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Year 1924 Fun Facts, Trivia, and History

In the year 1924, the Ford Motor Company manufactured the 10 millionth Model T Ford.

In the year 1924, the Ford Motor Company manufactured the 10 millionth Model T Ford.

What Happened During the Year 1924?

What are some fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1924? What were the top news stories in the U.S. and around the world, and what major events took place in the business and financial sectors? How much did a gallon of gas cost, and what happened in science, technology, sports, and in the entertainment industry?

Back in 1924, what were the biggest food and fashion trends, and what were the most popular baby names and Christmas gifts? Likewise, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, and how much did a first-class stamp or a gallon of milk cost? What about famous birthdays and deaths that year, and what were the best-selling books?

From world leaders to pioneers to innovators, who were the most influential people in 1924? What was the median household income, the average life expectancy, and how much did a new house or car cost? Finally, what was 1924 best known for, and was it a good or bad year overall? Let's find out.

Here is a summary of the top news stories and history events that happened in 1924:

  1. In 1924, Calvin Coolidge, Babe Ruth, and George Gershwin were all on center stage. Baked ham and icebox cake were crowd-pleasers, and Charles and Dorothy were popular baby names. A Neutrodyne radio receiver cost $100.00, a gallon of Benjamin Moore paint was $2.49, and straw hats were $2.25 apiece. In 1924 as well, the words answering machine, Bible Belt, bookmobile, Cub Scout, dump truck, Geiger counter, lone ranger, parking lot, prime rate, superhighway, tossed salad, wisecrack, wrecking ball, and zipper all appeared in print for the first time.
  2. Calvin Coolidge (R-Massachusetts) was elected to a full term as president of the United States by defeating Democrat John W. Davis. (Calvin Coolidge's "tenure as the 30th president of the United States began on August 2, 1923, when Coolidge became president upon Warren G. Harding's death.")
  3. On February 22, President Coolidge "delivered the second radio address by a U.S. president from the White House." In a coast-to-coast broadcast on 42 radio stations, Coolidge "marked the birthday of George Washington, the nation's first president, who had been born 192 years ago on that same day."
  4. President Coolidge signed the Immigration Act of 1924 into law, which "prevented immigration from Asia and set a quota on the number of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe."
  5. The president also signed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, "granting citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States."
  6. Albert B. Fall, Henry Sinclair, and Edward L. Doheny were all charged with bribery and conspiracy in the notorious Teapot Dome scandal which unfolded during Warren Harding's presidency. (Just to let you know, Albert B. Fall was the first cabinet member to ever serve prison time. He served nine months of a one year prison sentence for his "misconduct" while in office.)
  7. In March, the Castle Gate mining disaster in Utah killed 172 coal miners. In June, a series of tornadoes ravaged the towns of Sandusky and Lorain, Ohio, killing 93 people.
  8. In 1924, the first state execution using lethal gas took place in Nevada, and dockworkers' strikes occurred in a number of U.S. harbors, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
  9. J. Edgar Hoover was appointed as the first director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
  10. Nellie Tayloe Ross (D-Wyoming) became the first female governor in the United States.
  11. IBM was initially founded as the Computing, Tabulating & Recording Company (CTR). In 1924, CTR was renamed International Business Machines (IBM) by Thomas J. Watson, an American businessman who served as the chairman and CEO of IBM.
  12. The Ford Motor Company manufactured the 10 millionth Model T Ford.
  13. On January 16, Stanley Baldwin resigned as the British prime minister. One week later, Ramsay MacDonald became the first Labour prime minister of the United Kingdom. MacDonald's victory ended the British Labour Party's 24-year struggle for power.
  14. In February, dockworkers in London went out on strike to protest poor working conditions, poor wages, and ongoing competition "between gangs of dockers which could sometimes break into violence."
  15. The Canton Bulldogs were the NFL champs, the Montreal Canadians clinched the Stanley Cup, and the Washington Senators won their first World Series championship.
  16. Clarence DeMar won the 28th Boston Marathon, Black Gold was the winning horse in the 50th Kentucky Derby, and Lew Pettijohn won the 12th Indianapolis 500.
  17. The Boston Bruins became the first USA-based hockey team to join the National Hockey League (NHL). Then, at the first NHL game on American soil, the Bruins defeated the Montreal Maroons, 2-1.
  18. Soldier Field, the home of the Chicago Bears NFL team, opened in 1924 as the Municipal Grant Park Stadium. In 1925, the name was changed to Soldier Field, "as a memorial to the U.S. soldiers who had died in combat."
  19. In 1924, The Plastic Age was a best-selling fiction book, The Thief of Bagdad was a top-grossing film, and It Had to Be You was one of the most popular songs.
  20. George Gershwin's piano solo, Rhapsody in Blue, was first performed at the Aeolian Hall in New York City. (Rhapsody in Blue is "a musical portrait of early-20th-century New York City," and is probably Gershwin's most famous piece.)
  21. Harold Gray's comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, debuted in the New York Daily News, and ran for 86 more years until 2010.
  22. In 1924, the first Macy's Thanksgiving parade took place in New York City, there were over 500 radio stations in the United States, and the iconic Wrigley Building opened in Chicago.
  23. Famous people who were born in 1924 include Carroll O'Connor, Cicely Tyson, Dinah Washington, Don Knotts, George H.W. Bush, Gloria Vanderbilt, Henry Mancini, Jimmy Carter, Sarah Vaughan, and Truman Capote.
  24. Consumer products that were launched during 1924 include the Bit-O-Honey candy bar, Butter Brickle, Dum Dums, iodized table salt, Kleenex facial tissues, locking pliers, Marlboro cigarettes, and Wheaties breakfast cereal.
  25. American companies and brands that were established during 1924 include Ace Hardware, Duracell, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Quaker State, Simon & Schuster, and the Zale Corporation.

