Swanley History Group – May 2017 meeting
When introducing Delia Taylor, the speaker at the May meeting of Swanley History Group, Terry had to be extra careful with all those F’s … ‘Flappers, Fashion, Film and Fun during The Roaring Twenties’. We all enjoyed the entertaining mix of stills and animated film which illustrated the story of this decade in both the UK and USA.
The frenetic flouting of former expected behaviour by the frivolous, flash, flamboyant ‘Bright Young Things’ of that era continue to fascinate us. Following the loss of lives during WW1 and the up-turn of economic growth the young, especially those with money and status, sought to ‘live for the moment’. Leading lights in the UK were Stephen Tennant, Noel Coward and The Mitford Sisters.
Women particularly were ready to escape from the confines of their traditional roles. They wanted to breathe more easily and party like there was no tomorrow. Out went corsets, bloomers, cumbersome tailored dresses and long tresses which meant endless styling. In came camisoles, French knickers, shift dresses, bobbed hair and products by still-famous brands such as Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden and Brylcreem.
Constantly in pursuit of fun and frolics they embraced travel by sea, rail, road, air and motor car. Fabulous inventions of this age of indulgence include the hairdryer, frozen food, the dial telephone and Band-Aid plaster.
The less well-off could see what they were missing through the famous films of the age such as The Great Gatsby, The Jazz Singer and Metropolis. Errol Flynn, Rudolf Valentino and Greta Garbo and the ‘It Girl’ Clara Bow extolled mystery and glamour. Out of New Orleans came the jazz music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Jessie Smith – just the thing for unconstrained dances like The Black Bottom and The Charleston. The authorities were so concerned about the amount of alcohol consumed that it was banned – known as Prohibition- opening up opportunities for gangsters such as Al Capone and Bugsy Segal to invest in speakeasy clubs.
In 1926 the UK witnessed The General Strike. The Wall Street Crash and The Great Depression followed in the USA. The decade ended with a whimper - not a roar.
Our next meeting is on 6 June when Ian Bevan will be presenting ‘ The History of Crystal Palace’ - 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser
When introducing Delia Taylor, the speaker at the May meeting of Swanley History Group, Terry had to be extra careful with all those F’s … ‘Flappers, Fashion, Film and Fun during The Roaring Twenties’. We all enjoyed the entertaining mix of stills and animated film which illustrated the story of this decade in both the UK and USA.
The frenetic flouting of former expected behaviour by the frivolous, flash, flamboyant ‘Bright Young Things’ of that era continue to fascinate us. Following the loss of lives during WW1 and the up-turn of economic growth the young, especially those with money and status, sought to ‘live for the moment’. Leading lights in the UK were Stephen Tennant, Noel Coward and The Mitford Sisters.
Women particularly were ready to escape from the confines of their traditional roles. They wanted to breathe more easily and party like there was no tomorrow. Out went corsets, bloomers, cumbersome tailored dresses and long tresses which meant endless styling. In came camisoles, French knickers, shift dresses, bobbed hair and products by still-famous brands such as Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden and Brylcreem.
Constantly in pursuit of fun and frolics they embraced travel by sea, rail, road, air and motor car. Fabulous inventions of this age of indulgence include the hairdryer, frozen food, the dial telephone and Band-Aid plaster.
The less well-off could see what they were missing through the famous films of the age such as The Great Gatsby, The Jazz Singer and Metropolis. Errol Flynn, Rudolf Valentino and Greta Garbo and the ‘It Girl’ Clara Bow extolled mystery and glamour. Out of New Orleans came the jazz music of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Jessie Smith – just the thing for unconstrained dances like The Black Bottom and The Charleston. The authorities were so concerned about the amount of alcohol consumed that it was banned – known as Prohibition- opening up opportunities for gangsters such as Al Capone and Bugsy Segal to invest in speakeasy clubs.
In 1926 the UK witnessed The General Strike. The Wall Street Crash and The Great Depression followed in the USA. The decade ended with a whimper - not a roar.
Our next meeting is on 6 June when Ian Bevan will be presenting ‘ The History of Crystal Palace’ - 7.15 for 7.30 pm start, at White Oak Indoor Bowls Centre, Garrolds Close, off Hilda May Avenue, Swanley, BR8 7BF. For further information – www.swanleyhistorygroup.weebly.com, telephone Terry on 07884493894 Or Email [email protected]
Christina Tyler, Programme Organiser