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On the date

Sunday, November 21, 1920

From the day

Perspective: The Anxious Local · Tactile

The static on my new KDKA receiver is enough to turn my hair gray, or at least ruin this expensive bobbed cut I just had set with that terrifying, heavy electric hair dryer. My fingers ache from fumbling with these new adhesive Band-Aids—eleven cents for a loaf of bread is highway robbery, and now some fellow named Ryan wants nearly a hundred thousand for a seat on the Exchange? I smoothed the rough, red yarn hair of the Raggedy Andy doll I bought for the little one, though the stiff cotton fabric feels cheap compared to the beaded silk of my favorite gown. This whole world is moving too fast for my nerves, and while the neighbor thinks the new T-strap heels are the bee’s knees, I’m just worried we won't have enough scratch for the winter coal.

Memories from that day

No memories yet. Add yours if you remember this day.

Best-selling Sheet Music

Whispering

John Schonberger

The must-have

Raggedy Andy

On This Day

  • Irish War of Independence: On "Bloody Sunday" in Dublin, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) assassinated a group of British Intelligence agents, and British forces killed 14 civilians at a Gaelic football match at Croke Park.

    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

38,547 days ago

(105 years, 222 days)