Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

When does the "Golden Era" start and end for you?

dhermann1

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,154
Location
Da Bronx, NY, USA
For me, the Golden Era (which as we all know was not necessarily so golden for a lot of people who lived through it (but that's another conversation)), starts at 11:12 PM, Nov, 11, 1918, and ends at about 2:30 EST, November 22, 1963.
 

LizzieMaine

Bartender
Messages
32,962
Location
Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
For me, it began on March 4th 1933, and ended on April 13, 1945. Not that there weren't things to be highly recommended before and after that span, but those twelve years encompassed the peak of American culture.
 

Yeps

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,456
Location
Philly
I won't make any judgments on a Golden Era, a term which I rather dislike, but my range of interest ranges primarily from the turn of the century through the 30s, with different times being important to me for different aspects of culture. 1900-1925 or so (whenever it was that microphones started being generally used) is an era of music I find particularly fascinating, as well as just enjoy listening to. I love the styles of the 20s and 30s (I rather like 40s style too, but I am not as interested). And naturally, everyone knows that Hollywood reached its peak in 1939.
 

conrad5157

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
Virginia
Mine would start with The War of Independence but to be a little more in line with this thread, I would say McKinley through Kennedy.
 

The Good

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,361
Location
California, USA
My 20th century interests mainly lie within the early to mid century, that being from roughly the World War I (or Great War if you prefer) period, through the actual "Golden Era" (1930s, 1940s), and up to the late 1960s, or early 1970s. Obviously, "Golden Era" hardly applies to the latter I've mentioned, as it had become quite distant by that point, but I'd like to consider a cut-off being 1967 (besides, it was in this year, basically, that you had what was essentially the last contemporary-set "hat and trench coat protagonist" film noir, that being Le Samourai, even if the character was already something of an anachronism). After that, traditional/classic aesthetics (mainly in fashion) were being largely replaced (by people in all walks of life) with some more mod, hippie, or "Peacock Revolution" sensibilities. Hats especially, were almost completely disregarded as daily wear by that point as well, except among enthusiasts or those favoring a more traditional style. These are just my opinions, based on observations; films, photographs, advertisements, and other media from these eras.

Maybe I'm being too broad, but I think there were certainly some Golden Era aesthetics present during the following Atomic Era, the '50s and '60s.
 

Warbaby

One Too Many
Messages
1,549
Location
The Wilds of Vancouver Island
That would be my definition as well. There's just no way I can think of the 50s and 60s as Golden Era. To me, the 50s was an era of boring blandness, happy All-American families, and dreadful design. As for the 60s, well, considering my lifestyle at the time, I don't really remember it all that well, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't Golden.

I think that ultimately, one's definition of Golden Era depends on one's age. Golden Era is something that happened before you were born.
 
Last edited:

sidonie

New in Town
Messages
7
Location
Australia
The golden era the Pre-Raphaelites to the Pop Artists. Also it ended when people started not to care what they wore in the street. You don't see a decent hat and coat been worn anymore.
 

lord_k

One of the Regulars
Messages
148
Location
Ramat Gan, Israel
My Golden Era starts in 1933, with A Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago, and ends in summer 1948, with the blockade of Berlin.
 

p71towny

Familiar Face
Messages
85
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
From about 1900- to the early 60's. After that, not so much. However, there are things I like to pull from all decades, just not too much past that point.
 

dhermann1

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,154
Location
Da Bronx, NY, USA
For me, it began on March 4th 1933, and ended on April 13, 1945. Not that there weren't things to be highly recommended before and after that span, but those twelve years encompassed the peak of American culture.


Hmmm . . . Somebody is a BIG Franklin Roosevelt fan, methinks. I was just at Hyde Park for the first time a few weeks ago. One thing I saw there that I didn't expect was a 1939 RCA TV, with the mirror view. It was apparently donated by General Sarnoff. I expect I'll be there again later this summer. Very cool.
 

Mike in Seattle

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,027
Location
Renton (Seattle), WA
Personally, I would say beginning with the inauguration of Calvin Coolidge and ending with Eisenhower's inauguration (or as I prefer to think of it - Harry & Bess leaving the White House).
 
Messages
10,881
Location
Portage, Wis.
I think it depends on location. Middle America seemed to stay with the old days a bit longer than the coasts. I would consider the 'Leave it to Beaver' world to still be Golden Era and, in Milwaukee at least, things were pretty much as they were in the 50's until Father Groppe and the race riots in '68. Small towns, it held on even longer, still very prevalent into the late 70's. Heck, even in the 90's the golden era was hanging on by a thread with the old timers still smoking pipes and hand-rolled cigarettes and wearing fedoras. If I was going to pick an official cut off for me, personally, it would be the '68 riots.

I would say it began with the days of the Roaring 20's. Just my opinion, of course.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,031
Messages
3,026,754
Members
52,533
Latest member
RacerJ
Top