Small Home Gazette, Winter 2023

A Flapper Valentine

The 1920s was the era of Prohibition, jazz and new customs for women. Most Valentine’s Day dates were free of liquor, unless they were willing to head to a speakeasy. Perhaps a couple would have gone dancing—or ice skating, if they lived in a colder climate. They might have enjoyed a meal ending with pineapple upside down cake, all the rage at the time. Or what about seeing a flick, such as The Kid (1921) starring Charlie Chaplin. And just like us, they would have exchanged cards.

As was the writing style at the time, the spelling on this valentine tried to convey the character’s cutesy dialect. Today, it is just hard to decipher. In plain English, it reads: “Your loving’s sort of wrecked me, and set my brain a-whirl. But heaven will protect me, for I’m a working girl.” The card was printed by the Buzza Company, Minneapolis, in 1920. Buzza was one of the country’s top producers of stationery, framed mottos and greeting cards.