Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was born on August 4th 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was born in one of the towns poorest sections. He had a difficult childhood, his father left his family soon after his birth and his mother turned to prostitution for money. At the age of 11 he was deemed a juvenile delinquent for shooting a gun into the air at a New Year’s Eve party. During his time in the New Orleans Home for Coloured Waifs, he learned to play the cornet and fell in love with music. At the age of 17 he began playing in dive bars in New Orleans. These exposures eventually lead him to replace Joe “King” Oliver in the well-known band Kid Ory. During this time, Louis also adopted a young three year old Clarence. The boy’s mother who was Armstrong’s cousin died in child birth. Clarence who was mentally disabled was cared for by Armstrong his whole life. By the 1920’s Louis had left New Orleans. Armstrong traveled all around America, bringing his love of music and sarcastic presence to crowds everywhere. In 1963 he scored huge international hit. His version of “Hello Dolly” and his own “What a Wonderful World” were only a few of these great jazz artists’ hits. Later in life, his health began to fail him and he died in his sleep, at his home in Queens, New York. In 2003 a museum was opened in his personal home commemorating him for his many great achievements.
http://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912
http://www.biography.com/people/louis-armstrong-9188912
Charlie Chaplin
One huge movie star and creator was Charlie Chaplin. He was one of the most successful movie director/actor, starting out with silent films, gaining his fame during World War 1. Chaplin favored mime, slapstick and visual comedy routines. Unfortunately Chaplin's films slowly faded away as the 1920's closed to an end. The Kid, made in 1921, with Jackie Coogan, combined comedy with drama and was Chaplin's first film to exceed an hour. This movie was an instant success!
Josephine Baker
Otherwise known as Freda McDonald was born in 1906. She dropped out of school at age 12 and although she was black she was one of the most versatile entertainers in the 1920's. Not only was she a show girl but she acted in movies, plays and many other forms of entertainment. Josephine then went on to become a social rights activist and fought for equal rights for women and black Americans.
She was well known throughout Canada and America and preformed many times. She was one of the most famous black women preforming in the 1920's.
She was well known throughout Canada and America and preformed many times. She was one of the most famous black women preforming in the 1920's.