This article teaches you fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1924. Find out about popular movies, best-selling books, food and fashion trends, sports facts, popular music artists and songs, famous birthdays, economic and tech news, as well as unusual news events to get the right mix of questions and answers for your 1920s-themed trivia quiz.

This article teaches you fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1924.

This article teaches you fun facts, trivia, and history events from the year 1924.

Table of Contents

Here is a sneak preview of what this article is about:

  1. Grocery Prices in the Year 1924
  2. History Facts and Events From the USA and World
  3. Sports Facts and Trivia
  4. Miscellaneous Fun Facts, Trivia, and Pop Culture Trends
  5. 1920s Slang Expressions
  6. Words That Appeared in Print for the First Time During 1924
  7. Nobel Prize Winners
  8. Best-Selling Fiction Books
  9. American Radio Stations Established in 1924
  10. Ten Most Popular Movies
  11. Ten Best Horror Films
  12. Biggest Pop Music Artists
  13. Top 25 Songs for the Year
  14. Food and Beverage Trivia
  15. Famous Birthdays
  16. Notable Weddings and Divorces
  17. Famous People Who Died
  18. U.S. Automobile Production Figures for the Year
  19. Major U.S. Companies and Brands in 1924
  20. American Companies and Brands Established During 1924

1. Grocery Prices in the Year 1924

These 1924 grocery prices have been made available courtesy of the Morris County Library in Whippany, NJ, as well as ALookThruTime.com.

Please note that a No. 1 can equals 10 1/2 to 12 ounces, and a No. 2 can equals 20 ounces.

In addition, one bushel of potatoes weighs 60 pounds.

  1. Bacon: 35 cents a pound
  2. Bananas: 40 cents a dozen
  3. Beef roast: 33 cents a pound
  4. Butter: 40 cents a pound
  5. Chocolates: 45 cents a pound
  6. Chuck steak: 21 cents a pound
  7. Cocoa: 13 cents for an eight-ounce can
  8. Coffee: 41 cents a pound
  9. Cornmeal: Five cents a pound
  10. Cranberry sauce: 24 cents for a No. 2 can
  11. Duck: 29 cents a pound
  12. Eggs: 32 cents a dozen
  13. Fish (cod): 18 cents a pound
  14. Green onions: Five cents a bunch
  15. Ham (Swift's Premium brand): 25 cents a pound
  16. Lard: 19 cents a pound
  17. Lemons: 25 cents a dozen
  18. Lettuce: 15 cents for a large head
  19. Macaroni: 17 cents a pound
  20. Margarine: 26 cents a pound
  21. Milk: 54 cents a gallon
  22. Oranges: 13 for 25 cents
  23. Peaches (canned, sliced, Del Monte brand): 15 cents for a No. 1 can
  24. Pork chops: 31 cents a pound
  25. Potatoes: 89 cents for a half bushel (A half bushel of potatoes weighs 30 pounds.)
  26. Rice: 10 cents a pound
  27. Rolled oats: Eight cents a pound
  28. Round steak: 34 cents a pound
  29. Salmon: 32 cents a pound
  30. Sirloin steak: 40 cents a pound
In spite of Prohibition, mint juleps were among the most popular alcoholic drinks in 1924.

