World Events in 1924
Death of Vladimir Lenin
The founder of the Soviet Union died on 21 January at age 53, sparking a bitter power struggle between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky that would shape the course of the 20th century.
First Winter Olympics
The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, from 25 January to 5 February. Norway topped the medal table. Events included ski jumping, figure skating, and ice hockey.
Immigration Act of 1924
The Johnson-Reed Act severely restricted immigration to the United States, establishing national-origin quotas that particularly targeted Southern and Eastern Europeans and banned all immigration from Asia.
Ramsay MacDonald Becomes First Labour PM
In January, Ramsay MacDonald became the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, heading a minority government. It lasted only nine months.
Dawes Plan for German Reparations
The Dawes Plan restructured Germany's war reparation payments and provided American loans to stabilise the German economy, ending the hyperinflation crisis.
Music in 1924
"It Had to Be You"
Isham Jones Orchestra
One of the great jazz standards of the era, 'It Had to Be You' was a hit in 1924 and has been covered endlessly since. It perfectly captured the romantic optimism of the mid-twenties.
"It Had to Be You"
Isham Jones Orchestra
Written by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn, this became one of the defining songs of the Jazz Age. It would go on to appear in countless films, most famously in When Harry Met Sally decades later.
#1 Film of 1924
The Thief of Bagdad
Box Office: $2.3 million
Douglas Fairbanks starred in this lavish fantasy adventure, one of the most ambitious silent films ever made. Its spectacular sets and special effects — including a flying carpet — made it a box-office sensation.
Born in 1924
Jimmy Carter
39th President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Marlon Brando
Actor (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Godfather, On the Waterfront)
Lauren Bacall
Actress (To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, Key Largo)
George H.W. Bush
41st President of the United States
Charles Aznavour
French-Armenian singer-songwriter and actor
Lost in 1924
Vladimir Lenin
Revolutionary leader and founder of the Soviet Union
Age 53
Woodrow Wilson
28th President of the United States and architect of the League of Nations
Age 67
Franz Kafka
Czech-German author (The Metamorphosis, The Trial)
Age 40
Giacomo Puccini
Italian opera composer (La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly)
Age 65
Technology in 1924
Commercial aviation was in its infancy with the first round-the-world flight completed by the US Army. Radio was now a household staple. Rhapsody in Blue premiered, blending jazz with orchestral music through new recording techniques. The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York.
- ● First round-the-world flight completed by US Army Air Service
- ● First Winter Olympic Games held in Chamonix, France
- ● Spiral-bound notebook invented
- ● First Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held in New York City
Cost of Living in 1924
| Item | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Average house price | £340 | $4,600 |
| Average salary | £120 | $1,280 |
| Pint of milk | 2d | $0.07 |
| Loaf of bread | 3½d | $0.09 |
| Dozen eggs | 1s 4d | $0.50 |
| Pint of beer | 4d | Prohibited |
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The Zeitgeist of 1924
The Jazz Age was at its zenith. F. Scott Fitzgerald was writing The Great Gatsby. George Gershwin bridged jazz and classical with Rhapsody in Blue. Art Deco was becoming the dominant aesthetic in architecture and design. The Harlem Renaissance was in full bloom, with Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington making their marks.
In the News in 1924
Vladimir Lenin died, triggering a power struggle in the Soviet Union. The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France. Calvin Coolidge won the US presidential election in a landslide. J. Edgar Hoover was appointed head of the Bureau of Investigation (later the FBI). The Immigration Act of 1924 severely restricted entry to the US.