Who Flew?

The two pilots tasked with the ambitious journey were General Sir Helperus Andreas “Pierre” van Ryneveld and Air Vice Marshal Sir Christopher Joseph Quintin “Flossie” Brand. Both men were highly decorated military veterans and had lengthy aviation experience that made them uniquely suited for the expedition. Pierre and Flossie were each highly decorated earning awards such as the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), the Distinguished Service Award (DSO), and the Military Cross (MC) during their careers. After their successful flight each man was officially knighted by the British Empire. 

General Sir Helperus Andreas van Ryneveld (aka Pierre van Ryneveld)

Despite Pierre van Ryneveld’s impressive military career, he is most notably known for the trans-African flight. During the first world war Pierre originally served as a part of the North Lancashire Regiment before he transferred to the Royal Flying Corp, and then to the Royal Air Force. After the war, and in addition to his other awards Pierre was given the Chevalier of Legion of Honor by the French government. Part of the reason Pierre was chosen to take on such an ambitious flight was to establish the first South African Air Force (SAAF) on behalf of the British government. Following the success of the flight Pierre established the SAAF and became the director of such until 1933, after which he became the Chief General Staff until his retirement in 1949. 

Air Vice Marshal Sir Christopher Joseph Quintin Brand (aka Flossie)

Commonly referred to as Quintin Brand or Flossie, although did not begin his career within the air force he still managed to accumulate an impressive career. Originally Flossie joined the CID Inspectors Unit (Criminal Investigation Department) in Johannesburg, and only a few years later in 1913 he joined the South African Defense Force, which included the air force at the time. In 1915 Flossie traveled to England to join England’s Royal Flying Corps, and earned several medals of honor which also included the Distinguishable Service Order. After his successful flight to Cape Town, Flossie continued his military career during the second world war and was made a commanding officer with several different air force regiments. 

Jan Smuts
Although Smuts did not personally take to the sky, he was a significant driving force behind the financial and political support for the flight. Before becoming one of the more influential prime ministers of his era, Smuts was a decorated military officer, statesman and philosopher. He took office as the prime minister of the Union of South Africa between 1919-1924 and 1939-1948. His government fueled a large majority of expeditions, and viewed it as a technological opportunity and as a symbolic gesture to link South Africa to the British Empire. 

Reasons for Flight

The origins of the flight were rooted in both competition and imperial ambition. One contemporary report suggested that The Times of London had offered a £10,000 prize for the fastest flight from London to Cape Town. Smuts, eager to demonstrate South Africa’s modernity and its place within the British imperial network, authorized the purchase of the Vickers Vimy for £4,500 and selected Pierre and Flossie to undertake the mission. However several other accounts emphasize the fact that Pierre was also tasked with establishing the South African Air Force after landing in Cape Town.

The only reason the flight was deemed feasible was because of the significant innovation made in aviation technology during the first world war. Such innovations included advancements in propellers, engines and turbines which allowed for longer flight times and more stability while in flight.  

Innovations in Aviation

Although the first world war resulted in mass casualties, violence, and the collapse of several empires, it also provided the world with several innovations in technology. Despite the fact that many of these innovations were a part of destructive machines and weaponry, there were several other developments made that greatly improved modern life. Such as innovations made within aviation. These improvements included the modernization of communication between pilots and those on the ground, within the early years of the first world war these communications mainly occurred through Morse code, however by the end of the war radiotelephone communication made it easier, faster and clearer to communicate. Additionally innovations were made so that planes were able to endure more types of weather conditions, as well as allowed pilots to fly for long times and distances. The installation of oxygen systems allowed for the long-range flights, and several German pioneers created liquid-oxygen systems for extended altitude missions. The development of the Gyroscopic instruments enabled safer night and cloud-covered flights. Several other innovations in engines and propellers, as well as in the very design of aircrafts themselves made flight, and especially long-distance flights more possible. Without these modernizations in aircraft the first trans-African flight would have never occurred, and it’s likely that modern flight would have been different than what many know today. 

The Events of the Flight

The journey itself began on February 4th  1920, when Pierre and Flossie departed from Brooklands in the United Kingdom. They aimed to reach Cape Town, completing a direct air route that had never before been achieved. Their arrival on March 20th 1920 marked the end of a 45‑day odyssey that included multiple crashes, mechanical failures, and aircraft changes. 
The original Vickers Vimy, named The Silver Queen, was forced to land in Wadi Halfa after crossing the Mediterranean and was ultimately deemed beyond repair. A second Vimy, The Silver Queen II, carried them from Cairo until a crash in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) on March 5th-6th. The final leg of the journey was completed in an Airco DH.9, renamed The Voortrekker, provided by the South African government. In total, the flight required 109 hours and 30 minutes of actual flying time. In May of 1920, both aviators were knighted for their achievement. 

The map below is interactive, and details the flight path taken by Pierre and Flossie, the purple pins are confirmed stops within official reports and the blue pins illustrates the flight path Leo Walmsley detailed in his report from March 1920.

Public Reactions

There were several different reactions to the success of the first trans-African flight. Although the majority of the public, both in London and in South Africa, had very positive and hopeful reactions there were also several groups of people who reacted negatively to the flight’s success. 