In spite of Prohibition, mint juleps were among the most popular alcoholic drinks in 1924.

2. History Facts and Events From the USA and World

  1. President of the United States: Calvin Coolidge
  2. Vice President: Vacant
  3. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: William Howard Taft (Ohio)
  4. Speaker of the House of Representatives: Frederick H. Gillett (R-Massachusetts)
  5. Senate Majority Leader: Henry Cabot Lodge (R-Massachusetts) was the Senate Majority Leader until November 9 when he passed away at the age of 74. The office remained vacant for the duration of 1924.
  6. The U.S. Congress: The 68th U.S. Congress was in session.
  7. United States population: 114,109,000
  8. Inflation rate: 0.00 percent
  9. Unemployment rate: 5 percent
  10. Average cost of a new home: About $6,296
  11. Average monthly rent: About $15
  12. Average cost of a new car: About $515
  13. Average annual income: About $2,160
  14. Average retail price for a gallon of gas: 11 cents
  15. Cost of a first-class stamp: Two cents
  16. Minimum wage: 33 cents per hour
  17. Average price of gold: $20.67 per troy ounce
  18. January 16: Stanley Baldwin resigned as the British prime minister.
  19. January 23: Just one week after Stanley Baldwin's resignation as the British prime minister, Ramsay MacDonald became the first Labour prime minister of the United Kingdom. MacDonald's victory ended the British Labour Party's 24-year struggle for power.
  20. From January 25 to February 5, the first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France. Olympics.com tells us that "Initially called the 'International Winter Sports Week,' this event was renamed the '1st Olympic Winter Games' in 1926 at the IOC Session in Lisbon." (Just so you know, IOC is an acronym for the International Olympics Committee.)
  21. In February, dockworkers in London went out on strike to protest poor working conditions. The National Archive remarks that "Working conditions for dockers were generally very poor. They were usually employed on a casual basis, day by day, and had little job security. There was often competition between gangs of dockers which could sometimes break into violence. Employers could use the rivalry between the dockers to keep wages low."
  22. In February, John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor and electrical engineer, sent "rudimentary television pictures over a short distance."
  23. February 7: The first state execution using lethal gas took place in Nevada. The History Channel reports that the executed man was Gee Jon, "a member of a Chinese gang who was convicted of murdering a rival gang member."
  24. February 12: George Gershwin's piano solo, Rhapsody in Blue, was first performed at the Aeolian Hall in New York City. (Rhapsody in Blue is "a musical portrait of early-20th-century New York City," and is probably Gershwin's most famous piece.)
  25. February 14: IBM was initially founded as the Computing, Tabulating & Recording Company (CTR). However, on February 14, CTR was renamed International Business Machines (IBM) by Thomas J. Watson, an American businessman who served as the chairman and CEO of IBM.
  26. From February 16 to February 26: Dockworkers' strikes took place in various U.S. harbors, including Everett (Washington), Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle.
  27. February 22: President Coolidge became the first U.S. president to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House. In a coast-to-coast broadcast on 42 radio stations, Coolidge "marked the birthday of George Washington, the nation's first president, who had been born 192 years ago on that same day."
  28. March 8: The Castle Gate mining disaster in Utah killed 172 coal miners.
  29. April 21: Clarence DeMar won the 28th Boston Marathon.
