Data and Population:
In 1920 St. Louis, with 772,897 inhabitants, slipped to sixth place in population. A revolutionary change in the City's transit system began during the 1920's. This rail system extended to practically every developed portion of the City. Bus operations began with the Missouri Motorbus Company in 1921. This company operated only one line and soon financial difficulties caused its abandonment. A more ambitious system was organized in 1923 by the Peoples Motorbus Company, which soon became a serious competitor of the United Railways Company. Lindell emerged as the City's show street with the erection of such large hotels as the Chase, Park Plaza, Coronado, and Melbourne, as well as such monumental structures as the Masonic Temple and he Scottish Rite Cathedral. The Grand and Olive district became the theatrical center when the large Fox, Missouri and St. Louis theaters were erected during the twenties. Subdivision activity took place with renewed vigor during the twenties, absorbing many of the remaining large vacant areas in the extreme southern, southwestern, and northwestern parts of the City.
In 1920 St. Louis, with 772,897 inhabitants, slipped to sixth place in population. A revolutionary change in the City's transit system began during the 1920's. This rail system extended to practically every developed portion of the City. Bus operations began with the Missouri Motorbus Company in 1921. This company operated only one line and soon financial difficulties caused its abandonment. A more ambitious system was organized in 1923 by the Peoples Motorbus Company, which soon became a serious competitor of the United Railways Company. Lindell emerged as the City's show street with the erection of such large hotels as the Chase, Park Plaza, Coronado, and Melbourne, as well as such monumental structures as the Masonic Temple and he Scottish Rite Cathedral. The Grand and Olive district became the theatrical center when the large Fox, Missouri and St. Louis theaters were erected during the twenties. Subdivision activity took place with renewed vigor during the twenties, absorbing many of the remaining large vacant areas in the extreme southern, southwestern, and northwestern parts of the City.
Landscape:
By the time Prohibition arrived, there were five gangs in the St. Louis: The Sicilian Green Ones, the Pillow Gang, the Egan's Rats, the Hogan Gang, and the Cuckoos. The Sicilian Green Ones received their name from the farming communities in Sicily where the members originated. The leadership of this group was composed of brothers, John and Vito Giannola, and Alphonse Palizzola. They came from the Stoppagleria faction of the Sicilian mafia. The trio payed their way to the United States through robberies in 1915. Once they got into America, the three went their separate ways: John Giannola to Chicago, Vito Giannola to St. Louis, and Palizzola to Springfield, Illinois. The pillow Gang got it's name from the leader of the group, Carmelo Fresina. He always carried a pillow around with him, so that he would have something soft to sit on after he got shot in the rear end. The Pillow Gang became associated with one particular portion of the Green Ones, and together they took on the Sicilian Green Ones. The Egan's Rats were composed mainly of Irish-American immigrants, although there were a few Italian-Americans and a few Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. During the 1920s women began to recieve more and more office jobs instead of the usual factory jobs. As well, the 19th amendment was passed, giving women the right to vote. Women began to cut their hair shorter, wearing skirts above the knees, and publicly smoking. For a fun night out, people would go dancing in jazz club, watch silent films or listen tp popular radio shows.