The divided reactions between populations revealed deeper political and social tensions within Africa, and especially within South Africa and Cape Town. The public’s reactions were sharply drawn by racial and social differences that were already deeply rooted within their society.  For the better half of a century South Africa, and especially Cape Town was colonized by Britain, therefore it’s unsurprising a large population of white people lived within the settlements. The majority of this population was very proud of this achievement, since it not only demonstrated Western superiority in aircraft technology but it also connected the British Empire in ways never before seen. This reaffirmed their connections to their home country. Simultaneously these triumphant feelings exposed racial anxieties of the white population who felt political unrest and resistance from black South Africans even before the flight. The celebration of the flight thus became entangled with efforts to assert control and reinforce racial hierarchies. 
 On the contrary the native and black populations of the settlements often viewed and met the success of the flight with much skepticism and even indifference. Rather than the flight symbolizing progress, it represented a deepening entrenchment of imperial power and the strengthening of settler authority. The aircraft itself, descending from the sky, and bearing the symbols of the empire, became a metaphor for the technological and political imbalances that defined colonial rule. In this sense, the flight encapsulated the contradictions of the early 20th century: extraordinary technological innovation paired with profound social inequality. 

How this reflects themes of the 1920s

The significance of the 1920 trans‑African flight extended far beyond its technical accomplishment. It demonstrated the rapid advances in aviation technology that had emerged from the First World War and showcased the growing ability of aircraft to shrink imperial space. Before this moment, travel between Britain and South Africa required long sea voyages along the western coast of Africa. The flight symbolically collapsed this distance, reinforcing the idea that the empire could be connected through modern technology. It also positioned Britain, and by extension its dominions, as leaders in global aviation. The flight also stands as a representation of the broader themes of the early 1900s and the 1920s in particular. It highlights the transformative impact of wartime technological development, the imperial ambitions of Britain and its dominions, and the racial tensions that shaped South African society. It was both a triumph of engineering and a reminder of the unequal world in which such triumphs were celebrated. 

Conclusion

The 1920 trans‑African flight ultimately stands as far more than a remarkable feat of early aviation. It was a moment in which the technological momentum generated by the First World War collided with the political ambitions of the empire and the deeply hierarchical social realities of South Africa. Pierre van Ryneveld and Quintin Brand’s journey demonstrated how wartime innovations which included stronger engines, improved communications, oxygen systems, and more reliable aircraft designs, had transformed the possibilities of flight, shrinking imperial space and redefining the limits of human mobility. Yet the public responses to their achievement revealed that technological progress did not translate into social unity. Instead, the flight exposed the fractures within South African society: the pride and imperial enthusiasm of white settlers contrasted sharply with the skepticism and apprehension of Black Africans who saw the event as another symbol of entrenched colonial power. In this way, the Silver Queen expedition encapsulated the contradictions of the early twentieth century, an era marked by extraordinary innovation alongside profound inequality. By tracing the story of this flight, its origins, and its reception, we gain insight not only into the development of modern aviation but also into the contested meanings of “progress” in a world still shaped by empire, race, and the legacies of war.

Citations

• Barker, Ralph. “A Brief History of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I : Barker, Ralph, 1917- : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive.” Internet Archive, 2022, archive.org/details/briefhistoryofro0000bark/page/n5/mode/2up. 
• Barns, T. Alexander. “A Trans-African Expedition.” Journal of the Royal African Society, vol. 24, no. 96, 1925, pp. 272–86. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/716208. 
• Biddle, Tami Davis. “AIR POWER THEORY: AN ANALYTICAL NARRATIVE FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR TO THE PRESENT.” VOLUME I: THEORY OF WAR AND STRATEGY, edited by J. Boone Bartholomees, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, 2010, pp. 279–310. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep12114.23. Accessed 2 May 2026.
• DEDERING, TILMAN. “Blue Skies into White Space: Southern African Responses to the Trans-African Flight of the Silver Queen, 1920.” Technology and Culture, vol. 59, no. 2, 2018, pp. 289–312. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26804414. 
• Filby, A. E. “A New Trans-African Route.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 93, no. 5, 1939, pp. 419–24. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1788712. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
• Gazette, London. ““The London Gazette” Issue 31900.” The Gazette Official Public Record, 14 May 1920, p. 5480, www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31900/page/5480.
• Masego Panyane. “University of Pretoria Commemorates 100 Years of Trans-African Flight and Re-Installation of Flight Monument.” University of Pretoria, 2020, www.up.ac.za/news/university-of-pretoria-commemorates-100-years-of-trans-african-flight-and-re-installation-of. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
• Stanley, William R. “Trans-South Atlantic Air Link in World War II.” GeoJournal, vol. 33, no. 4, 1 Aug. 1994, pp. 459–463, https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00806430. 
• “The Evolution of World War I Aircraft.” Si.edu, 7 May 2025, airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/world-war-i-laboratory-air.
• Walmsley, Leo. “The Recent Trans-African Flight and Its Lesson.” Geographical Review, vol. 9, no. 3, 1920, pp. 149–60. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/207254.  

madison

Madison is currently a senior at the Ramapo College of New Jersey, who took this course in the spring of 2026. She has a major in Visual Arts, with a concentration in Art History, along with a double minor in Anthropology and Museum and Exhibitions Studies. After graduating Madison hopes to continue her education in order to become an Archaeologist or Museum Educator.

