Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • See all
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
      • Accessibility
      • Arts
      • Attractions
      • Downtown
      • Health & Wellness
      • History
      • Live Music
      • Parks
      • Shopping
      • Stories
      • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • Nature Walks
      • ADK Guides & Tours
      • Birding
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Cross-Country Skiing
      • Cycling
      • Downhill Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Golfing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Mountain Biking
      • Paddling
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

When the twenties roared

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Pamela Merritt
September 11, 2017

I love the the Roaring Twenties. This was an amazing era in American history when what we think of as modern life really began.

The Saranac Lake Laboratory Museum has a new exhibit which features the experience of staying at a 1920’s hotel. This activity, commonplace to most of us, was relatively new to people back then, along with cars, home appliances, and talking on the telephone.

This exhibit was designed to celebrate the complete updating of the Hotel Saranac, which first opened in 1927, and will be grandly re-opening this fall.

“Now be sure to ring the bell,” my guide said, ushering me to the door of the exhibit room. “Because there’s a bellhop there.”

Checking in

Soft period music is playing as I enter the lobby. There’s a lifesize image of the bellboy and an actual hotel registration book from Paul Smith's Adirondack Club. I would have signed this book with a fountain pen. There were no ballpoint pens until after World War II.

The wallpaper and potted palms reflect the art deco style of the time, with bold geometrics and bright colors. New manufacturing processes allowed for more exacting shapes, and the recently ended World War I "dye famine" had opened the United States to color once again. Everything looked new and exciting.

This style might be more familiar to us than we might have realized, since it was used around the world to decorate the great movie palaces of the late 1920s and 1930s, some of which still exist. Movies of that time period also were highly stylized examples of the home decorating and fashions of the time.

Vacation traveling was something new for most of America. Once automobiles became inexpensive enough for ordinary people to own, and there were enough roads to drive them on, people went places. They needed someplace to stay when they got there.

One of the things I always emphasize when I discuss historic hotels is warning people that the standard rooms were smaller back in 1927 (Which is why the Hotel Saranac now has suites available). But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t luxury in abundance; there was.

Deluxe experience

Then and now, vacations were a time to be pampered. The hotel of the Twenties was all about giving this to their guests.

One of the differences between now and then is the employee ratio. People in the typical Roaring Twenties hotel could have reveled in an astounding one-to-one employee-to-guest ratio. Quite a difference from the usual experience of today, which can seemed designed to minimize any human intervention.

From the bellboy (who could be any age) taking up the bags and running errands, to the fully staffed, on-premises hair salon, barbershop, and shoeshine stand, all the way to the full service dining room (including room service) and the housekeeping staff, a cleaning army in itself.

In the bedroom exhibit, ladies can see what they would have looked like in the flapper style, which was considered incredibly daring at the time. It was scandalous when women bobbed their hair and rolled their stockings down, much less their new habits of public smoking and drinking.

Where did they drink? With Prohibition in full bloom, everyone had to find a speakeasy. Turns out, during the Hotel Saranac renovations, the construction crews found what looked like hints of their basement speakeasy. But of course, that was a secret. One every hotel, B&B, and inn around town kept for each other.

You will have to find the speakeasy exhibit for yourself. But no password is required for this one.

Ripples still spreading

There's so much more to this exhibit, and each one has echoes in our own times. Roaring Twenties hotels were highly restrictive to our modern sensibilities, turning away people of color, people of the Jewish faith, and even people who had tuberculosis. (Yes, even in Saranac Lake.)

Yet there were small signs of the great changes to come. Every hotel would have a ballroom, and everyone wanted to know the hot new dances. This was the first time a hint of jazz went national. These were the Jazz Babies, after all. And jazz was the baby of African-American musicians.

Women had gotten the vote in New York state in 1917, and soon the whole nation would let women vote. The ladies of the 1920s were throwing open these doors, and running through them as fast as they could.

I was so impressed with the whole exhibit, with such interesting snapshots of the times, that I interviewed Amy Catania, Executive Director of Historic Saranac Lake. I expressed how impressed I was with the presentation and the extensive research.

"Thanks so much for your interest! I'm so glad you liked it. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of hotels in America, and specifically in Saranac Lake. Understanding the past really helps illuminate the present.  Humanities New York supported consultation with a scholar of hotel history and another expert in 1920s fashions. The grant allowed us to write a clear and engaging exhibit script that challenges visitors to think about interesting topics in 1920s history."

I was very sorry to leave this magical time and return to my own. I’m sure actually living back then had its own share of challenges and difficulties, as every era does. But in this one, it had a lot of focus on fun, which everyone is used to thinking of as a very modern concept.

Find more historic lodging. Find our freshest dining. Learn more about the historic Hotel Saranac with the blog post, Hotel Saranac, Then and Now.

