In 1920, election night in Duluth was a party

Americans today watch election results roll in from across the U.S. on TV or by refreshing an online electoral college map.

But 100 years ago, with radio still in its infancy, Duluthians gathered in front of the News Tribune and Herald to watch results projected on a screen outside.

"Thousands of Duluthians lined Superior street in front of the News Tribune office from 7 o'clock last night until early this morning watching the special election returns received by the News Tribune by wireless, telegraph, and telephone and flashed every minute on huge white bulletin board across the street," the News Tribune, the morning paper, reported on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1920, the day after the election.

Later that day, the Herald, Duluth's evening paper, estimated a crowd of 5,000 people had gathered outside the newspaper building. In between results, the crowd's "spirit of jollity" was kept up by live music, films and cartoons drawn by the newspapers' artists.

"It was a happy, eager crowd," the Herald said in its recap. "Each bit of news was awaited eagerly and in the lull between dispatches the music of the American Legion band and various moving picture features provided a satisfying form of entertainment."

The Superior Telegram also projected results outside its building.

Although live results projected on a screen seems archaic, the results were provided by the Associated Press wire service, which many news organizations will rely on again in 2020.

The election night party in Duluth spanned downtown and beyond, with "dense throngs" gathering at nine theaters, which were provided updated election result bulletins by the News Tribune.

Campaigns also wired results to clubs throughout town, where it was announced to the dancing crowds. Election-night parties were held at the YMCA, Kitchi Gammi Club and other clubs.

Often, folks hopped from gathering to gathering.

"Many of the young married set first visited the Orpheum Theater for election returns before going to the Kitchi Gammi Club for a special dance and buffet supper," the News Tribune's society pages reported.

There was reason to celebrate. The 19th Amendment had been ratified less than three months before the election, granting women the right to vote.

Duluth officials predicated a "whopper" turnout with so many new voters heading to the poll. Fears that there were not enough polling booths were overblown as many men and women opted to vote early in the day — perhaps to get to the election parties sooner.

To the delight of the crowd gathered outside the newspaper, Republicans prevailed in the 1920 general election.

In the presidential race, Republican Warren G. Harding defeated Democrat James Cox. In the Minnesota gubernatorial race, Republican J. A. O. Preus defeated Independent Henrik Shipstead and Democrat Laurence C. Hodgson.

"Beginning early in the evening, the crowd apparently took the election of Harding for granted," the Herald reported. "Pictures of Republican candidates were greeted with cheering and yelling. Women vied with men in eagerness displayed as each bulletin was flashed to the public."

1/4: The Duluth News Tribune explains how it will project election results on a screen outside its office in 1920. free

2/4: The Nov. 3, 1920 Duluth Herald reports on the thousands of people that gathered in downtown the night before to watch election results roll in. free

3/4: The News Tribune advertises its 1920 election results event. Thousands of people gathered outside the office on Nov. 2, 1920 to watch results projected onto a screen. Films and cartoons were also shown while waiting for results. free

4/4: An advertisement in the Duluth Herald for the 1920 election results party. free