The great Mississippi flood of 1927 remains one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of the United States, but more specifically in the southern region. The Mississippi River overflowed and eventually reached unprecedented levels of water rising, causing widespread flooding that affected hundred and thousands of people and led to drastic economic and social consequences that would shake the very core of America. The Mississippi flood reached over 23,000 square miles of land that was submerged in water, displacing over 700,000 people and in the process, killing at least 1,000.

The Flood of 1927 was a result of heavy rainfall that occurred in the Mississippi in April of 1927, although signs of the flood started in January of that year. The Mississippi River is known as one of the largest and most popular river systems in North America, swelled to extreme record levels as a result of the excessive downpour during the spring season. The flooding began in late April and continued into May, affecting many states such as, Arkansa, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Texas. The river breached through the levees system and traveled through vast areas of land, which in turn would cause many people to evacuate and as a result would leave hundreds of thousands of people without a home.

The Flood of 1927 was a build up of poor land management that due to decades of bad practices to help prevent the flood that occurred, which at that time affected a rapid increase in population that lived in urban areas, and lack of infrastructure to control the river’s flow. The levee system was specifically designed to prevent flooding, it was not built to withstand the volume of water that was brought by the heavy rain, which was supposed to prevent disasters like this from occurring. Another element that was a cause of the flooding was the deforestation of the region, it led to increased soil erosion, further exacerbating the flooding. The federal government, was under the leadership of President Calvin Coolidge, who was slow to respond to the disaster that caused widespread flooding, while also causing destruction and hardships for many people during this time. The Flood of 1927 left a hopless impact on the southern United States, affecting millions of people. The people most affected by the flood were the farmers, because the flooding destroyed crops, homes, and infrastructure, and caused a huge economic impact not just on the region, but the entire United States. Many African American communities dealt with heavy racisim and were treated like outcasts, who were already marginalized and living in low-lying areas, that took the brunt of the disaster. The people who were displaced would seek shelter, make shift camps or flee to higher ground just to have some sort of safety from the flooding that ravaged through their towns.

The aftermath of the Mississippi flood of 1927 shined a light on the inequalities and racial disparities that African Americans were forced to face in the United States. Many African Americans were left to fend alone without access to food, water, or medical care, as most of the relief efforts focused on white communities. The federal government’s heavily failed the victims during the flood, but it did a horrific job when it left the African American community to survive without help. The inadequate response to the disaster highlighted these inequalities, as resources were lopsidedly allocated based on race, social, and economical status. In a way, the flood helped showcase just how far behind America was when it came to the treatment of its people (especially African American). The flood in a weird way was just like the racism America would bury on African Americans and pretend like they didn’t exist, just as the flood covered the land that was once visible with grass, streets, and homes.

People

One of the most important people during the Flood of 1927 was Herbert Hoover, who was serving as the Secretary of Commerce. Hoover was in charge of providing and coordinating the federal response to the disaster by President Coolidge to help bring relief to the people most affected by the flood. Despite the slow and initial delays in providing aid, Hoover eventually had enough resources and established the Mississippi River Commission. Hoover would travel through the Mississippi Valley to help raise money for the relief efforts to help start the rebuild of the states affected by the flood. He raised over 17 million dollars (equivalent to 239.50 million today). All of the hard work that Hoover put in to help would not go unrecognized because it was a crucial step, that eventually lead to him being elected as the 31st president of the United States in 1929. Although, many people still claim that Hoover didn’t really help aid the states damaged by the floods, instead gained as much power as possible.

The most important influential figure during the flood was James Eads, a highly regarded engineer who had experience working on many river projects in the Mississippi Valley. James specialized in hydraulic engineering and levee construction, which proved to be priceless and much needed during the crisis. The designs he created made for a much better levees with more strength and it would mitigate the impact of the flooding in certain parts of the river. The contributions that James Eads had on the flood control would help launch the groundwork for future natural disasters that can be prevented to help stop flooding. It also helped provide a much needed safety practices that were once failing to meet quality standards, to help ensure that a disaster like this can be avoided.

The third important figure who emerged during the aftermath of the Flood of 1927 was Robert Russa Moton, was an African American teacher and civil rights activist. Moton was appointed by President Coolidge to lead the Colored Advisory Commission, he was tasked with providing and overseeing relief efforts for African American flood victims. Moton was one of the few people who fought for equal treatment and access to aid for all people, communities, regardless of race. His efforts helped draw much needed attention to the racial inequalities that the flood exposed and paved the way for everyone to take action help start a change in America.

Just like James Eads, Arthur E. Morgan who specialized in flood managment, was an engineer and public administrator who played an important role in shaping water resource policies in the United States, to assist in preventing disaster like floods from taking place. Morgan was the chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority and he would oversee all safety procedures and practices that were taking place in his assigned region. Eventually Morgan would become head of the Public Works Administration, where he implemented major design and ideas to many projects in order to prevent future flooding disasters. Morgan’s visionary approach was ahead of it’s time and would change the way flood control emphasized sustainable practices, as well as have communities being involved, which spearheaded the foundation for modern water management strategies that are still used to this very day.