 

Related Stories

Snowshoe Your Way to Winter Fun
Summer Programs for Kids
Explore Your Inner-Artist at ADK ArtRise
Lovely Lodging
Decidedly Artful
Black History in Saranac Lake
Sweet Indulgences - Saranac Lake's Coffee Hotspots
Five Ideas for Winter Family Fun
The Time Traveler's Guide to Saranac Lake
Three Fantastic Fall Hikes in Saranac Lake
A Fall Vacation with Hot Sara
In Her Studio
Lost Among the Rows
A Trip Around the Adirondack Carousel
Lake Kushaqua, A Beautiful Place to Rest
It's All Good at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park
Don't Miss the Amazing Lawn Serpent!
My, How You’ve Grown: 40 Years of Pendragon Theatre
Finding Fun and Snowfleas at the VIC
Walking the Walk: ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
An Artist's Haven
The Historic Saranac Experience
More than the center of town
The creation of an Adirondack gem
Summer Scoop: Five ADK Ice Cream Destinations
Extreme Art: Painting Inside the Blue Line
Two Ways of Exploring the Natural World at the VIC
The VIC: It's Luxury Hiking!
Walking the Walk: 20 years of ArtWalks in Saranac Lake
Get down! The best low-elevation hikes in Saranac Lake
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration!
Adirondack Fish Hatchery Experience
Three of Saranac Lake's Best Paddling Routes
'Round the Mountain Canoe Race - An Event For All Paddlers
Family Paddling Day: Planned for You
The art of Pink House
Five decidedly different things in downtown Saranac Lake
So Much Snow! And Some Great March Skiing!
Saranac Lake's Walk of Fame
Family Ski at Dewey
Canoodlers and Lawn Chair Ladies
Woods and Waters Trail, a great ski!
New Year, New Finds
From Your Home To Our Home
A Holiday Ski!
First Skis of the Season!
Downtown Holiday Shopping Guide
Calling All Rock Hounds
Crafting an art evening
Feeling Grateful
The sound of healing
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze
When the twenties roared
4 Go-To Paddling Destinations for Fall Foliage
The hidden fun in Lake Clear
Six Nations, First People
Family fun that's free
Our lodging? It's different.
Sprung!
Rebirth of the Hotel Saranac
To get the trout, get the gear
Three hikes to include everyone
Vroom! Daffest Derby creator shares memories
Get out and art!
Dewey Mountain - Just Wild Enough
2016 Most Popular Blogs
We can dash through the snow
Make Holiday Memories at Moody Farm
In plein site
Dia de Muertos at Pine Ridge
Don't be afraid of the kayak
Choose to stay... in the past!
Ampersand: A Family Tradition Realized
Village of Boulders
Fall Events: a blaze of glory!
So many hikes, so little time
Tri to stay dry
Puppy's first mountain climb
Coolest Adirondack Chopped Challenge!
Planting seeds
Don't miss the summer's coolest events
History Is Cool: The Lab Museum
Hotel Saranac: Then and Now
Tucker Farms - three seasons of goodness
Some assembly required
Wonderful Weddings in Cool Places
Anti-vaxxers lead to Saranac Lake reopening tuberculosis facilities
Five Fun (and obscure) Facts about Saranac Lake!
Saranac Lake Classic: the Cure Chair
Saranac Lake Arts Beacon
Carl Ballantine, comedy magic
Love among the cure cottages
Cross-Country Skiing on the Bloomingdale Bog Trail
Yeah, we're cool - no matter what we're wearing!
Shops with personality plus
Special Dining Options - Gluten Free & Vegan
Gray Jays!
Fun with Ice: Saranac Lake Creativity
2015 Most Popular Blogs
Trotting for Turkeys
Select seven: Family hikes under four hours
Shopping without the stress
Tubing: the sport to please the masses
Timeless Tubing at Mount Pisgah
Adirondacks' Masterpiece
John Brown's Other Bodies
Brighton: Dusk 'til Dawn
Unleash Your Inner Picasso
A Cool Adirondack Adventure
Enjoying Late Summer Wildflowers!
Dog Days of Summer aka Beach Time!
Martha Reben: Staring down the Great White Plague
Lake Clear: Our Secret Paradise
How to have fun at the Art Opening
Stevenson Cottage - small outside, a world inside
Paddling in the Adirondacks for the First Time!
Hiking with the Crew up Baker Mountain
Riding the Rails, Adirondack style!
Keeping It Local
July is when things heat up!
Finding Lots of Birds Just by Taking a Simple Walk
Great Birding and Loads of Warblers in Madawaska!
Saranac Inn, golf with a taste of Scotland
Free Water Park Ride In Our Backyard
A Spring Hike Up Baker Mountain
Learning to Love Every Season
In Defense of Mud Season
Skiing in April and on Easter - No Foolin'!
