Entertainment

John Parvin McBride

D Block

10-16-13

Entertainment

Between the years of the late 1800’s early 1900’s the entertainment business was becoming popular. Jazz and movies were starting to emerge. People like the idea of entertainment to escape from their daily lives. Now that leisure was a common thing amongst all social classes people had more time to create and participate in entertainment. 

One of the most popular forms of entertainment was jazz. People would host dance parties and dance to this new found music. Louis “Satchemo” Armstrong became a very well known jazz musician. He was an African American trumpet player that people were becoming fond of. People enjoyed his charismatic stage present and that he was a skilled scat singer. 

Dancing was another form of entertainment that people enjoyed partaking in. People of middle class started having big society dinners and balls that would end in dancing. The Fox Trot become a popular dance. It started appearing all over the world in places like New York Theatre. People enjoyed listening to the piano and jazz music while dancing. Some people would listen and play the piano for hours.

During this time period people also started to listen to the radio much more often. The radio became popular during the 1920’s because people were able to have radios in the comfort of their own homes. The radio would have unscheduled musical performances, speeches, phonograph concerts, and sports scores. This provided an a source of entertainment that did not take a lot of effort to get and could be easily accessed.

Movies started to appear more often during this time period. This was a way for people to escape their own lives and learn about others. Movies were created to relate with what was happening at the point in the world.  People started to fall in love with specific actors and actresses. One particular actress that was popular was Gloria Swanson. Her first appearance was in 1914 when she signed with Paramount Pictures. She was always known for her beads, jewels, and peacock and ostrich feathers. Another incredibly famous actor from this time was Charlie Chaplin. Charlie Chaplin started appearing in films in 1910. He started at a young age and instantly become a well-known actor. People loved to see his comedic and over dramatic roles that they could still relate to.

Entertainment was important to people during this time period. It gave them a way to escape their daily lives, relax, and enjoy things. The thoughts of celebrities started to appear during this time with the likes of Gloria Swanson and Charlie Chaplin. People could enjoy entertainment in there own homes or use it as a social outing now that leisure started to become part of the norm. 

http://www.darkbeautymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Edward-Steichen-Gloria-Swanson.jpg

 http://www.charliechaplin.com/en/biography/articles/21-Overview-of-His-Life

Works Cited 

“Charlie Chaplin.” Wikipedia. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Wikipedia. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin>.

“Charlie Chaplin: Biography.” Charlie Chaplin. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.charliechaplin.com>.

“Gloria Swanson.” Wikipedia. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Wikipedia. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria_Swanson>.

“How did popular entertainment devolp during this period.” BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/tch_wjec/usa19101929/3culturesocietychanges3.shtml>.

“Louis Armstrong.” PBS. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/louis-armstrong/about-louis-armstrong/528/>.

“Popular Entertainment.” History Tody. `, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.historytoday.com/dick-geary/popular-entertainment-class-and-politics-munich>.