The early 1900s saw the rise of new forms of entertainment, specifically in music. Ragtime and jazz became very popular genres that many people listened to and enjoyed. The reasons for this are explained below.
Radio was one of the mediums that helped spread the popularity of ragtime and jazz music. Initially, radio stations played classical music, but as more and more people listened to radio, they demanded more variety.
Since most listeners did not have access to recordings or could not go to concerts, they appreciated being able to listen to music on the radio. As a result, radio stations began to play different genres of music in order to attract a wider audience.
Also, since listeners were now able to tune into specific artists or concepts via radio, they were more likely to become interested in them.
Music halls
Music halls were one of the main entertainment venues of the early 1900s. These entertainment venues featured stage performances, songs, and dance. Music halls typically had a professional orchestra to provide music for the performers and dancers.
Many of the audiences were working class people who could not afford to go to concerts or theaters. Since music halls featured all kinds of entertainment, it was quite affordable.
As times changed and people’s tastes in entertainment changed as well, music halls began to decline in popularity around the 1920s. The Great War (World War I) also contributed to this decline as many men went to war and did not return, reducing the population.
However, music halls not only helped spread the popularity of ragtime and jazz, but also women’s rights. Many famous female singers and dancers emerged due to music halls providing these women with a platform to display their talent.().|}|}|}|}|} | { { { { { { | } } } } } } | } {{\boldsymbol{\icon{Music}}} \!\!\!\!\!\!\!}} {{{\large Music}}} {{{\boldsymbol{\icon{Art}}} \!\!\!\!}} {{{\large Art}}}} {{{\boldsymbol{\icon{Entertainment}}} \!}\!”}\!”}\!”}\!”}\!”}\!”}\!”}\!”]}]]]]]]]]]]]] ]]] ]]] ]] ]] ]] ]] [!] [!] [!] ! ! ! ! ] ] >>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > > ********* ** ********* ** ****** ********** *** ****** ******* *** ** *** ** * ** * * * > >> >> >> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >->->->->->->-> -> -> -> ((((((((( ,,, ,,, ,,, ,,,,, ,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,)),),),),),),))))))::(:(:(:(()))))))))))):(()))):(():():():():())):((()())):(()())):(()())):())(():()) () ()) )) ((((((( () ()) )) )) )) ))) ): 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁 ): (“:(“”:(“”:(“””:(“””:”””:”””””” “”)”)”)”)”))))) ): (:”(:”(:”(“(‘)”‘)(“‘””:”‘”‘)”)));););; .. .. .. … … … …. ….. ……… ……… ………. ………. ………. …………… …………….. …………….. ……………… ……………… ………………. ………………. ……………….. ……………….. …… …… …… …………… …………….. ………………………… …………………………
Blues
Along with jazz, another type of music that became popular in the early 1900s was the blues. The blues is a genre of music that is characterized by melodic lines used to express sorrow and sadness.
Many musicians who played jazz songs also wrote their own blues songs. Some famous jazz musicians that did this include Bessie Smith, Sidney Bechet, and Louis Armstrong.
Many people credit the widespread popularity of the blues to how it was distributed. Before technology made this easier, people would sing or play the blues and others would hear it.
But because it was so easy to share it, others could listen to it and enjoy it.
Ragtime
Ragtime was one of the first truly American music genres. It evolved in the early 1900s, and many people credit it with helping to expand popular music beyond its niche audiences.
Ragtime was popular with working class audiences, while upper class audiences enjoyed classical music and other genres, like jazz. Because of this, ragtime and jazz became somewhat intertwined as they both rose in popularity at the turn of the century.
Ragtime had a very specific sound that includes specific instrumentation. Like most genres, it had some songs that were more popular than others. Some popular ragtime songs include “Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin, “The Entertainer” by Joplin, and “Carmen” by Arthur Fiedler & Fritz Kreisler (performed by The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra).
Despite not being very old, ragtime has already become part of America’s musical history.
Jive
In the early 1900s, a new form of entertainment became very popular: jazz. Jazz is a genre of music that combines traditional music forms with more modern ones and improvisation.
Jazz can be described as upbeat, lively music with a strong beat. Many songs are also about love and romance, although some are about other topics.
The lyrics can be either sung or spoken, and many songs have a spoken introduction before the singing starts. Instrumentally, jazz uses a variety of different instruments that typically play independent parts to create an overall sound.
Many new forms of jazz came about in the early 20th century due to popularity and recognition. Two genres that became very popular were ragtime and blues. Both of these genres had influences on jazz, making it more diverse.
Swing
The third major genre to emerge in the early 1900s was swing music. Swing music can be described as upbeat jazz music with a strong, persistent rhythm.
Like ragtime, swing became very popular in the early twentieth century due to new forms of entertainment. In this case, it was dance games and apps.
Many popular dance games, like Just Dance or DanceStar, had many songs that were jazz or swing based. Because of this, many people became familiar with these songs and the genre as a whole.
Swing dance became so popular that there are now competitions where dancers have to meet certain criteria to qualify for the event. Many of these dancers even get paid for their performances at events due to their skill.
It is clear that swing dancing has increased in popularity since its inception, but how has it maintained this? More individuals are becoming aware of the genre and are choosing to become dancers themselves.
Lindy hop
The lindy hop is a dance that was developed in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It is a fast, fun dance that really gets people moving.
Originally called the east coast swing, the lindy hop got its new name when it was adapted for west coast dancers, who changed some of the basic steps.
The music used for lindy hopping is jazz music, specifically songs with a strong beat and catchy rhythm. Many songs from the 1910s through the 1940s are popular lindy hop songs, making it very nostalgic music to dance to.
Many schools and organizations have lindy hop teams that teach people how to dance.
Tap dance
Another new form of entertainment that helped to popularize ragtime and jazz was tap dance. Tap dance is a form of dance that uses the sounds of taps on a hard surface to create music.
Like jazz music, tap dance has distinct moves and patterns that are recognized as part of the art form. Many tap dances are modeled after many different songs, so you can usually find a song that matches a particular dance.
Many early tap dancers were white, which is part of why it is now recognized as part of the “black culture”. As more black dancers became successful, this art form became associated with black people.
At the time, many people saw tap as either a feminine or masculine art form, depending on the dance. For dances like The Butterfly, it was seen as more feminine due to the movements made. For dances like The Bear, it was seen as more masculine due to the strength needed.
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a popular genre of entertainment in the early 1900s that helped to spread jazz and ragtime music. Vaudeville was a combination of stage acts, usually consisting of singers, dancers, comedians, and other performance artists.
Many vaudeville shows had a specialty act or group that would perform. For example, a vaudeville show may include a tap dance group, a magic performance, and a comedy duo as separate acts.
What connected these performances was the atmosphere. Many genres of music were played during the vaudeville shows, creating an entertainment mix. This is why many people refer to vaudeville as “the first entertainment conglomerate”.
However, by the late 1900s, entertainment technologies like the telephone and the radio began to replace some of the appeal of vaudeville. These new technologies enabled people to spend their free time in different ways.
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