List Of Roaring Twenties Professions
Basic Information
The Roaring Twenties are certainly among the most exciting years of the 20th Century. For one brief decade you have economic prosperity bookended by World War I on one end and the Great Depression on the other. Massive cultural transformation happened as well in this era, before diving back into conservatism in the 30s. It's the era of Prohibiition, but also the era when women first got the vote, and the decade which saw the popularization of the automobile and jazz. Women, minorities, and homosexuals had a taste of equality and freedom they wouldn't experience again till the end of the 1960s or later.
- Actor or Actress - this is the era of transition from Silent Film to Talkies, so Former Film Star becomes quite likely if it turns out your voice isn't fit for the screen.
- Alienist
- Antiquarian
- Army Reservist
- Automotive Mechanic
- Automobile Salesman
- Archaeologist – in a Pulp genre game, this may be an Adventurer Archaeologist
- Art Deco Designer or Architect
- Artist – the big movements of the decade are Expressionism and Surrealism
- Author of the Lost Generation - likely to be an Expatriate and move to Paris or write Social Criticism
- Aviation Pioneer or Pilot - see also Barnstorming
- Bookkeeper
- Burlesque Performer - which could describe an actor, musician or stripper
- Circus Performer - nearly 300 carnivals traveled the countryside
- College Co-Ed – largely unheard of before the 20s. Overlaps a lot with the Flapper
- Criminal – especially Mafia Gangster – See also Bootlegger, Smuggler and Gun Moll. The big profit area of the era is booze. It's illegal, but cocaine isn't.
- Dancer - do the Foxtrot, Charleston, and the Lindy Hop at a Dance Hall and try to win a Dance Contest
- Dilettante - see also Flapper
- Estimator and Calculator - doing long math for businesses and governments in an era before computers
- Factory Worker
- Farmer
- FBI Special Agent
- G-Man
- Green Grocer
- Jazz Musician - this is the jazz era
- Journalist - Amateur Journalism flourished as Ditto Machines and Small Press provided new outlets to writers. Photojournalism and Radio were both very popular as well.
- Laundress
- Librarian
- Medicine – Doctor of Medicine, Nurse, Dietician, Alienist
- Model – not in the supermodel sense, but modeling fashionable clothing in a Department Store
- Musician - probably a Jazz Musician
- Parapsychologist - Stanford University and Duke University were both exploring Psionics in the era
- Police – Police Officer or Police Detective
- Private Detective - see also Gumshoe Detective
- Professional Athelete, especially Baseball Player
- Professor
- Prostitute
- Radio Personality
- Religion - see List of Religious Titles and Professions
- Retail Clerk - Department Stores like Macy's, Gimbel's, etc, are just becoming common
- Secretary or Stenographer - see also Shorthand
- Scientist - Quantum Mechanics is the hot new field of Physics, and Relativity is still being debated in this era.
- Speakeasy Bartender, Bouncer, or Saloon Girl
- Teacher
- Telephone Operator
- Tool and Die Maker
- Typist
The Thirties:
As we go into the thirties, things start to settle down a bit, and society turns more conservative. Incorporate the following changes and additions:
- Criminal - The end of prohibition in 1933 leads to reduced Organized Crime activity, but Bank Robbers like John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde become something of national heroes – see Social Bandit.
- Speakeasies come off the list, replaced by more reputable establishments and jobs.
- Hobo gets added to the list, as the Great Depression results in unprecedented unemployment.
- Farmers become fewer in number, as the Dust Bowl conditions result in people being unable to make a living.
- Strikebreaker becomes common, as the lean times put Labor Unions and Management at odds.
Sources
Game and Story Use
- This is the era of Eliot Ness, Al Capone and all that goes with it. That should provide plenty of fuel for adventures.
- Common setting of Cthulhu Mythos scenarios, too!
page revision: 3, last edited: 06 Sep 2009 15:13
