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On the date

Thursday, September 16, 1920

From the day

Perspective: The Future Historian · Sound

The rhythmic static of the new commercial radio bands competes with the shrill whistle of a newsboy shouting Miller’s lead over Thompson. A young woman in a beaded silk dress hurries past, her T-strap heels clicking a frantic tempo against the pavement while she hums the airy melody of "Whispering." She pauses by a shop window, eyeing a stiff Raggedy Andy doll with a look that suggests all this political talk is absolute baloney compared to the price of cotton. The air is thick with the metallic scent of idling engines and the distant, muffled roar of a city pivoting toward a century of noise.

Memories from that day

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The Headlines

MILLER'S PLURALITY NOW PUT AT 138,000; With 752 Districts Missing, He Leads Thompson by 119,194 --Walker 58,377 Ahead. WADSWORTH VOTES HEAVY He Leads Mrs. Boole by 168,338 and Has an Estimated Clear Majority of 140,925.

Read in The New York Times →

Best-selling Sheet Music

Whispering

John Schonberger

The must-have

Raggedy Andy

On This Day

  • The Wall Street bombing: A bomb in a horse wagon explodes in front of the J. P. Morgan building in New York City killing 38 and injuring 400.

    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

38,613 days ago

(105 years, 288 days)