Technology and Social Justice

The Flood of 1927 is famous for destroying homes, killing thousands, and displacing over a million people from their homes, but it also highlights social justice, as well as environmental concerns. Environmentalists during this time issued the flood as a warning sign of the consequences that unchecked development can cause on when it came to deforestation in vulnerable areas. The key to having a successful operation is by having sustainable land management practices and investments in flood control infrastructure that will help prevent or drastically aid in avoiding disasters in the future. People who fought for social justice have highlighted the racial disparities exposed by the flood, showcasing the need for equality by providing equal help to all people not just a certain race. Relief efforts during this period were unfair and cruel because the government was more concerned about the white community instead of all people who were affected.

The flood allows to focus on future developments related to flood management and being able to plan for disasters in a timely manner. That will be crucial and critical in preventing future events that can cause devastating effects. Through the many years of advances in technology, there are much better practices in place to help mitigate such disasters than ever before, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen again. Technology uses equipment such as remote sensing which can help detect early warning signs when something seems off or is in the territory of causing destruction, which in turn can lead to using predictive modeling in order to better prepare for a disaster that is going to occur. There needs to be substantial urban planning when it comes to flooding because urban areas are at the most risk when it comes to flood zones. Additionally, having community engagement and more government involvement or funding that would be an essential step in developing resilient communities that can withstand natural disasters, while also being able to adapt in any circumstance.

Timeline

• April 15, 1927 – Flooding starts to occur and leaves and its tributaries can’t withstand anymore of the downpour, leading to widespread devastation with water covering miles of land and destroying everything in its path.
• April 16, 1927 – President Calvin Coolidge appoints Herbert Hoover to oversea the disaster caused by the flooding, while also bringing federal aid to the communities.
• April – May 1927 – Engineers from the army corp were called upon to help reinforce levee systems, as well as the national guard who was called upon to provide emergency services and rescue operations for flood victims, while also providing them with aid.
• May 1927 – Floodwaters began to recede, which showed the effects of the devastation it left behind, and the focus switched to helping people get aid, shelter or medical assistance to the effected communities.
• June 1927 – Repair efforts were on the way to help rebuild communities which was supported by federal funding assistance and many charitable organizations.
• Summer – Fall 1927 – Reconstruction of the communities would continue and a new levee system was being built to prevent future flooding with the help of a few renowned engineers.

Significance

The 1920s also known as “the roaring twenties” was a time where culture was changing, the economy was booming, jazz music was at its peak, companies created new products such as washing machines and radios, and women were become independent. Even though the 1920s is known as one of the best decades America has ever seen, it still came with many flaws. Social justice was none existent during this time except for a few brave civil rights activists who fought for African American rights. When the flood occurred it showcased just how poorly the African community was being treated, and were the last one’s to receive aid from the government causing hardships and isolation for people of color. Since this time we have come along way as a nation with everyone being equal, sure there needs to be some more changes, but this is a significant sign we are headed in the right direction for people of all races. Even though the economy was booming the late 1920s, it would take a hit because of the flooding that took place. Many farmers during this time lost their livelihood’s because their land and crops had been destroyed. This is significant because even during the most recent disasters, the economy will most likely take a hit because of the relief effort and the massive funding needed to help rebuild many communities that are effected by such floods. This leads us to environment awareness because before the flood occurred, cities were not taking proper steps to ensure land management which in turn lead to thousand of lives being lost and millions losing their homes. The flood helped show how important it is to be prepared, have a plan, improve technology and build better infrastructures to help prevent flooding. We see the significant role environmental awareness plays in our society today, even world leaders spend millions upon millions to help fight the battle of global warming, but more importantly we see the policies and changes America has made for it’s people to be united, as well as make drastic changes to help be prepared to fight or prevent natural disasters that might occur in the future.

Resources

Anon. The Mississippi Flood of 1927 -. https://www.mshistorynow.mdah.ms.gov/issue/the-mississippi-flood-of-1927.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2009. Mississippi River flood of 1927 | Description & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. 11. February. https://www.britannica.com/event/Mississippi-River-flood-of-1927.

National Guard. The Great Flood of 1927.

 Anon. A retreat fit for a president – Lesson 1.

NOLA.com. 2016. 1927 Mississippi River flood in rare vintage film. Video. YouTube. 15. March. 

Thornton, Mark. 2020. Katrina and the Great Flood of 1927. Mises Institute. 21. December. 

Anon. Arthur Morgan. Dayton Innovation Legacy. 

While researching the Tulsa Race Massacre, I learned about other terrible hate crimes like the Rosewood Massacre in Florida. Like the Tulsa Massacre, the death toll remains highly disputed with the official count being 27, but some estimates being as high as 150. I had no idea about this incident, I only knew about the Tulsa Race Massacre, because of the crazy fact that American planes dropped bombs on America. Lynchings were also very common in this era as well as other notable events like the Harlem riots. In Ireland, the English government tried setting up a puppet government, and by successfully installing them, rekindled hostilities. The puppet Provisional Government enacted England’s will more or less with the illusion of autonomy. Infighting occurred among countrymen and it wasn’t limited to IRA against the Provisional Government, but there was infighting in the IRA as well. Across the English Channel, Germany was trying to rebuild their society, economy, and culture. War reparations bled out the German treasury after they had to shovel over 132 gold marks (around 33 Billion in current USD) France, those who were being paid the reparations desperately needed them. The four-year war was fought heavily inside of Frances’s border, crippling its economy, and agricultural and industrial productions. Manpower all over Europe was hampered so badly, plus the ongoing Avian flu, the generation of men and women who were alive in that era, was dubbed “The Lost Generation.”