  30. In May, the Wrigley Building, a majestic skyscraper that once housed the corporate headquarters of the Wrigley Company, opened in Chicago. It was also the first air-conditioned office building in the Windy City. (In 1924, the Wrigley Company was the largest manufacturer of gum products in the world. Today, the Wrigley's brand features 24 flavors of chewing gum, including the ever-popular Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, and Spearmint flavors.)
  31. May 10: J. Edgar Hoover was appointed as the first director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
  32. May 17: Black Gold was the winning horse in the 50th Kentucky Derby.
  33. May 21: Two University of Chicago students, Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold Jr., murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks in what was described as a "thrill killing."
  34. May 26: President Coolidge signed the Immigration Act of 1924, which is also known as the Johnson-Reed Act. The federal law "prevented immigration from Asia and set quotas on the number of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe."
  35. June 2: President Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, "granting citizenship to all Native Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States."
  36. June 8: British mountain climbers Andrew Irvine and George Mallory died in a mountaineering accident while climbing Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain.
  37. June 28: Tornadoes ripped through the towns of Sandusky and Lorain, Ohio, killing 93 people.
  38. From July 5 to July 27, the Summer Olympics were held in Paris. A total of 657 athletes from over 40 countries participated in the Games. Ten nations competed for the first time; on the other hand, Cuba, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, and Uruguay, for various reasons, did not participate in the competition.
  39. July 20: Ottavio Bottecchia of Italy won the 18th Tour de France.
  40. August 5: Harold Gray's comic strip, Little Orphan Annie, debuted in the New York Daily News, and ran for 86 more years until 2010.
  41. From October 4 to October 10: At the 1924 World Series, the Washington Senators defeated the New York Giants in seven games to win their first championship in club history.
  42. October 9: Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears NFL team, opened as the Municipal Grant Park Stadium. In 1925, the name was changed to Soldier Field, "as a memorial to the U.S. soldiers who had died in combat."
  43. November 1: The Boston Bruins joined the National Hockey League (NHL), and became the first USA-based team to join the league.
  44. November 4: Calvin Coolidge was elected to a full term as president of the United States by defeating Democratic candidate John W. Davis. (Calvin Coolidge's "tenure as the 30th president of the United States began on August 2, 1923, when Coolidge became president upon Warren G. Harding's death.")
  45. November 4: Nellie Tayloe Ross (D-Wyoming) became the first female governor in the United States.
  46. November 4: California legalized professional boxing which had been outlawed in the state since 1914.
  47. November 9: Senate Majority Leader Henry Cabot Lodge (R-Massachusetts) passed away at the age of 74. He served in the United States Senate from 1893 to 1924, and "supported imperialist endeavors and favored military preparedness following the outbreak of WWI."
  48. November 22: Florence Harding, who was the first lady of the United States during the presidency of Warren G. Harding, died of renal failure in Marion, Ohio.
  49. November 29: The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Toronto St. Pats in their first game at the newly-built Montreal Forum. Sporting News has called the arena "the most storied building in hockey history."
  50. December 1: The Boston Bruins defeated the Montreal Maroons, 2-1, at the first National Hockey League (NHL) game to be played on American soil.
In 1924, potatoes cost 89 cents for a half bushel. (Just so you know, a half bushel of potatoes weighs 30 pounds.)

