Fads of the 1920’s

• Peter Pan Peanut butterPeter Pan Peanut Butter was introduced in the 20's

and the peanut butter and jelly sandwich was a popular food item.

• Smoking CigarettesSmoking became very common and an everyday

occurrence in the 1920's. Even woman were smoking. They would smoke them with a very long

cigarette holder.

• Flagpole SittingStarted by Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly who was a professional stuntman. He did it on a dare in 1924, and it soon caught on nationwide. It

became a spectator sport, and he eventually set the World Record at 49 days with a crowd of 20,000 people watching. When the stock

market crashed in 1929 and the Great Depression started, it brought an end to this

fad.

FlappersThey smoked, drank, danced, and voted.

Flappers broke away conservative image of womanhood that prevailed at the time. They wore short hair, wore less clothing so they

could move freely, used make-up, and created the concept of dating. They were giddy, unconventional, and took risks. In

1929, the stock market crashed, the great depression started, and the frivolity and recklessness of flappers came to an end.

• MahjonggChina conquered the United States as

millions of Americans took to the mahjongg tables to Pong and Chow their way to, well, a

really big fad.

Mandatory HatsWearing a hat was a must for all well dressed

men.

• Pea ShootersKids loved them and adults became very irritated

over this fad. The shooters were about the size of a writing pen and used as a blowgun with dried

peas.

• Radio ShowsFamilies used to gather around the radio to listen to such shows as Abbott & Costello,

Amos & Andy, and Death Valley Days. We call it Old Time Radio now but back then it was new. The fad faded after the television was

invented.

• StickballA game similar to baseball, but played by kids in

the streets. Was popular in big cities.

• Stoop BallAn inner city game played by throwing a ball up

the stoop or staircase from the outside pavement. This game was very popular before WWII.

Swing DancingA popular type of dance that almost everyone was

doing.