It wasn’t all negative, there were advancements in technology and day-to-day life was improved. Affordable cars become more commonplace in America thanks to Ford. Washing machines, radios, and refrigerators also entered American households all in one decade. The quality of life was becoming more convenient as each year passed. As mentioned in Casey’s article about Delta, airlines became a new method of transportation. Consumerism graced the American market, which isn’t a shock given the era known as “The Roaring Twenties”;  it is definitely interesting to see how new amenities and commodities made people’s lives much easier.

In conclusion, I left this course with way more knowledge of the period than expected. I always was uninterested in 1920s history, but I feel as if that’s because the subject matters weren’t bought up in an entertaining manner. Given the general autonomy of the course and how much of the learning was independent, I was able to learn about subjects I didn’t imagine I would be able to cover.

jbennis

Joe is a Sophomore at Ramapo and a Global Communications major enrolled in Discovering Digital History.

Don Juan is a 1926 American silent film directed by Alan Crosland and produced by Warner Bros.  It stars John Barrymore in the title role of the legendary Spanish seducer and womanizer, Don Juan. The film follows a legendary Spanish lover as he pursues romantic adventures and duels with rivals in 16^th century Spain.  The film begins with Don Juan, the protagonist, seeking to avenge the death of his father by challenging “Count de Polan” to a duel.  After defeating Polan, Don Juan is wounded but manages to escape with the help of his loyal servant, Pedrillo.  Fleeing to a nearby monastery for refuge, Juan encounters a beautiful novice named Adrianna and is instantly smitten by her, however Adrianna has taken a vow of chastity and rebuffs his advances.  Undeterred, Don Juan continues his escapades, charming and seducing numerous women along the way.  He also becomes entangles in a political conspiracy involving the King of Spain, who suspects him of treason.  Juan’s adventures lead him to encounter various characters, including a jealous husband, a vengeful suitor, and a lecherous Duke among others.  As the story unfolds, Don Juan’s pursuit of Adrianna becomes more desperate, and he faces numerous challenges in his quest to win her heart. Ultimately, Don must confront his own reckless behavior and come to terms with the consequences of his actions.

Don Juan is considered a commercial and critical success since its release in 1926, and it remains a landmark film in the history of cinema, and a film that has made a significant impact on the development of the motion picture industry. Don Juan was also one of the most expensive films made up to that time, with a budget of over one million dollars.  The film’s lavish sets, costumes, and special effects were highly praised by critics and audiences alike. In addition to Barrymore, the film features a talented cast of actors, including Mary Astor, Warner Oland, and Myrna Loy in one of her earliest film appearances.

The premiere of Don Juan was a star-studded event that took place on August 6, 1926, at the Warner Bros. Theater in New York City.  The event was attended by many celebrities of the time, including John Barrymore, as well as Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Charlie Chaplin who were all stars of the era.  The premiere was a highly anticipated event, due to it being the first film with synchronized sound effects and musical score.  The event was covered extensively by the press, and fans lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the stars as they arrived.  The film was well-received by the audience, who were impressed by the film’s innovation, technology, and advanced style for the time.  The Warner Bros. Theatre was located at 1700 Broadway in New York City, and had a seating capacity of around 3,500 people.  It was one of the largest and most luxurious theaters of the time and was equipped with all of the latest technologies of the era.  The theater remained a popular venue for several decades, hosting many premieres and events over the years until it was demolished in 1952.  The exact number of people that attended the premiere of Don Juan is unknown, but it is estimated that it was a fully sold out event hosting at least 3,400 people.  The success of the film in its initial run at the box office demonstrated the potential profitability of sound films and encouraged studios to invest in sound technology. Don Juan pushed the boundaries of what was possible in film production, and use of technologies at this time.

Significance

The film is notable for a number of reasons.  It was the first feature-length film with synchronized sound effects, including a synchronized musical score and sound effects in selected scenes.  However, it did not include any spoken dialogue, as that technology was not yet available. The production of Don Juan (1926) required the development of new technology, including the Vitaphone, elaborate special effects (for the time), and advanced camera techniques.  These advancements paved the way for future innovations in filmmaking. 

The film used a sound-on-disc system called the Vitaphone, which synchronized a 16-inch phonograph record with the film’s projection.  The record contained the synchronized musical score and sound effects that were played back during the film’s screening.  The synchronization was achieved by timing the playback of the sound disc with the projection of the film, using a special device called a “projector interlock”.  A projector interlock refers to a safety mechanism in film projectors that prevents multiple projectors from running at the same time, which could have caused damage to film prints at the time.  The interlock system was designed to ensure that only one projector would be running during a film screening.

Vitaphone allowed films to add synchronized sound to a motion picture.  It was developed by the Western Electric Company and was introduced in 1926, in the fil Don Juan.  The system was used primarily in the 1920’s and early 30’s, before it was surpassed by better technology.  Many classic films from this period, such as The Jazz Singer (1927) and The Singing Fool (1928), used the Vitaphone system to add synchronized sound to their musical number and sound effects. However, because the Vitaphone system relied on separate sound discs, it was limited in its ability to incorporate dialogue, and films using this system remained silent with musical accompaniment and sound effects.  It wasn’t until the development of sound-on-film technology in the late 1920’s that synchronized dialogue was invented, that films began to have dialogue sound. While the Vitaphone has been long surpassed by more advanced technology, many of the Vitaphone discs have survived and have been preserved, providing a unique glimpse into the early days of sound in cinema. This system was revolutionary at the time and paved the way for the development of sound in motion pictures. 