In 1924, potatoes cost 89 cents for a half bushel. (Just so you know, a half bushel of potatoes weighs 30 pounds.)

3. Sports Facts and Trivia

Generally suitable for all age groups, sports-related questions are a welcome addition to any trivia night quiz.

  1. Boston Marathon: Clarence DeMar
  2. Indianapolis 500: Lew Pettijohn
  3. Kentucky Derby: Black Gold
  4. NCAA Football Champions: Notre Dame
  5. NFL Champions: Cleveland Bulldogs
  6. Rose Bowl: A tie (0/0) between Washington and Navy
  7. Stanley Cup: Montreal Canadiens
  8. Tour de France: Ottavio Bottecchia
  9. U.S. Open Golf: Cyril Walker
  10. U.S. Open Tennis (men/women): William Tilden/Helen Wills
  11. Wimbledon (men/women): Jean Borotra/Kathleen McKane
  12. World Series: Washington Senators
  1. Back in 1924, what did people do for fun? Well, there were baseball cards, jigsaw puzzles, and roller skating. There were poker games, ping-pong, and pedal cars. Baseball was the national pastime, and many Americans went to baseball games, followed baseball, and played baseball. People also listened to music, read books, danced the Charleston, played the banjo, went to the movies, and even took a "Sunday drive" in their Model T Ford.
  2. Popular baby names in 1924 were Robert, John, William, James, Charles, Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Betty, and Margaret.
  3. The average lifespan for men born in 1924 was 58.1 years. For women, it was 61.5 years.ii
  4. Popular holiday gifts included chemistry sets, handkerchiefs, pencils, pogo sticks, and Winnie the Pooh books.
  5. $1.00 in 1924 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $17.65 today.
  6. By the end of 1924, there were 530 radio stations in the United States. Back then, you could purchase a Neutrodyne radio receiver for $100, which is about $1,765.12 in today's money.
  7. Consumer products that were launched during 1924 include the Bit-O-Honey candy bar, Butter Brickle, Dum Dums, Imperial beer, iodized table salt, Kleenex facial tissues, locking pliers, Marlboro cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, and Wheaties breakfast cereal.
  8. The term "Bible Belt" first appeared in print in the Chicago Tribune. The Bible Belt is a region of the southern United States where "socially conservative Christianity" plays a major role in day-to-day life. The 15 states that are part of the Bible Belt include Alabama, Arkansas, northern Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
  9. In 1924, The American Mercury, Arkansas Highways, the Daily Word, Liberty, The New Leader, Sunshine, and Ward's all began publishing.
  10. On January 8, radio station KGO in San Francisco began broadcasting.
  11. On January 14, WGKA radio in Atlanta, Georgia began broadcasting.
  12. On February 12, George Kaufman's play, Beggar on Horseback, premiered in New York City.
  13. On February 12, The Eveready Hour, "the first commercially sponsored variety program in the history of broadcasting," aired for the first time on WEAF radio in NYC.
  14. On March 17, Eugene O'Neill's play, Welded, debuted in NYC.
  15. On March 17, The A&P Gypsies, a musical program, aired for the first time on WEAF radio in New York City.
  16. On March 18, the silent film classic, The Thief of Bagdad, was released.
  17. On March 28, radio station WGN in Chicago began broadcasting.
  18. On April 15, Rand McNally published the first road atlas.
  19. On April 18, Simon & Schuster published the first crossword puzzle book.
  20. On April 19, the National Barn Dance, a country music program, aired for the first time on WLS radio in Chicago.
  21. On May 1, the first iodized table salt appeared on grocery store shelves in Michigan.
  22. On May 11, the Pulitzer Prize was awarded to the American poet Robert Frost.
  23. On May 17, radio station KFQD in Anchorage, Alaska began broadcasting.
  24. On May 24, radio station WDBO in Orlando, Florida began broadcasting.
  25. On June 15, the Ford Motor Company manufactured the 10 millionth Model T Ford.
  26. On July 1, direct airmail service began between New York City and San Francisco.
  27. On July 8, WNYC, New York City's "municipally owned and operated" radio station, began broadcasting.
  28. On September 6, Ruth Malcomson of Philadelphia was crowned Miss America.
  29. On September 16, radio station WOOD in Grand Rapids, Michigan began broadcasting.
  30. On September 29, radio station WEZE in Boston began broadcasting.
  31. On October 22, Ralph C. Smedley founded Toastmasters International in Santa Ana, California.
  32. On October 25, radio station WPTF in Raleigh, North Carolina began broadcasting.
  33. On November 2, Great Britain's Sunday newspaper, The Sunday Times, published the first British crossword puzzle.
  34. On November 8, the Fortune Theatre, the first theatre to be built in London since World War I, opened to guests.
  35. On November 11, the Martin Beck Theater opened at 302 West 45th Street in New York City.
  36. On November 24, Sidney Howard's drama, They Knew What They Wanted, opened at the Garrick Theater in NYC for 414 performances. The show later won a Pulitzer Prize.
  37. On November 27, the first Macy's Thanksgiving parade was held in New York City.
  38. On December 15, radio station KOA in Denver, Colorado began broadcasting.
  39. On December 20, radio station WCBS in New York City began broadcasting.
  40. On December 22, Philip Barry's play, The Youngest, premiered in NYC.
  41. Boy's suit: $4.95-$12.00
  42. Girl's dress: 59 cents to $1.00
  43. Men's Oxford shirt: $1.59
  44. Women's silk dress: $15.00
  45. Women's skirt: $4.95-$10.95
  46. Straw hats: $2.25-$3.00 apiece
  47. Benjamin Moore paint: $2.49 per gallon
  48. Lawn mower: $8.00
  49. Record albums: Three for $1.00
  50. Daily newspaper: One cent
In 1924, the Wrigley Building, a majestic skyscraper in Chicago that once housed the corporate headquarters of the Wrigley Company, opened for business.

In 1924, the Wrigley Building, a majestic skyscraper in Chicago that once housed the corporate headquarters of the Wrigley Company, opened for business.

5. 1920s Slang Expressions

During the 1920s, dozens of new slang expressions were added to the English language. Here are 35 of the era’s most memorable slang words and phrases. You will also notice that some of them are still being used today.

