From heroes to despots and everything in between, the badasses of history fought hard, stood their ground, and earned a name for themselves in history books around the world. Sure, they weren’t all paragons of goodness, but that’s what makes them so interesting. Take this quick quiz to find out which historic badass you really were in a past life — your results just might astound you.
Fred Rogers, more commonly known as Mr. Rogers, was one of the most beloved children’s television hosts of all time. His show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, which debuted in 1968, had a positive impact on millions of children and adults, teaching his viewers invaluable lessons in patience and compassion. The show remains one of the most loved shows in TV history, with many people still able to recall the effect that Mr. Rogers’ gentle demeanor had on their development. In addition to spreading happiness and understanding, Fred Rogers was an incredible human who worked hard for the things he believed in, advocating for issues such as education for children, PBS funding, and testifying in court in favor of home recording so that families could watch his show when it was convenient for them to do so.
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The 1930s were a difficult time in the United States and around the world. After the stock market crash in 1929, roughly 25% of Americans found themselves unemployed, many people had very little cash to spare, and the economy ground to a halt. But that doesn’t mean that people couldn’t have a little fun during the Great Depression – in fact, the people suffering through the worst depression in modern history often sought out forms of entertainment that would help them to mentally escape the tough times they were facing.
Radio and live music such as Swing and Big Band, and films such as gangster films and comedies became more popular than ever, offering the population a tiny bit of reprieve from grim reality. Prohibition was repealed in 1933, letting people take the edge off and party down without worrying about legal consequences. Literature adapted to reflect the struggle of everyday people, resulting in something of a merge between “high” and “low” culture.
The people of the decadent 1920s might have let loose simply because they could, but the people of the 30s let loose because they needed to be occasionally distracted from the troubling times. Let’s take a look at 19 photos that show just how cool the 1930s could be, proving that humanity’s ability to smile through tough times is a remarkable and wonderful thing.
