The 1920's were an exciting time, people decided to let loose, music was loud, cars were fast, technology was advancing and times were good. It was a social revolution to a melody of jazz. The 1920's didn't become known as the "roaring 20's" overnight. Advertising had a great deal in changing society as it was. The question of "What made advertising change during the 1920's?" comes to mind. With modern innovations, advertisers had new ways to display a product to their consumers. Radio allowed agencies to advertise products from all across the country, magazines were common in middle-class homes, and tabloids kept readers hungry for more gossip. There was no shortage of advertising platforms. The methods of advertising, the people that had to be advertised to, and the effects of advertising all did their part in shaping this roaring period of history.
The industrial revolution shaped America into what it is now, and the way it always will be. Mass production helped lower prices of consumer goods and increased the amount available to all people. This allowed people from all walks of life, from the elite down to the street, to be able to purchased manufactured goods. To advertising agencies, this was a goldmine waiting to be found. With an abundance of products to be sold, the only steps left are to find solid ways to advertise the product. Old school advertising was clean-cut. It was simply an announcement of a product, in a dull and dry fashion, in hopes of getting someone through the door. The product pretty much had to sell itself. The nation had a feeling of reform which could easily be seen in all forms of literature and media. This was about to change with the end of World War One. At first, readership was gained from articles which exposed corruption and greed within the business world and politics. Advertisers saw the opportunity with all those readers and replaced the topic of reform with consumerism.
