1920's Dance Craze: The Baltimore

"Periodically a dance craze sweeps the nation. The first one was around 1910 (Turkey Trot, Grizzly Bear), then in the the late 1920s there was The Baltimore preformed by Fred Rich and his Astor Hotel Orchestra, shown here , as well as many others that appear in early films with sound. Later dances appeared in the early 1960s (Twist, Mashed Potatoes, Swim, etc.)"

"In each case, there were songs that would name the dance, give some rudimentary instructions as to how to do it, and then inform you that this is the latest sensation to sweep the nation."

PS: Check the beginning credits for a funny coincidence...

Women's Suffrage Postcards

Antique Postcard Hobos

Hobo is a term that refers to a subculture of wandering homeless people, particularly those who make a habit of hopping freight trains.

The iconic image of a hobo is that of a downtrodden, shabbily-dressed and perhaps drunken male, one that was solidified in American culture during the Great Depression.

Hobos are often depicted carrying a bindle or a sign asking for money, work or food.

Hobos differentiate themselves as travelers who are homeless and willing to do work, whereas a tramp travels but will not work and a bum does neither.