19 Facts About 1923 That Show How American Life Has Changed In ...

10 Feb 2023
1923

Plenty changed, and plenty didn't.

Flapper girls, big parties, and art deco.
1. Though it was invented in 1908, the Model T was still one of the most popular cars in 1923. Today's modern cars are becoming electric and self-driving.
2. The film industry boomed, and both Warner Bros. and Disney were founded. This was just the start of the entertainment industry as we know it today.
3. Radio was just starting to become king in 1923. Radio may be far less popular in 2023, but podcasts have taken its place.
4. Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933. Today, "speakeasies" simply refer to mildly hard-to-find bars with leather couches rather than spots for illegal alcohol.
5. The '20s in general saw the rise of rampant consumerism and advertising, which has only gotten more pervasive as the years have gone on.
6. Clarence Birdseye invented frozen food in 1923, forever changing the way Americans eat.
7. The first issue of TIME Magazine was printed. Today, printed media is not nearly what it once was.
8. Juan de la Cierva flew the first practical "helicopter" in 1923. In 2023, you can buy a toy drone for $20.
9. Adolf Hitler led the Nazi Party in a failed coup in Munich. This took him one step closer to triggering World War II.
10. At the time of writing, the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 is "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus. In 1923, the biggest hit was "Yes! We Have No Bananas." View this video on YouTube Skidmore Music / youtube.com

"Yes! We Have No Bananas" was as big a hit as you can get in 1923. Made popular by singers like Billy Jones (who sings the rendition in the video above), Billy Murray, and Arthur Hall, its title is a reference to food shortages in Belfast.

There was even a cartoon "music video" made for the song in 1930, created by legendary animator Max Fleischer. 

11. The first home game was played at the original Yankee Stadium, which was replaced by the current stadium in 2009.
12. Edwin Hubble proved that there were other galaxies outside of our own in 1923. Today, we have a far greater understanding of the universe.
13. In 1923, more Americans lived in cities than villages or farms for the first time in the country's history (51%). Today, that number is 83%.
15. Howard Carter opened the tomb of King Tut. Today, people aren't as excited about British excavations.
16. The life expectancy for American women in 1923 was 58.5 years and 56.1 years for men. In 2023, it is 80.2 for women and 74.5 for men.
17. Both the ideas of "going to college" and collegiate sports became more popular in the 1920s. Fast forward to today, when many universities and college athletic programs operate essentially as corporations.
18. In 1923, we had some wild ideas of what life would be like in 2023.
19. In some ways, not much has changed in the last 100 years.
What else has changed (or stayed the same) in the last 100 years? Let me know in the comments!
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