Mike Bryan

Michael Neely Bryan was an American jazz guitarist.

Practicality in 1911 undergarments

Working-class women in 1911 wore underwear with an open crotch design to allow for easier bathroom use.

Wages and work footwear in 1911

Garment workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 earned about $6 per week and typically wore pointed-toe boots with two-inch heels for their long work shifts.

Phonograph record production skyrocketed by 1921

The record industry experienced massive growth; phonograph record production soared from 25 million in 1914 to 100 million in 1921.

Jazz musician pay increased significantly by 1920s

In New Orleans, jazz musicians' earnings rose significantly, with some increasing from $1.50 per night in early dance halls to $25 per night at upscale locations by the mid-1920s.

Rail travel efficiency by 1910

By 1910, rail travel had become significantly faster, with a trip between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh taking just eight hours.

Automobile travel grew rapidly after 1920

By the late 1920s, car sales reached 23 million, and Americans were traveling five times further by car than by train. This shift gave families freedom to choose their own schedules, contrasting with the fixed, rushed nature of railway timetables.

Crowded New York City apartment living

In 1915, a typical working-class four-room apartment in New York City rented for nineteen dollars a week and housed a family of nine plus a boarder.

Kerosene lamps provided limited household light

In the early 1900s, rural families primarily used kerosene lamps for light, which provided only about 25 watts of illumination and required messy weekly maintenance to clean soot from glass chimneys.

Pasta was sold by the pound, loose

In urban shops, pasta was sold in large coils or lengths rather than pre-packaged boxes, and shopkeepers sold broken pasta bits for pennies a pound for soup.

Purchasing ready-made food for convenience

To save on expensive fuel and time, many urban workers purchased ready-to-eat meals from delicatessens, saloons, and street pushcarts.

Staple food prices in 1915

In 1915, a one-pound loaf of bread cost seven cents, while a dozen eggs cost thirty-four cents.

Cost of footwear in 1920

In January 1920, a man's pair of shoes cost approximately $11.50, and a woman's pair cost $14.00.