The 1920’s was a decade known for its cultural, social, and political changes and the film reflected some of the attitudes and values of the time.  It also reflected attitudes and values of the time, as well as some of the challenges that people of the era faced.  One example of this is gender roles, such as the “male gaze”, where women were objectified and seen as objects of male desire.  This was a common attitude in the 1920’s, as traditional gender roles were being challenged and new forms of sexual expression were emerging. Another example is political instability.  The film’s plot revolves around political intrigue and the struggle for power between various factions. This was a representation of the political struggles of the 1920’s, as the aftermath of World War One and the economic challenges of the time created by social unrest and political tension.  A third example is economic prosperity and excess. The film’s lavish sets, costumes, and special effects were a reflection of the prosperity of the 1920’s, as the United States experienced a period of economic growth and prosperity.  The film’s excess reflected the era’s tendency towards extravagance and opulence.

John Barrymore’s portrayal of Don Juan also set a new standard for leading men in Hollywood.  He was suave, sophisticated, romantic, and his performance helped establish the archetype of the “silver screen” hero. The character of Don Juan, who was a legendary seducer and womanizer, became a popular figure in literature and drama throughout the 1920’s.  The film helped cement the character’s place in popular culture and inspired other films, plays, and novels that featured similar characters.

Sources

Hall, M. (1926, August 7). Vitaphone stirs as talking movie; new device synchronizing sound with action impresses with its realistic effects. noted musicians heard provides orchestral accompaniment to photoplay “Don Juan,” with John Barrymore. The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/1926/08/07/archives/vitaphone-stirs-as-talking-movie-new-device-synchronizing-sound.html

In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood. (2015, June 25). The Classic Movie History Project Blogathon: Don Juan (1926 ) and the introduction to vitaphone. In The Good Old Days Of Classic Hollywood. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/the-classic-movie-history-project-blogathon-don-juan-1926-and-the-introduction-to-vitaphone/

A tale of romance and derring-do (with synchronized music and sound effects): A study of don juan (1926). Silver Screen Classics. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://silverscreenclassicsblog.wordpress.com/2021/06/26/a-tale-of-romance-and-derring-do-with-synchronized-music-and-sound-effects-a-study-of-don-juan-1926/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, April 4). Don Juan (1926 film). Wikipedia. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Juan_(1926_film)

Fun Fact: The leftover wood from the production of the Ford Model T was recycled into charcoal, and sold as Ford Charcoal. When Ford stopped using wood for production, the charcoal branch became its own company, known today as Kingsford Charcoal.

The Ford Model T made a massive impact on the lives of Americans and how we move around in society. Prior to the Model T, personal transport that wasn’t a horse or bicycle was only for the very rich. If you wanted to go far, you took a train. Then the Model T became the most popular car in the United States, it also set the stage for the concept of the personal car to reshape our cities and towns. Prior to this, the roads were generally paved dirt or gravel, and had no clear direction or flow besides rails for streetcars or businesses that lined the streets. Streets, especially the main roads in towns, were social places, they were full of people milling about and conducting their lives. The people that worked in these cities and towns also lived very close to where they worked, since traveling daily long distances on horseback was not easy, and the only other option was a train, which would get expensive over time, or bicycle, which was not easy either on the unpaved surfaces. When the cars started to hit the roads en masse, the infrastructure around them had to change. Roads changed materials and got tougher, smoother, faster. Cars zipping through streets had to stay in dedicated lanes, people could not freely move across streets without the chance of getting run over. Another consequence of the popularity of the car was the rise of the suburbs. Since it was not substantially easier to cover longer distances without the need to follow a train schedule, people began to move farther away from their places of work, where they could have larger horses and properties compared to the apartments in the cities. This would evolve more and more over time to the structures we have now, large cities where people work then surrounding suburbs where they live, with highways to connect them. The Model T and its popularity was the catalyst for the advent of the personal car, and in the process, revolutionized how we go about our lives. 

The fifteen millionth Ford Model T is preserved today, part of The Henry Ford Museum collection and is currently displayed at the Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. You can learn more about it here.

Sources:

“First and Fifteen Millionth Fords.” Detroit Free Press. May 27, 1927.

“The Model T and American Life.” The New Atlantis, no. 22 (2008): 115–115. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43152452.

Wells, Christopher W. “The Road to the Model T: Culture, Road Conditions, and Innovation at the Dawn of the American Motor Age.” Technology and Culture 48, no. 3 (2007): 497–523. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40061274.

gregk

Gregory Kruimer is currently enrolled in his senior year at Ramapo College as a History major.

1920 Timeline of Henry Ford’s transportation innovation  

Henry Ford was born in Springwells Township, Wayne County, Michigan, on July 30, 1863. Henry Ford created the Ford motors with the partnership of 12 others, he owned 25.5% of the stock in the new organization. In 1919, Henry and his family bought the interest of all minority stockholders for $105,820,894 and became the sole owners of the Company. In the 1920’s there were three major car manufacturers Ford, General motors and Chrysler; they were also the major employers of factory jobs.

