Sports and Entertainment Icons of the 1920s

Sports and Entertainment Icons

• Babe Ruth: Immigrant baseball player symbolizing 1920s celebrity culture; marked a trend in idolization.
• Jack Dempsey: Boxer known for the first 'million dollar gate'; controversy over alleged cheating and avoided WWI service highlighted commercialization of sports.
• Gertrude Ederle: First woman to swim the English Channel; epitomized the 1920s flapper style and women's empowerment.
• Bobby Jones: Amateur golfer who gained fame by defeating professional golfers, showcasing the rise of sports commercialization.
• Knute Rockne: Pioneering football coach who popularized the forward pass; his death in a plane crash led to enhanced airplane safety regulations.

Innovators and Leaders

• Clarence Birdseye: Invented the flash freezer, leading to frozen meals and reducing the need for home cooking.
• Henry Ford: Introduced the Model T, revolutionizing transportation and contributing to middle-class growth while reducing skilled labor demand.
• Charles Lindbergh: First transatlantic flight marked the dawn of globalism; also invented the artificial heart.

Pioneers in Women’s Aviation

• Amelia Earhart: First woman to fly across the Atlantic, symbolizing changing societal roles for women.

Political Figures and Events

• A. Mitchell Palmer: Led raids against radicals; reflected the era's trend towards limited civil liberties.
• Warren Harding: 29th US President during the Teapot Dome Scandal, increasing public distrust in government.
• Albert Fall: Harding's Secretary of the Interior, first cabinet member jailed for misconduct due to the Teapot Dome Scandal.
• Calvin Coolidge: 30th US President who reverted to pro-business policies, resulting in the resurgence of the KKK and reversal of progressive reforms.
• John T. Scopes: Central figure in the science vs. fundamentalism debate; ACLU's legal challenge marked a move towards secularism.

Notable Criminal Figures

• Al Capone: Notorious gangster during Prohibition; amassed wealth from illegal activities, affecting societal law compliance.

Cultural and Artistic Icons

• Charlie Chaplin: Renowned silent film star and political activist; faced scrutiny for his political views, representing the cultural clash of the era.
• Harry Houdini: Magician known for debunking fraudulent mystics; represented the science trend.
• Mary Pickford: Iconic actress known as "America's sweetheart," representing women’s movement away from domesticity.

Literary Figures

• Ernest Hemingway: War-themed author highlighting 1920s moral decay; "A Farewell to Arms" is notable.
• F. Scott Fitzgerald: Explored upper-class opulence and moral decline in "The Great Gatsby," highlighting class disparities.

Civil Rights and Cultural Icons

• Marcus Garvey: Political leader advocating for African American rights; his views created tensions within the black community regarding radicalism.
• Bessie Smith: "Empress of Blues"; highest-paid black entertainer, bridging racial gaps in music.
• Langston Hughes: Notable for jazz poetry and advocacy for lower-class African Americans; promoted the "black is beautiful" theme.
• Louis Armstrong: Influential jazz trumpeter; popular across racial lines, significantly impacted jazz music evolution.
• George Gershwin: Composer blending jazz and classical influences; created music recorded by major jazz artists.

Feminist Leaders

• Carrie Chapman Catt: Key figure in the women's suffrage movement, advocating for women's rights.
• Florence Bascom: Pioneering geologist standing out in a male-dominated field.