Cinema in 1920s America

What was cinema like in the 1920s?

Americans in the 1920s didn't have television, but more and more of them enjoyed going to the cinema to watch films.

How did cinema develop in 1920s America?

There were 7 key developments in cinema in 1920s America:

• ❖ From 1922 some films were produced in Technicolor.
• ❖ Before 1927 films were silent, but then the first 'talkie' appeared. It was 'The Jazz Singer' starring Al Jolson.
• ❖ The first animated film, Disney's 'Steamboat Willie', appeared in 1928 and was followed by more cartoons.
• ❖ Hollywood in California, where the film industry was based, became a byword for glamour. People idolised film actors such as Rudolph Valentino and bought movie magazines to find out more about the stars.
• ❖ The film industry made about $2 billion a year from ticket sales.
• ❖ Films were often used to portray the 'ideal' lifestyle, and to advertise consumer goods and products.
• ❖ In 1930, the Hays Code introduced strict rules about the sort of morals that could be shown in films, as people were worried that films were corrupting society.