However, while technology improved car production also improved tremendously with improved technology such as conveyor belts, assembly lines and the spread of electricity which by far revolutionized the industry. These advancements meant that production was improving at a greater rate than never before, due to this it eventually led to mass production. For example, car prices went from being $900+ in the 1920 to $250+ in 1929. This was also one of Henry Ford’s ideas to produce mass production because he wanted to produce affordable cars for the public. Ford was highly successful and created thousands of jobs for hard working Americans. His River Rouge factory in Detroit, Michigan was by far the largest factory in the world. The workers earned $5 per day, which was double the normal rate in any factory employers. As Eric Foner states, “Ford paid the assembly line workers $5 a day when prevailing wages were about $2.50. he also reduced working hours to 8.” By 1929, Americans owned 23 million cars. The best known was the Ford Model T car. By the time the Model T was withdrawn from production in 1927, its price had been reduced to $290. Ford’s mass production proficentices were quickly copied by other American vehicle manufacturers. With more cars being produced that meant that more roads had to be built, and highways and bridges were being built for cars. Furthemore, due to many cars being sold it connected many Americans with each other. Women were starting to leave their homes now because module T was easy to drive. Accessing other places in America was a lot easier which led to more infrastructure; restaurants, stores, and gas stations. This car made America as we know it today, to this day the affordable model T was Ford’s greatest impact on many American’s.

According to history.org in Ford later career there was a lot of controversial moments. Ford’s political views earned him widespread criticism over the years, beginning with his campaign against U.S. involvement in World War I. He made a failed bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 1918, narrowly losing in a campaign marked by personal attacks from his opponent. According to history.org “In the Dearborn Independent, a local newspaper he bought in 1918, Ford published a number of anti-Semitic writings that were collected and published as a four volume set called The International Jew. Though he later renounced the writings and sold the paper, he expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and Germany, and in 1938 accepted the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, the Nazi regime’s highest medal for a foreigner.”

Ford’s model T was very pleasing, however he had a bigger goal set. Ford invented his first commercial plane nicknamed the “Tin Goose,” a reference to the Model T’s nickname as the “Tin Lizzie.” The Tin Goose was one of the first airplanes used by America’s early commercial airlines. Just as he put the world on wheels with the Model T, Henry Ford hoped to give it wings with a small, affordable airplane. Henry built three to five prototype planes. Ford later abandoned the project after an unforeseen accident that took place near Melbourne, Florida, in 1928 killing his test pilot Harry Brooks.

Citations

https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/henry-ford

https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/model-t

https://corporate.ford.com/about/history/company-timeline.html

In the twenty-first century, people often take their phones, laptops, and other forms of technology for granted. Yet, not too long ago, all people had for technology was the radio and the daily newspaper was their entertainment. The 1920s, a decade of extreme social, political, and economic change, also brought with another huge change. The way in which people consumed entertainment, news, and various other forms of media would drastically change in this decade. Yet, without a young boy from Utah, Philo Farnsworth, the 1920s may have never seen the birth of the television as we know it today. 

Philo Farnsworth

Philo Taylor Farnsworth was born on August 19, 1906 in southwestern Utah.¹ Most of his childhood was spent growing up in the community settled by his grandfather. In the small, log-structured home that Farnsworth spent his childhood in, there was nothing but a few modern convinces to make everyday life easier.² His parents, Lewis and Serena, had very little money and as a result, Farnsworth’s childhood home did not have electricity.³ However, when he was just twelve years old, Farnsworth’s family moved to a spacious ranch in Rigby, Idaho.⁴ Farnsworth’s family would be moving in with extended family but Farnsworth did not seem to mind, especially since his new home had electricity.⁵

The young boy had always dreamed of becoming an inventor but it was on the ranch that his obsession with electronic components began.⁶ At only fifteen, Farnsworth begged his high school chemistry teacher to give him special instruction and allow him to audit a senior-level class.⁷ Mr. Tolman agreed and quickly realized that the young Farnsworth had an incredible gift, his intelligence. Tolman was not the only high school teacher to see Farnsworth’s genius. After only two years of high school, Farnsworth began his academic career at the Brigham Young University.      

For many students, the transition from high school to college can be confusing and daunting. Yet for Farnsworth, the transition was almost seamless. The young boy took content-heavy college courses and focused on his main interest, electronics.⁸ While taking classes, Farnsworth played around with several ideas for a completely electronic television system.⁹ Unfortunately, the college career of the ambitious Farnsworth was cut short. At the end of his sophomore year, Farnsworth’s father passed away, forcing him to leave Brigham Young University and return home.¹⁰ Although his time in school was over, Farnsworth never stopped experimenting with electronic components and learning from them.  

The Dream

Evidently, Philo Farnsworth was not the first person to imagine the happenings of an electric television. As there were several others working hard to finish the exact same objective, a fully functioning electronic television. For example, Vladimir Zworykin, a Russian electrical engineer, had the skills, intelligence, and dreams for the project.¹¹ However, he was never successful in even building an all-electronic television prototype. The problem many inventors had, including Zworykin, was that they could not find a way to transmit the image data without a single mechanical aspect.¹² Unlike the others, Farnsworth was able to figure out how to create a fully functioning electronic television. Still, there was much in the way between Farnsworth and his goal.

