The Roaring '20s: 33 Fascinating Historical Photos From a 100 Years Ago

Carly Tennes Published 08/08/2024 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.

List View
Player View
Grid View

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

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