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Transcript

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.

The Great Gatsby

and the Roaring Twenties

aka. "The Jazz Age"

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