At the same time that Farnsworth and the others were trying to develop an an electronic television, Farnsworth was developing as a person. Being so young, there were many other matters that preoccupied the young inventor. Farnsworth fell in love with a young women named Elma Gardner.¹³ Not too long after meeting, the two got married in 1926 in Utah.¹⁴ At the time, Farnsworth was only twenty years old and had much of his life as an inventor ahead of him. After a year of being married, the couple moved from Utah to San Francisco. This way, Farnsworth would be closer to the motion-picture community and have enough space and help to work on his inventions.¹⁵ Once settled in his loft “laboratory” in San Francisco, Farnsworth, with the help of his wife, a few assistants, and a couple of wealthy investors, got to work on the invention that would forever change his life.

The Television

As previously stated, Farnsworth was not the only individual to think of a fully electronic television. Yet, he was the first person to build a prototype and have successful transmission. On September 7, 1927, Farnsworth had his first successful transmission.¹⁶ He sent an image of a horizontal line to a receiver in another room, where the same horizontal line was displayed on a television screen.¹⁷ It was with his wife and assistant that Farnsworth watched the very first electronic television picture to ever be transmitted.

While his invention changed not only his life, but also the course of the 1920s, it also brought Farnsworth a great deal of pain. Zworykin, the Russian engineer, had a connection to the Radio Corporation of America, a powerful company at the time.¹⁸ Zworykin wanted the fame of being the inventor of the electronic television and the Radio Corporation of America did not want to pay Farnsworth for the right to manufacture the television sets that he had invented.¹⁹ Thus, making the duo a perfect evil pair. However, not everything went as Zworykin and the Radio Corporation of America had hoped. Farnsworth put up a fight and after an intense legal battle, the the U.S. Patent Office awarded priority of the invention to Farnsworth in 1934.²⁰ Tragically, his victory was short lived.

A Tragic Ending

Shortly after the second World War, Farnsworth’s patents expired and the Radio Corporation of America was quick to move in and buy the rights to them. As a result, Zworykin and the chief of the Radio Corporation of America took credit for Farnsworth’s work.²¹ They even went as far as declaring themselves the true inventors of the television.²² After losing all of his hard work, Farnsworth spiraled into a deep depression. He had to be admitted into several hospitals where he endured shock therapy because of his nervous breakdowns.²³ Farnsworth’s fragile state led him to develop a drinking problem and as if life could not be anymore unfair to the “Father of the Television”, Farnsworth’s new home in Maine burned to the ground in 1947.²⁴

After almost an entire lifetime of injustice and defeat, Philo Farnsworth, passed away in March of 1971 in a Salt Lake City hospital.²⁵ Farnsworth was sixty-four years old when he suffered cardiac arrest following a choking spell.²⁶ Farnsworth left behind his wife, his son, and 165 patents in his name when he passed.²⁷ To this day, Farnsworth struggles to receive the recognition he deserves as the true inventor of the electronic television.

Significance

Philo Farnsworth and his natural genius were instrumental to the 1920s. Without his ideas and knowledge on electronic components, the current hundred million televisions in the United States could look very different. Not only that, but when Farnsworth’s invention was first rolled out in the late 1920s, it drastically changed people’s sense of the world.²⁸ Being able to physically see politicians, celebrities, current news, sports games, and anything else one could imagine transformed the world forever. Much more than before, the public began to form opinions on matters based on how it looked. Fashion trends changed to emulate what was seen on the television and gory scenes of war could bring the viewer to the battlefield.

However, Farnsworth’s legacy is more than just his invention of the modern television. Farnsworth’s story is one that demonstrates both the embodiment and downfall of the golden American dream. In his lifetime, Farnsworth accomplished what others were struggling to complete. He was able to successfully create the world’s first completely electronic television. Yet, he barely received credit for his work because of a large company with money and power. His life’s work was stolen from him.

While many people like to view the 1920s as a decade of good times with jazz music in the background, there was also a lot of corruption and dishonestly. It is important to recognize that what the Radio Corporation of America did to Farnsworth happened to many other hardworking Americans.

Why Philo Farnsworth and the Invention of Television?

After a basic search on the invention of the television, it became obvious that its history was complex and confusing. After a little more digging, I found the true answer to the mystery and realized that even to this day, Farnsworth receives little, if any, recognition for his work towards the electronic television. Although more people are beginning to acknowledge Farnsworth, I wanted to give him his moment in history.

Bibliography

• Anthony, Andrew. “A History of Television, the Technology that Seduced the World – And me.” The Guardian online. September 7, 2013.
• “Elma Farnsworth, 98; Aided Husband in Developing Television.” Los Angeles Times online. May 5, 2006.
• Eschner, Kat. “The Farmboy Who Invented the Television.” Smithsonian Magazine online. August 28, 2017.
• Featured Image: J. Willard Marriott Digital Library at the University of Utah. “P.T. Farnsworth with his television receiver-1920 or 30.” Accessed March 2021.
• McPherson, Stephanie. TV’s Forgotten Hero: The Story of Philo Farnsworth. Minnesapols: Carolrhoda Books, October 1, 1996.
• “Philo T. Farnsworth, a Pioneer In Design of Television, Is Dead.” The New York Times online. March 13, 1971.
• Postman, Neil. “Philo Farnsworth.” TIME Magazine online. March 29, 1999.

Rachel Olivo

Rachel is a junior at Ramapo College of New Jersey taking Discovering Digital History in the Spring of 2021. She is studying History and Education and is looking forward to becoming a teacher after graduating.