I got to thinking about what led me to write 1920's historicals.
My trip to the 1920's took a bit of a circular route. It started with my love of the old TV western, Bonanza, and my favorite character on that show. Unlike most of the world, who remember the four Cartwrights with fond nostalgia, I fell for a later season character, Candy, played by David Canary. My love of his character, Candy, impelled me to search out other things David Canary starred in. One of my favorites is St. Valentine's Day Massacre, a pre-Bonanza role from 1967. This movie, filmed a bit like a documentary, reenacted the events leading up to the Chicago gangland massacre of February 14, 1929. After watching that, I was hooked on the Roaring Twenties. Unable to do things halfway, I took it upon myself to learn all I could about that intriguing era.
After learning about bootleggers, speakeasy, jazz singers and those awful flappers, who dared show their knees in public, all other periods of history seem so staid to me. Where else can you fine flagpole sitters, dance marathoners and bathtub gin?
I feel the 1920's is a sadly under-appreciated time historians tend to skip over on their journey between WWI and WWII. I'm making it my personal mission to enlighten the world on the joys of The Charleston and the Model A. Come join me!
