The 1920s were an exciting time in history! Known as the Roaring Twenties, this decade brought many changes in music, fashion, and culture. It was a period of great fun, creativity, and sometimes a little chaos. People loved to dance to jazz music and wear flapper dresses, while others enjoyed the thrills of new technology, like cars and radios. This was a time when life seemed to be moving fast, and everyone wanted to join in on the fun.
Today, we’ll take a look at some interesting trivia from the 1920s that highlights just how unique this decade really was. You might learn about famous figures like Al Capone and Louis Armstrong. You’ll also discover what life was like for women who fought for the right to vote. This trivia will give you a glimpse into the past, showing you how different, yet similar, life was back then. So, let’s sit back and enjoy some fun facts about this incredible decade!
1920 Trivia
The Jazz Age: Music in the 1920s
1. Who was known as the “King of Jazz” during the 1920s? (Answer: Paul Whiteman)
2. Which famous musician made jazz popular with his unique trumpet playing? (Answer: Louis Armstrong)
3. What dance craze became famous in the 1920s along with jazz music? (Answer: The Charleston)
4. What song did the famous duo of George and Ira Gershwin compose in 1924? (Answer: Rhapsody in Blue)
5. What venue in New York was known as the birthplace of modern jazz? (Answer: The Cotton Club)
6. Who was the famous jazz singer who often performed at the Cotton Club? (Answer: Ella Fitzgerald)
7. In which city did the first jazz recording occur in 1917? (Answer: New Orleans)
8. What musical genre did jazz evolve from? (Answer: Blues)
9. Which instrument became iconic in jazz music during the 1920s? (Answer: Saxophone)
10. Which female singer was nicknamed “Lady Day”? (Answer: Billie Holiday)
Fashion Forward: 1920s Style Statements
1. What clothing item characterized the flapper style for women? (Answer: The bobbed haircut)
2. What type of dress did flappers typically wear? (Answer: Drop-waist dresses)
3. Which accessory became popular among women for the first time in the 1920s? (Answer: Cigarette holders)
4. What bold color palette was popular during the 1920s for fashion? (Answer: Bright colors)
5. What men’s fashion item became trendy, often matched with a bow tie? (Answer: A tuxedo)
6. Which famous designer is credited with popularizing the “Little Black Dress”? (Answer: Coco Chanel)
7. Men often wore what type of hats that became iconic in the 1920s? (Answer: Fedora hats)
8. What type of shoe was a must-have for both men and women during the decade? (Answer: Oxford shoes)
9. What hairstyle was popularized among men in the 1920s? (Answer: The slicked-back look)
10. What type of fabric was commonly used in 1920s fashion, valued for its sheen? (Answer: Silk)
Entertainment Extravaganza: Movies of the 1920s
1. What was the first-ever feature-length animated film released in 1928? (Answer: Steamboat Willie)
2. Which silent film star was known as “The Little Tramp”? (Answer: Charlie Chaplin)
3. What major technological advancement in film began in 1927? (Answer: Sound in movies)
4. Which film won the first Academy Award for Best Picture in 1929? (Answer: Wings)
5. Who directed the 1925 silent film “The Phantom of the Opera”? (Answer: Rupert Julian)
6. What was the name of the famous film actress known for her glamorous image in the 1920s? (Answer: Greta Garbo)
7. What genre of films became very popular during the 1920s due to advancements in filmmaking? (Answer: Musical films)
8. What name was given to the first “talkie”? (Answer: The Jazz Singer)
9. What type of films featured big stars and lavish sets in the 1920s? (Answer: Hollywood blockbusters)
10. Who starred opposite Greta Garbo in the iconic 1926 film “Flesh and the Devil”? (Answer: John Gilbert)
Women’s Rights: The Fight for Suffrage
1. In what year did American women gain the right to vote? (Answer: 1920)
2. What amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted women suffrage? (Answer: The 19th Amendment)
3. What organization worked tirelessly for women’s voting rights in the 1920s? (Answer: National American Woman Suffrage Association)
4. Who was the leader of the National Women’s Party during the suffrage movement? (Answer: Alice Paul)
5. Which U.S. president signed the 19th Amendment into law? (Answer: Woodrow Wilson)
6. In 1923, what document was introduced to eliminate gender discrimination? (Answer: The Equal Rights Amendment)
7. Which famous suffragette speaker gave speeches advocating for women’s rights? (Answer: Susan B. Anthony)
8. What was the slogan of the Women’s Social and Political Union in the U.K.? (Answer: “Deeds, not words”)
9. Which famous women’s rights activist is known for her 1848 speech at the Seneca Falls Convention? (Answer: Elizabeth Cady Stanton)
10. What year did women in Britain achieve the right to vote? (Answer: 1928)
Prohibition: The Dry Decade
1. What act prohibited the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol in the United States? (Answer: The Volstead Act)
2. In what year did Prohibition officially begin? (Answer: 1920)
3. What secret bars did people visit during Prohibition to drink alcohol? (Answer: Speakeasies)
4. Who was a famous gangster known for bootlegging during Prohibition? (Answer: Al Capone)
5. What term refers to the illegal trade of alcoholic beverages during Prohibition? (Answer: Bootlegging)
6. What was the primary reason for the establishment of Prohibition? (Answer: To reduce crime and corruption)
7. What did the prohibition amendment aim to improve in society? (Answer: Morality)
8. What year did Prohibition end in the United States? (Answer: 1933)
9. What organization led the campaign for Prohibition, claiming alcohol was harmful? (Answer: The Anti-Saloon League)
10. What did many people turn to for relief during Prohibition, leading to an increase in crime? (Answer: Organized crime)
Technological Triumphs: Innovations of the 1920s
1. What device, invented in the 1920s, revolutionized personal communication? (Answer: The radio)
2. What major car company introduced the assembly line for their vehicles? (Answer: Ford)
3. In 1927, which aviator became the first to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean? (Answer: Charles Lindbergh)
4. What household invention became popular in the 1920s, making cooking easier? (Answer: The electric refrigerator)
5. What new technology emerged that allowed people to watch moving images? (Answer: Motion pictures)
6. What was the purpose of the new invention known as a vacuum cleaner? (Answer: To clean carpets and floors)
7. What innovation in transportation changed how people traveled across the country? (Answer: The automobile)
8. Which transportation development significantly impacted the shipping industry during this time? (Answer: The cargo ship)
9. What new form of music broadcasting changed the way people listened to music? (Answer: Radio broadcasting)
10. What new product emerged in the 1920s that helped people with hygiene? (Answer: Toothpaste in a tube)
Final Thoughts
The 1920s was a transformative decade filled with music, fashion, and significant social changes. The rise of jazz music and iconic style movements gave this era a vibrant character. Women fought for their right to vote, culminating in the 19th Amendment, proving that social progress was on the horizon. Despite the challenges of Prohibition, innovation flourished with the advent of technologies like radio and the automobile. This trivia journey through the Roaring Twenties highlights how far society has come while reflecting the spirit of creativity and change.
For more exciting trivia, discover what happened in the 1970s or learn interesting facts about 1944. Dive into more topics to satisfy your curiosity!