. Palesteena You’d Be Surprised
Edith Day -had a cocktail named after her – made with dry gin, grapefruit juice, sugar, and an egg white. Alice Blue Gown Irene
Francisco Alves Fala Meu Louro
Frank Crumit Lonesome Little Raindrop My Little Bimbo Down on Bamboo Isle Oh! By Jingo! (Oh! By Gee, By Goosh, By Gun, By Juu),
John McCormac Barefoot Trail
John Steel The Love Nest, Girl of My Dreams
Mamie Smith – Mamie was the first African-American woman to be a ‘million-seller artist. After ‘Crazy Blues” the recording companies started paying more attention to race records. Crazy Blues It’s Right Here For You You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down
Marion Harris– Marion was the first popular white singer to sing jazz and blues songs. St. Louis Blues Sweet Mama (Papa’s Getting Mad)
Nora Bayes – In 1917, George M. Cohan asked her to be the first to record his patriotic WW I son, Over There. Prohibition Blues, Without You
Paul Whiteman – Paul was (controversially) called The King of Jazz. Duke Ellington believed he deserved the title, so there really shouldn’t be a controversy. Anytime Anyday Anywhere The Japanese Sandman Wang Wang Blues Whispering
Ted Lewis and his Orchestra – Better known as Ted ‘is Everybody Happy?’ Lewis. When My Baby Smiles At Me
The Kentucky Serenaders – The Pennsylvania band was originally called The Serenaders. “My Old Kentucky Home” was their theme song and Kentucky kind of stuck with them. Rose of Washington Square
Waller Williams I Know Where The Flies Go In Summertime
Bing Crosby was an American singer, actor, and radio personality who became one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century. Born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. on May 3, 1903, in Tacoma, Washington, he grew up in a musical family and began singing early on. With his distinctive warm baritone voice, Crosby became one of the most influential and successful crooners of his time.
Bing Crosby’s career spanned over 50 years, from the 1920s to the 1970s.
He was named ” Bing ” by a comic strip character named Bingo.
Crosby began his music career as a member of the Rhythm Boys, a jazz vocal trio.
Bing Crosby’s first solo hit was “Out of Nowhere” in 1931.
He had over 40 number-one hits, including “White Christmas,” which remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Crosby was an early advocate of recording techniques and was one of the first singers to use a microphone to enhance his voice.
Bing Crosby was the first artist to pre-record his radio shows, which allowed for better sound quality and editing.
He acted in numerous films, winning an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1944 film “Going My Way.”
Crosby was known for his philanthropic work, raising millions of dollars for various charities throughout his career.
He performed with many famous musicians, including Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Hope.
Crosby introduced many popular songs that became standards, including “Pennies from Heaven,” “Swinging on a Star,” and “I’ll Be Seeing You.”
He helped popularize Hawaiian music in the 1930s and 1940s by recording several songs with a Hawaiian theme.
Bing Crosby was one of the first artists to embrace television and appeared in many TV specials and series.
Bing was an avid golfer and co-founded the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am Golf Tournament, now known as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Crosby’s radio show, “Kraft Music Hall,” was one of the most popular radio programs of its time.
Bing had a longtime partnership with fellow entertainer Bob Hope, with whom he starred in seven “Road to…” comedy films.
In 1963, Crosby became the first recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
His family life was turbulent, with two of his four sons from his first marriage later dying by suicide.
Bing Crosby passed away on October 14, 1977, after suffering a heart attack following a round of golf in Spain.
His influence on popular music and entertainment can still be felt today, with many artists citing him as a significant inspiration.
Guy Lombardo (born June 19, 1902 – died November 5, 1977) was a Canadian-American bandleader, violinist, and composer who became a popular music icon. His orchestra, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, was known for its “sweet” dance music style and was a fixture of American New Year’s Eve celebrations for decades.
Guy Lombardo was born to Italian-Canadian parents in London, Ontario, Canada.
He was the eldest of five siblings, who eventually joined his orchestra.
Lombardo began his music career as a violinist and formed his first band with his brothers in 1924.
He and his orchestra relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1927 and later to New York City.
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians gained nationwide fame through radio broadcasts and recordings.
The orchestra’s signature sound was characterized by a smooth, sweet, and melodious style that appealed to a wide audience.
Lombardo’s orchestra was known as “The Sweetest Music This Side of Heaven.”
They recorded more than 500 songs, including hits like “Auld Lang Syne,” “Boo Hoo,” and “Seems Like Old Times.”
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians were the resident orchestra at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City for 33 years.
Lombardo became synonymous with New Year’s Eve celebrations, performing live on radio and television broadcasts from 1929 until he died in 1977.
Millions across the United States and Canada watched his annual New Year’s Eve broadcasts.
Lombardo was also an accomplished speedboat racer, winning several championships during his lifetime.
In addition to being a bandleader, Lombardo appeared as a guest conductor for symphony orchestras and worked as a composer and arranger.
Lombardo’s orchestra featured notable vocalists such as Carmen Lombardo (his brother), Kenny Gardner, and Tony Craig.
