Houston in the 1920s and 1930s

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.

Author Story Jones Sloane III is a native Houstonian who has been involved with the visual preservation of Houston's history for over 25 years. He graduated with a degree in photography from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Images from his vintage Houston collection have been featured in numerous books, magazines, and television documentaries, helping to promote historical awareness of Houston and southeast Texas.