Broadway In The 1920s Essay

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The Sprit of Broadway in the Roaring Twenties The roaring twenties was a time filled with excitement and hope for the years to come after constant turmoil in past years. The arts, precisely music and dance had especially heightened during this crucial era. The bright lights, heavenly sounds, and endless commotion defined the optimism found in the heart of New York City. The constant uses of music and dance have filled the streets of Broadway for countless years. The era of the roaring twenties built the base of Broadway, as we know today. Whether it is the language or style, Broadway has molded the vibe of American culture. Even young individuals, such as Jerome Charylin stated the purpose Broadway had for those in the 1920s by saying, “ Broadway was no mans land, neither the East nor the West, It ate, up your past and your tradition. The Big Street was where you went when you had nowhere to…show more content…
Specifically “Broadway was the hangout for most of the famous people - gangsters like Owney Madden, rubbed shoulders with celebrities like Charlie Chaplin,” (Boland). Their utter dominance in the audience of Broadway shows had also transformed the language of those in the 1920s. One of the most well-known newspaper writers was Damon Runyon. His language he used in his reviews and articles coined terms such as “ ‘daffy dame’, ‘tough Broad’, a ‘doll’ or a ‘tough gorill,’ “(Boland). These terms were then further adapted into the flapper culture of the 1920s. Runyon’s impact had however going further than the decade. A short story that he wrote was used as a basis for a Broadway show that was centered about the performing arts world in the 1920s. The show was titled “Guys and Dolls” and it explored the world of Broadway in the 1920s. The musical is still very relevant and various high schools perform the show in front of their

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