Winter Carnival announces Summer Ice Palace
The Joy of Spring Skiing
DIY Adirondack style
Newbie Skier Tackles Titus
Memorable Firsts: Carnival & Cross-Country Skis
Skiing the Fish Pond Trail
February Fun and Games in Saranac Lake
Wedding planning with the pros
Two sides of the Trifecta
Adirondack Traditions, then and now
An Evening Sleigh Ride in the Adirondacks
Skiing - and Falling - in a Winter Wonderland
A night on the town in Saranac Lake
Where to find hot beverages
The First Ski of the Season!
Healthy Holidays, Adirondack Style
A picture's worth a thousand words - epic winter events
Eat 'n Meet: a community-minded neighborhood joint
Birding Along Lake Colby
Saranac Lake Remembers the Great War
A Guide to the Great Indoors
Adirondack Firetower Challenge: Climbing the Fire Tower Peaks near and around Saranac Lake
New fun at Titus Mountain Ski Area
The Blind Owl Band: A true Adirondack band
Norman Bethune, the hero, the artist
An Apt Pair: Ampersand Mountain & Follensby Clear Pond
The biggest Cure Tour of them all
History Comes Alive in Saranac Lake
Learning to Identify Fall Leaves
The Horse Knows The Way
Mount Pisgah getting ready for winter ski season
Paddling and Snorkeling Little Green Pond
A Red Phalarope at Little Clear Pond!
Searching for Fall Warblers and Other Songbirds
Forks, Fests, and Flatwater: 3 Featured Fall events
Paddling Little Clear Pond
3 Short Paddles found in the St. Regis Canoe Area
Paddling Lake Clear Outlet
Hiking and Exploring Azure Mountain
See artists at work in the mountains
An Evening Paddle on Moose Pond
A Great Place to Break Down
A cure cottage tour, a step back in time
The Art Walk is a path to art, music, and fun!
Mid-summer events in Saranac Lake
Frankenstein Lives! In the old laboratory in the village
Birding at the Spring Pond Bog
“One Particular Island” all to ourselves
Roughing it in style: a tour of White Pine Great Camp
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration
Spring Paddling on Lake Colby
One Magic Canoe: The Seven Carries Canoe Route
Roadside Gems, Paddling the Saranac Lake Region
5 Hidden Gems for Hiking, Paddling & Trail Running
Art Event or Fun Party? BluSeed blurs the line
Daffest is just around the corner
Our lakes were born for boating
Night Time's the Right Time in Saranac Lake
Top 10 Spots for Paddling in Adirondacks
Waterhole Wednesdays Feature Free Music
Winter Foodie Scene
BluSeed Studios planning for busy spring
Spoken Word: Poetry on Stage
Thursday Night Music Jam
Breakfast & History
Night Skiing at Mt. Pisgah
Mid-Winter Events 2014
Top Five Winter Break Activities
Best Ice Fishing Holes
Building the Ice Palace
Tubing Adventures at Mt. Pisgah
Snowshoe Shopping
Lost and Found
The Art of Gifts
Intimate Studio Tour With Sandra Hildreth
Art & Dining
Short & scenic hikes
Less than two weeks to Sparkle Village Craft Fair!
Camera Obscura: The Renaissance Camera
Saranac Lake Art Attraction Nov 22 - Dec 28, 2013
Discover the Art of Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake: A Mecca for the Arts
Muskrats!
5 Cool Ways to Experience Art in Saranac Lake
Goodman Mountain
Saving Einstein
Hunkering down with Adirondack arts in late fall
Hunkering down with Adirondack arts in late fall
Hiking St. Regis Mountain
Holistic Guiding: Immersing Yourself in ADK History & Culture
Fall at the VIC
A Fall Paddle on Jones Pond
Going to Church
Painted Landscapes, Clay Demonstrations, and Chickens...all a part of the Artist at Work Studio Tour
Where the leaves are on fire with color
Artist at Work Studio Tour this week
The Colors of Late Summer
Fun family events for fall foliage season
Fifth Annual Hobofest: Music, Food and Fun on the Tracks
Stomping out the Saranac 6 – Week 2 – St. Regis Mountain
Hobofest tops the calendar this weekend
FlavorFest at The Wild Center
Hobofest Returns to Saranac Lake
Pianist Eugene Sirotkine performs August 6th concert to benefit Bartok Cabin
Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend
Top 5 Family Friendly Activities in the Saranac Lake Area
Paper Making with a Purpose at BluSeed Studios
From carousels to magic lamps - events to tickle your Spring fancy
Historic Saranac Lake "History Matters" series continues with "Clara's Rib"
Historic Saranac Lake "History Matters" series continues with "The Art of Guideboat Building"
A Taste of Provence at Saranac Lake's Left Bank Cafe
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES