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On the date

Thursday, July 29, 1920

From the day

Perspective: The Future Historian · Sight

The sun glares off the harbor, catching the beaded silk of a passing flapper’s drop-waisted gown as she pauses to squint at the morning gazette. I watch the silhouette of the era sharpen; the headlines scream, "WON'T LET PUBLIC SEE THE RESOLUTE; 'We Can't Be Annoyed; Our Crew Is Too Busy,' Says Robert W. Emmons, 2d. SHAMROCK TO BE EXHIBITED Sir Thomas, Told Thousands Would Like to See His Yacht, Orders Her to 96th St. Today." It is the bee's knees to see such elitism codified in ink while the common man waits for a glimpse of a hull. This rigid friction between the busy aristocracy and the curious masses is the very fuel that will eventually ignite the engine of the modern century.

Memories from that day

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The Headlines

WON'T LET PUBLIC SEE THE RESOLUTE; "We Can't Be Annoyed; Our Crew Is Too Busy," Says Robert W. Emmons, 2d. SHAMROCK TO BE EXHIBITED Sir Thomas, Told Thousands Would Like to See His Yacht, Orders Her to 96th St. Today.

Read in The New York Times →

Best-selling Sheet Music

Whispering

John Schonberger

The must-have

Raggedy Andy

On This Day

  • Construction of the Link River Dam begins as part of the Klamath Reclamation Project.

    Wikipedia →

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

38,662 days ago

(105 years, 337 days)