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians appeared in several films, including “Many Happy Returns” and “Stage Door Canteen.”
Lombardo received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the music industry.
His band’s version of “Auld Lang Syne” remains a traditional choice for New Year’s Eve celebrations in North America.
Lombardo’s orchestra continued to perform after his death, led by his brother Victor and later by other musicians.
Guy Lombardo’s music has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials, often as a nostalgic representation of a bygone era.
His contributions to popular music and enduring legacy as “Mr. New Year’s Eve” have made Guy Lombardo a cherished figure in the history of American entertainment.
Paul Whiteman was a prominent American bandleader, composer, and orchestral director who played a significant role in popularizing jazz music during the 1920s and 1930s. Born on March 28, 1890, in Denver, Colorado, Whiteman grew up in a musical family. His father, Wilberforce J. Whiteman, was a music teacher and music supervisor for the Denver Public Schools.
Whiteman began studying the violin early on and eventually took up the viola. He played in the Denver Symphony Orchestra and later joined the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. In 1918, Whiteman formed his dance band, which soon gained popularity for its unique fusion of classical music and jazz.
Whiteman’s big band became known as the “Paul Whiteman Orchestra” and was one of the most popular dance bands of the 1920s.
He earned the nickname “The King of Jazz” for popularizing jazz music.
Whiteman’s orchestra featured many talented musicians, including Bix Beiderbecke, Frankie Trumbauer, and Joe Venuti.
He is credited with helping to launch the careers of famous singers like Bing Crosby and Mildred Bailey.
Whiteman commissioned George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” a groundbreaking piece that blended jazz and classical music, and premiered it in 1924.
He co-wrote the popular song “Whispering,” which became a hit in 1920.
Whiteman was known for his innovative arrangements and orchestrations, often using symphonic instruments like violins and cellos alongside traditional jazz instruments.
He appeared in several films during the 1920s and 1930s, including “The King of Jazz” (1930) and “Strike Up the Band” (1940).
Whiteman hosted several radio shows throughout his career, including “The Paul Whiteman Hour” and “The Kraft Music Hall.”
His orchestra recorded more than 800 songs during its existence.
Whiteman was an early advocate for racial integration in music, working with African-American musicians like Louis Armstrong and James P. Johnson.
He was known for his large frame and imposing stage presence, standing at 6’2″ and weighing over 300 pounds.
Whiteman was married five times and had four children.
He authored an autobiography, “Music for the Millions,” in 1948.
Whiteman was an avid art collector and amassed an impressive collection of modern art.
His orchestra’s signature theme song was “My Blue Heaven.”
Whiteman’s career slowed down during the 1940s and 1950s, but he continued performing and recording music.
In 1959, Whiteman appeared on the television show “This Is Your Life,” which celebrated his life and accomplishments.
Paul Whiteman died on December 29, 1967, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Whiteman’s impact on American music has been widely recognized, and he was posthumously inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1993.
Al Jolson, born Asa Yoelson on May 26, 1886, in Srednik, Lithuania, was a famous American singer, comedian, and actor. Known as “The World’s Greatest Entertainer,” Jolson’s dynamic stage presence and powerful singing voice made him one of the most popular performers of his time. While Al Jolson was an iconic figure in the entertainment industry, it is essential to remember and acknowledge the racially insensitive aspects of his career, specifically his use of blackface, when discussing his contributions to American music and culture.
Jolson immigrated to the United States with his family as a young child, eventually settling in Washington, D.C.
He began his career in vaudeville and burlesque, performing in blackface as a minstrel show entertainer.
Jolson’s first Broadway appearance came in 1911 in the musical “La Belle Paree.”
He gained fame for his signature song, “Mammy,” which he first performed in the 1921 Broadway musical “Bombo.”
Jolson is best known for starring in the first-ever talking motion picture, “The Jazz Singer” (1927).
“The Jazz Singer” was a groundbreaking film that marked the transition from silent movies to sound films.
Jolson was the first to win the Best Actor award at the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony in 1929 for his role in “The Jazz Singer.”
His other popular songs include “Swanee,” “April Showers,” “Toot, Toot, Tootsie,” and “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody.”
Jolson’s vocal style, characterized by its emotional intensity and conversational delivery, influenced future generations of singers, including Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland.
He was known for his energetic and charismatic stage performances, often running up and down the stage and interacting with the audience.
Jolson was the first performer to entertain American troops overseas during World War II.
He recorded over 200 songs throughout his career.
Jolson was married four times, most notably to actress Ruby Keeler.
His career experienced a resurgence in the late 1940s with the release of the biographical film “The Jolson Story” (1946).
Jolson’s life story was further depicted in the sequel, “Jolson Sings Again” (1949).
Jolson was among the first inductees into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
Despite his success and popularity, Jolson’s legacy has been tainted by his use of blackface, a racist practice widely criticized in modern times.
In 2000, Jolson was posthumously awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the music industry.
His life and career have been the subject of numerous books and documentaries.
Al Jolson passed away on October 23, 1950, at the age of 64
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