1920s is a meme where users take clips or other memes and edit them to make them look like they're taking place in the 1920s or done in the style of a silent film. Usually the song featured is "Happy Days Are Here Again", though any other song related to the 20s is acceptable.

Origin

In August of 2005, user Ozone31 created a site on YTMND that takes a clip from the 2004 movie Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy of a cowboy getting stabbed by a pitchfork. The scene is done in a sepia tone with music typical of the 1920s playing throughout. Other additions are a title card saying "Ouch!" as the cowboy is hit (a reference to silent films) and fake mustache and top hat on his killer.

Spread

Not long after the site was posted, numerous other users embraced it and began making their own versions. A version with a movie clip (with speech done with title cards) is The Devious Snidely Grievous that makes use of a section of Star Wars III. A version with a meme is What is 1920s, which is an old school version of the What is Love meme.