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In 1919, the 18th Amendment
was passed, beginning the time
of Prohibition
From then until 1933, it was illegal
to make or sell alcohol except as "medicine"
But, the 1920's were one of the
drunkest decades in American History
The New York Times newspaper wrote: "gin was the national drink and sex the national obsession"
The dancing girls in the video were called
"flappers." They wore pants (instead of skirts),
smoked cigarettes, drank, and in general, rebelled against traditional female stereotypes.
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald were
icons of the Roaring Twenties
They met while Scott was stationed in
Alabama during World War I
Zelda came from a rich family.
She and Scott moved North, in the middle
of the jazz craze, during Prohibition
When Scott became successful selling
his stories, they went overseas and lived
in Europe with other Americans
That's the subject of the new movie,
"Midnight in Paris."
In the twenties, everybody had cash,
because after World War I, the economy picked up
Consumer items were mass-produced
People didn't really care that drinking was
illegal - much like marijuana today.
So, here's Gatsby:
Setting = 1922
At the time,Prohibition was law, and
bootleggers became millionaires.
Also worth knowing: bootleggers
tricked out their cars to beat the cops
This led to auto racing: NASCAR
and other "stock car" series
So, back in the Roaring Twenties,
it was entirely possible to make millions
if you were bold enough and smart enough
to move liquor from Canada or make
it yourself and sell it.
Fitzgerald vacationed on Long Island
a few times during his career
One of the houses he visited
is rumored to have inspired
Tom and Daisy's house
Another house on Long Island,
called "Beacon Towers," is probably
the inspiration for Gatsby's new mansion
So, when you start to read Gatsby, think about the 1920s. Think about bold people who hustled and made millions doing illegal things. They danced, they drank, they threw huge parties.