  1. Applesauce: Nonsense
  2. Baloney: Nonsense
  3. Banana oil: Nonsense
  4. Beezer: Nose
  5. Behind the eight ball: To be in a difficult situation or a tight spot
  6. Big shot: Someone who is important or influential, such as your boss or the tax collector
  7. Blind date: A date with a person who you've never met before.
  8. Bluenose: A prude
  9. Cat's meow: Something that is really splendid
  10. Cheaters: Sunglasses
  11. Chick: Another word for a woman
  12. Dame: Another word for a woman
  13. Flapper: A woman of the 1920s who was outspoken and fun-loving
  14. Flat tire: A dull and boring person
  15. Flophouse: A cheap transient hotel where groups of men slept in large rooms. During the 1920s, flophouses were common in both New York City and Chicago.
  16. Gal: Another word for a woman
  17. Gatecrasher: A person who attends a party without an invitation
  18. Grand: $1,000
  19. Grilled: To be questioned
  20. Have the bees: To be rich
  21. Hooch: Bootleg liquor
  22. Horn: Telephone
  23. Horsefeathers: Nonsense
  24. Hot: Stolen
  25. Jalopy: An old car that is in dilapidated condition
  26. Main drag: The main street of a town or city
  27. On a toot: On a drinking binge
  28. Peepers: Eyes
  29. Scram: To leave hurriedly
  30. Smeller: Nose
  31. Speakeasy: A bar that sells bootleg liquor
  32. Spiffy: Looking elegant
  33. Swanky: Ritzy
  34. Swell: Wonderful, fantastic
  35. Wrong number: A person who is nothing but trouble

6. Words That Appeared in Print for the First Time During 1924

This information has been made available courtesy of Merriam-Webster.com.

  1. Activewear, airtime, answering machine, arm and a leg, and arm-twisting
  2. Beautician, Bible Belt, bookmobile, and Bronx cheer
  3. Clark's nutcracker, coffee ring, comma splice, cosmetician, and Cub Scout
  4. Denver sandwich, Dewey decimal classification, double indemnity, and dump truck
  5. Elba
  6. Fan mail, federal funds, flight deck, and freelancer
  7. Geiger counter and growth hormone
  8. Ho hum and hype
  9. Industrial psychology, inside baseball, and introject
  10. Jam pack and jawline
  11. Katsura tree
  12. License plate, lone ranger, and low blood pressure
  13. Marina, M-day, microfossil, mike, missiology, and Mooncake festival
  14. Napoleon complex, neurochemistry, and nuclear family
  15. Parking lot, placement test, and prime rate
  16. Racketeer and rayon
  17. Scofflaw, shoofly pie, slow motion, soul-searching, spumoni, superhighway, and sustainable
  18. Take to the cleaners, toggle switch, top billing, tossed salad, true-false test, and two-time
  19. Ultrasonics
  20. Wah-wah, watch band, widget, wisecrack, and wrecking ball
  21. Yoo-hoo
  22. Zipper
In 1924, the word “license plate” appeared in print for the first time.

In 1924, the word “license plate” appeared in print for the first time.

7. Nobel Prize Winners

Beth Rowen tells us that winning a Nobel Prize is a life-changing honor. Whether the laureate is an internationally known figure (such as Mother Teresa) or a scientist from obscurity (like Richard R. Ernst), the award brings worldwide recognition that highlights one's life work and provides the funds to continue the mission.

This Nobel Prize information from 1924 has been made available courtesy of NobelPrize.org.

  • Chemistry: No Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded in 1924.
  • Literature: Wladyslaw Reymont (Polish novelist)
  • Peace: No Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1924.
  • Physics: Manne Siegbahn (Swedish physicist)
  • Physiology or Medicine: William Einthoven (Dutch doctor)

8. Best-Selling Fiction Books

This book trivia from 1924 has been made available courtesy of Publishers Weekly.

  1. So Big by Edna Ferber
  2. The Plastic Age by Percy Marks
  3. The Little French Girl by Anne Douglas Sedgwick
  4. The Heirs Apparent by Philip Gibbs
  5. A Gentleman of Courage by James Oliver Curwood
  6. The Call of the Canyon by Zane Grey
  7. The Midlander by Booth Tarkington
  8. The Coast of Folly by Coningsby Dawson
  9. Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini
  10. The Homemaker by Dorothy Canfield Fisher