The 1920s were a decade of energy, innovation—and rule-breaking. Essentially, you can think of it as a decade that was on the edge of modernity! But that’s not all. The 1920s gave us many skills that, while they might seem outdated, are in fact still useful today. Here are eleven forgotten skills from the 1920s that deserve a comeback and why. Who knew that the past still had lessons for us?
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Flapper Dressmaking
Understanding flapper dressmaking could help you make a killer outfit for a themed party or just because you wanted something unique. You’ll get to create dazzling dresses that symbolize freedom & fun—they’re perfect for any occasion that needs a bit of sparkle. Best of all, you’ll pick up lots of useful skills as you do it. These include working with different fabrics, adding sequins & making those iconic fringes.
Jazz Music Playing
Jazz is music with soul, feeling & improvisation. Despite what you might think, learning to play jazz isn’t just for those who want to become professional musicians. In fact, it’s for anyone who wants to truly understand music and practice their listening skills. Simply sit back and let the tunes flow through you. You’ll make something unique every time. Plus, good jazz skills make you the star of any party!
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Silent Film Acting
Some actors managed to tell a story without saying a word—you can do it too! Silent film acting teaches you a lot about non-verbal communication and it’s a skill that’s rather useful in today’s world. So much of our interaction is through screens instead of spoken words. As such, learning the art of exaggerated expressions & body language will help you with presentations as well as with making your friends laugh with a perfectly timed look.
Speakeasy Operating
In those days, running a speakeasy involved slinging drinks and creating an unforgettable experience. It was like party planning on steroids since it involved so much careful strategizing! You need to understand how to set the mood with just the right music, decor & secret knocks. If you’re able to master this skill, you’ll be better at hospitality & secrecy more generally to make everyone feel like they’re part of something exclusive.
1920s Slang Speaking
1920s slang was almost like a secret language that instantly made everything more fun. Beyond the costume parties, using these vintage phrases would be a great icebreaker that makes everyone want to be your friend. So go ahead. Call things the “cat’s meow” and become “the Darb” of every gathering. People might not know what you mean but it’ll certainly make you much more interesting.
Charleston Dance Teaching
You can’t get more 1920s than the Charleston dance! But mastering that fancy footwork will make you the life of any dance floor since you’re simply having fun and letting go. We could all use a little more of those things! The Charleston is also great exercise and dancing has been shown to improve mental health. Basically, you’re having fun & doing yourself a favor at the same time.
Radio Broadcasting
Any radio broadcasting skills from the 1920s could help you become the next greatest podcast host or YouTuber. Essentially, you have to capture that audience with just your voice & your stories. That’s quite relevant today! You’ll learn how to speak clearly & keep things interesting as you engage with listeners without seeing their faces. These skills will benefit you during public speaking.
Bootlegging
We’re not exactly endorsing running an illegal operation—but think about the creativity & resourcefulness bootleggers had to have. You could apply these qualities to all sorts of modern challenges. For example, starting a business requires you to think on your feet and find creative solutions. You have to do it all while keeping your cool!
Vacuum Tube Technology
While we don’t use vacuum tubes much in everyday technology anymore, understanding the basics of how they work will help you appreciate our modern gadgets more. It’s a bit like knowing how to fix your car. Even if you never have to, understanding what’s under the hood gives you a lot more respect for modern engineering.
Cranking Up Your Ride, 1920s Style
When you went for a drive in the 1920s, instead of turning a key or pushing a button, you had to give your car a good old-fashioned hand-crank to get it roaring to life. Knowing how to crank start a car without throwing your back out was the 1920s version of a life hack. These days, this skill will teach you patience & precision. Those skills are useful in every part of life today.
The Art of the Clothes Wringer
Doing laundry in this decade involved getting a workout from using a clothes wringer to press out all that excess water from your wash. You had to manually feed your clothes through two rollers, then crank them through to squeeze out the water. Thankfully, we’re blessed with machines that do the heavy lifting today! Still, knowing how to use a clothes wringer would be useful for anyone wanting to live off-the-grid moments or if you’re trying to live more sustainably.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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