The dance hallsOne of the leading ways music was heard and discovered in this time period were from the dance halls. Since the 1920's were a time of rebellion, dance halls were a place for the young to escape their parents. Also for the working men and women they were just a good place to relax and have fun."In the late nineteenth century dance halls provided a public space where young people could mingle with their peers and escape restrictions placed on them by parents. There, also, employed men and women found a relaxing refuge after work." ("DANCE HALLS." DANCE HALLS. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013 There were many names for these popular clubs as in Speakeasies, Road Houses, or Ballrooms. With large crowds every night, these dance halls were a great place for new bands to play and be discovered. Making this a very popular way Jazz, Ragtime, and Blues music was spread throughout America.
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Similar to the clubs now, there are illegal things that happened at the speakeasies in the 1920's. One of the most common was bootlegging. During this time alcohol was banned for the hopes of a crime free society, but this backfired."This prohibition of liquor, created the business of bootlegging. Many gangs were formed, and along with gangster rivalry, mobs grew very popular." ("Bootlegging, Prohibition, Al Capone (1920)." SchoolWorkHelper. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.) Speakeasies were one of the most popular places to sell and distribute alcohol. "Speakeasies were hidden sections of an establishment that were used to illegally sell alcoholic beverages during prohibition.("History of the Roaring Twenties." : Prohibition and the Speakeasies. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.)
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