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On the date

Wednesday, June 23, 1920

From the day

Perspective: The Anxious Local · Sound

The distant crackle of KDKA through the window is drowned out by the shrill cries of newsies shouting about Red strikes and looming election chaos, making me clutch my purse tight. Even with bread hitting eleven cents and the world feeling like a powder keg, my neighbor’s girl is skipping by as if everything is hotsy-totsy, dragging her new Raggedy Andy through the summer dust. The rhythmic *clack-clack* of T-strap heels on the pavement mixes with the soft, haunting melody of "Whispering" drifting from a nearby phonograph. I just wish the frantic whispers of a general strike would fade as easily as the jazz.

Memories from that day

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Best-selling Sheet Music

Whispering

John Schonberger

The must-have

Raggedy Andy

Slang

Slang of the decade

General

applesaucebaloneycheaterscrush

Flapper

bee's kneescat's pajamasgiggle watershebahotsy-totsy

Gangster

big cheesebump offstool pigeongatfall guy

Catchphrases of 1920

  • Return to normalcy

Tech Check

Commercial Radio Stations (KDKA), Hair Dryer & Band-Aid.

Style of 1920

Silhouette: Straight and drop-waisted (Flapper)

Material: Beaded silk and rayon

  • Bobbed hair
  • Cloche hats
  • T-strap heels

Cost of Living (1920)

Loaf of Bread

$0.11

Gallon of Gas

$0.30

Average Home

$6,296

New Car

$575

Meanwhile

  • Post-WWI RecessionSevere deflation and collapse of agricultural prices.

Time Elapsed

38,698 days ago

(106 years, 8 days)