Often known as the 'Roaring Twenties' in America, in Britain, the economy was in decline. World War I caused high unemployment, especially for young men. Many had been injured or were suffering from shell shock. Unemployment remained over 10% until World War II. However, the 1920's was also a time full of change and invention, therefore making it a decade of contrasts. So, what was life like in 1920's Britain?
Leisure and Travel
Rambling and cycling became popular pastimes and with motoring more affordable the leisure industry boomed. The first commercial flights began in 1919. Then, in 1924, Imperial Airways, with the British government's help, offered flights to the major European cities. As Britain's roads filled up with cars and commercial vehicles, Petrol Stations appeared. Privately run railways restructured to form four companies, LNER, LMS, GWR and Southern, because they needed to recover lost business in the fields of holiday travel and freight. The only way to cross oceans however, was by ship and the great liners took five days to travel from Southampton to New York. The Mauretania, and sister ship to the doomed Titanic, The Olympic, offered luxury crossings.
Fashion
Fashions for women changed radically. Hemlines rose to reveal more and more leg, close fitting cloche hats became popular and the emancipated women cut their hair short and smoked cigarettes in public. Fashions for men and women became simpler leading to clothes becoming more affordable. Cosmetics also became more affordable and more widely used. Thanks to advertising campaigns, it wasn't unusual for those going to parties or dances to wear mascara, rouge and lipstick, consequently, Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein became the leading brands.
At Home
The modern 'housewife' dreamed of owning new appliances. Labour saving devices like the electric kettle, toaster, refrigerator, cooker, iron and suction cleaner were all readily available. Popular brands included Coca -Cola, Black Cat Cigarettes and Cadbury's were thriving. The choice of sweets grew substantially. Cadbury's launched the chocolate Flake and Fruit and Nut bars, and Fry's, the Crunchie, in 1929, however, chocolate was still a luxury. Toffee was still very much in demand and was produced by hundreds of small companies across the country.
Entertainment
Many people visited the cinema on a weekly basis. As a result, screen stars became known and loved by millions. These included Buster Keaton, Charles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, Greta Garbo and Mary Pickford, to name but a few. The radio began to provide daily entertainment. On 14th November, 1922, the British Broadcasting Company started transmitting news and concerts from 6pm to 10pm. Causing great excitement, within a year there were 50,000 licensed receivers. The annual cost then, ten shillings! Many toys and games reflected everyday life. Popular with the boys, train sets, clockwork cars and Meccanno sets and for the girls, dolls, which were becoming more and more lifelike.
Here at Sweet and Nostalgic we have a great range of 1920's Gift Ideas. Come and have a look at what life was like in was like in in 1920's Britain, our products give you a warm nostalgic flavour for this influential decade