Teenage Identity

"The average American high school girl, who must have her ukulele, would not feel at home in France, for the ukulele is unknown here. [...]”
The Stars and Stripes (Paris, France), Jg. 1, Nr. 3, 22.2.1918, S. 2

The size and ease of transport made the ukulele a popular instruments among teenagers and young adults. Ukuleles could be found across America from Boston to Minnesota at high school graduations, parties, and churches. It seemed that almost every high school girl could play at least one song on the ukulele. Mandolin clubs were revamped into ukulele clubs and glee clubs across college and university campuses began to feature Hawaiian trios and quartets. Adults regarded the ukulele as an annoying instrument only increased its popularity among teenagers[1]. The instrument was tied so closely to the teenage identity that the relationship was represented in Hollywood films. In the 1928 silent comedy, Steamboat Bill Jr. the main character is a Harvard graduate who sees his ukulele as a sign of his time in college and is embarrassed to be seen with it, eventually stomping on it in disgust[2].

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[1] Tranquada, Jim, and John King. The Ukulele: A History. University of Hawai’i Press, 2012. pp. 102.

[2] Tranquada 134.