American Sports and heroes
Babe Ruth playing the game of baseball.
Charlie Chaplin, demonstrating his iconic features of his mustache and top hat.
The 1920’s was known as the ‘Golden Age of Sports.’ Many sports legends became popular and an undoubted part of American culture during this time. The most notable of legends include Babe Ruth, an emerging star in the game of Baseball, and Bill “Big” Tilden, a tennis star. These sports stars were not just great players on the field, but also big personalities and role models for young boys. Sports also began to be nationally recognized during this time. The newly invented radio began broadcasting games on the air. Since the new technology allowed people to follow live sports matches/games, many people became fans of professional sports. Sports became an everyday topic of discussion, in the workplace, in the home, etc. Unfortunately, racism was extremely evident in professional sports. Several organizations were formed to combat racism, such as the American Negro League, but it took many years for this problem to be rectified.
The 1920’s was also a decade for many heroes off of the sports field. Many people achieved new records. For example, Charles Lindbergh went on his famous flight from New York to Paris. “[Lindbergh’s] courage was displayed to the nation when he flew his SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS from New York to Paris, becoming the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.” (Fads and Heroes) Lindbergh often was featured on the front of newspapers and was the subject of many radio broadcasts. Also, the introduction of film in popular American culture made popular movie stars American icons. Charlie Chaplin was among the biggest of these new movie stars. Films such as “The Circus” and “The Gold Rush” propelled Chaplin to become the largest symbol of American film. Indeed, his memory is still referenced in film today through things such as his iconic top hat and small mustache.
The 1920’s was also a decade for many heroes off of the sports field. Many people achieved new records. For example, Charles Lindbergh went on his famous flight from New York to Paris. “[Lindbergh’s] courage was displayed to the nation when he flew his SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS from New York to Paris, becoming the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.” (Fads and Heroes) Lindbergh often was featured on the front of newspapers and was the subject of many radio broadcasts. Also, the introduction of film in popular American culture made popular movie stars American icons. Charlie Chaplin was among the biggest of these new movie stars. Films such as “The Circus” and “The Gold Rush” propelled Chaplin to become the largest symbol of American film. Indeed, his memory is still referenced in film today through things such as his iconic top hat and small mustache.