Houston in the 1920s and 1930s

Images of America: Texas

by Story Jones Sloane III

Houston was already a dynamic city when it experienced an exciting period of accelerated growth in the 1920s and 1930s. The Roaring Twenties began with a national ban on alcohol and ended abruptly with the stock market crash of 1929, but the prominent and influential Jesse Jones ensured the city's part in the economic collapse was minimal. Despite the country's financial woes, Houston's downtown was booming. Skyscrapers set new records in height, forever changing the skyline and appearance of the city. The introduction and widespread use of air-conditioning tamed the stifling heat and humidity for which Houston was known. The National Democratic Convention of 1928 showed the rest of the nation what a modern metropolis Houston had become. This entertaining new book illustrates how Houstonians lived, worked, and played during both the good times and the bad in the early 1900s.

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2009

Reviews

[Eboni Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own this book and a few others from the series and while I enjoy them for what they are, I do feel that they are very lacking in glaring ways.

As a Black Houstonian, this book very clearly omits non-White Houstonians and it's quite disappointing to see. If you're interested in Whte Houston in the 1920s and 1930s, this is the book for you. But for anyone else, maybe look elsewhere.

Again, I appreciate the book for what it is, but the omission of so many Houstonians cannot be overlooked.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author of this book, Story Sloane, is a photographer and master printer. He owns the Sloane Gallery in Houston, which features high-quality historic photos. His shop is a delight to visit. This book is a good example of his work, and it is absolutely crammed with fine images.