34 Intriguing Photos From the Roaring '20s

Carly Tennes Published 05/21/2024 in wow

The 1920s, a decade defined by flappers, cigarette holders, prohibition, and a whole lot of parties. But when our ancestors weren't busy rouging their knees and rolling their stockings down, to paraphrase Chicago's "All That Jazz," they were just like us, taking a whole lot of photographs.

From Drew Barrymore's grandmother embodying the essence of old Hollywood Glamour to The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his family hitting the high seas, here are 28 photos of the 1920s that prove we need a time machine, stat.

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1. A woman wearing a fur coat and hat in the '20s.
2. People by a Prohibition sign reading, "No booze sold here."
3. Cabs looked a tad different than they do now.
4. “Found this cool photo! Some of my ancestors, c. 1927.”
5. “Ohio beauty pageant, 1927.”
6. “Venice Beach California 1927.”
7. “Five of the contestants in the 1924 Miss America contest walk together. Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. July 1924.”
8. “Paris flood, 1924.”
9. “Miss America 1924.”
10. “1924.”
11. “My young Grandfather in Iraq (1924).”
12. “1924 Young couple photographed by James Van Der Zee.”
13. “F. Scott Fitzgerald with his wife Zelda and their daughter Scottie on board a liner during a cruise, 1924.”
14. “My mother (left) with an older sister. ca 1924.”
15. “My Great-Grandpa Earl. 1924.”
16. “The ice man man delivering a 25lb block of ice. Photograph taken in 1928 in Houston, Texas. Circa 1928.”
17. “Great Grandfather Looking Dapper, 1924.”
18. “Wanda Stevenson, 1928.”
19. “Three female students Bauhaus, Dessau (Germany). 1927.”
20. “Immigrant family at Ellis Island, looking at New York's skyline, 1925.”
21. “Remembering the father, 1925.”
22. “My grandmother as a little girl in 1925 in Upstate NY with her Grandparents and her brother.”
23. “Office Christmas Party 1925.”
24. “1925 criminal's mugshot.”
25. “Beach life 1920’s.”
26. “Halloween 1928 style.”
27. “Stan Laurel carrying a board, 1928.”
28. “Silent movie star, Dolores Costello (1928) Drew Barrymore's grandmother.”
29. “My Grandpa (born 1928) at age 25.”
30. “My great-grandmother's high school picture, 1928.”
31. “Amelia Earhart, 1928 (colorized photo).”
32. A speakeasy cellar, circa 1920.
33. The iconic Charleston dance move.
34. A woman with a Chrysler vehicle, circa 1920s.

1. A woman wearing a fur coat and hat in the '20s.
2. People by a Prohibition sign reading, "No booze sold here."
3. Cabs looked a tad different than they do now.
4. “Found this cool photo! Some of my ancestors, c. 1927.”
5. “Ohio beauty pageant, 1927.”
6. “Venice Beach California 1927.”
7. “Five of the contestants in the 1924 Miss America contest walk together. Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. July 1924.”
8. “Paris flood, 1924.”
9. “Miss America 1924.”
10. “1924.”
11. “My young Grandfather in Iraq (1924).”
12. “1924 Young couple photographed by James Van Der Zee.”
13. “F. Scott Fitzgerald with his wife Zelda and their daughter Scottie on board a liner during a cruise, 1924.”
14. “My mother (left) with an older sister. ca 1924.”
15. “My Great-Grandpa Earl. 1924.”
16. “The ice man man delivering a 25lb block of ice. Photograph taken in 1928 in Houston, Texas. Circa 1928.”
17. “Great Grandfather Looking Dapper, 1924.”
18. “Wanda Stevenson, 1928.”
19. “Three female students Bauhaus, Dessau (Germany). 1927.”
20. “Immigrant family at Ellis Island, looking at New York's skyline, 1925.”
21. “Remembering the father, 1925.”
22. “My grandmother as a little girl in 1925 in Upstate NY with her Grandparents and her brother.”
23. “Office Christmas Party 1925.”
24. “1925 criminal's mugshot.”
25. “Beach life 1920’s.”
26. “Halloween 1928 style.”
27. “Stan Laurel carrying a board, 1928.”
28. “Silent movie star, Dolores Costello (1928) Drew Barrymore's grandmother.”
29. “My Grandpa (born 1928) at age 25.”
30. “My great-grandmother's high school picture, 1928.”
31. “Amelia Earhart, 1928 (colorized photo).”
32. A speakeasy cellar, circa 1920.
33. The iconic Charleston dance move.
34. A woman with a Chrysler vehicle, circa 1920s.