Episode 1 - Fatty Arbuckle and the Fourth Turning - Part 1

Step into the shadows of the 1920s as Unexplained History delves into the scandals, secrets, and societal shifts that defined the Roaring Twenties.

In this episode, we begin with the scandalous tales of Hollywood, from the tragic downfall of Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle to the unsolved murder of director William Desmond Taylor.

Explore the rise of organized crime with figures like Al Capone, and the subversive lives of Hollywood elites at Alla Nazimova’s "Garden of Alla."We then broaden our view to connect these tumultuous times to the Strauss and Howe generational theory in "The Fourth Turning."

Discover how the 1920s marked an unraveling phase, setting the stage for the crises and transformations that would define America in the coming decades.

Lastly, meet the dreamers, innovators, and rebels of the 1920s—the flappers, jazz icons, Charles Lindbergh, Marcus Garvey, and the writers of the Lost Generation—who pushed boundaries and reshaped culture during one of history's most fascinating decades.

From scandalous Hollywood stories to societal transformations, this episode of Unexplained History brings you face to face with the personalities and events that made the 1920s an unforgettable chapter of history.

Join us each week as we unravel the unexplained moments of our past. New episodes drop every Tuesday, exclusively from The Unexplained Company.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Welcome to Unexplained History, the podcast where we unravel the
mysteries that have shaped our world, the cycles that repeat
across history, and the events that alter our collective destiny.
I'm your host, Tom McKenzie. Today we're delving into a
story that not only captivated the nation, but also mark

(00:38):
the beginning of a major cultural shift, one that set
the stage for the societal turning points we will explore
in the rest of this episode. The early nineteen twenties

(01:02):
was a time of great change, a moment when the
old world was left behind and a new, uncertain era
began to take shape. It was an age of glamour, excess,
and ambition, but also an era of scandal, corruption, and
the erosion of public trust in its supposed heroes. Today

(01:24):
we begin with the infamous story of Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle,
a beloved figure whose downfall foreshadowed much of Hollywood and
America's turmoil in the coming years. Our journey starts in
nineteen twenty one, amidst the glitz of Hollywood's Golden Age,

(01:46):
with Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle, a comedian adored by millions. His
physical comedy brought laughter and joy to audiences, and he
seemed to embody the carefree spirit of the time. Yet
in a moment, all of that unraveled. On Labor Day
weekend of nineteen twenty one, a tragic incident in a

(02:07):
San Francisco hotel room transformed Arbuckle from a cherished entertainer
into the central figure in a scandal that rocked the nation.
The Saint Francis Hotel party represented everything in the nineteen twenties, excess,

(02:28):
indulgence and freedom. But as the party continued, a young
actress named Virginia Rap fell mysteriously ill. Within days, Rap
was dead, and Arbuckle was accused of the most heinous
of crimes, rape and manslaughter. The press pounced, creating a

(02:48):
firestorm of sensational headlines that painted Arbuckle as a symbol
of Hollywood's unchecked depravity. The story was not just about
the tragic death of Rap, It was a moment that
revealed the public's growing suspicion of the film industry's decadent underbelly.
Three trials ensued, each more grueling than the last. The

(03:12):
final outcome was an acquittal, and the jury even issued
a rare apology to Arbuckle, but the damage was irreversible. Hollywood,
desperate to salvage its image in the wake of public outrage,
effectively exiled Arbuckle, destroying his career and reputation. He became

(03:33):
the first casualty in what would become a long series
of public reckonings for Hollywood, A scapegoat for the broader
cultural anxieties of the time, the Arbuckle scandal was more

(03:54):
than just a personal tragedy. It was a signal of
the changing times, a moment that pulled back the curtain
on Hollywood and exposed the fragility of fame and the
dangerous dance between celebrity and scandal. It foreshadowed the growing
backlash against the perceived moral decay of the jazz age

(04:16):
and set the tone for what would follow. Moving forward,
we see that this scandal wasn't an isolated event, but
the beginning of a series of cultural earthquakes that would
shape Hollywood's future and influence the broader American psyche. The

(04:42):
parallels between our Buckle's downfall and the cyclical nature of
history are striking. It was a crisis, a moment that
demanded a response from Hollywood and the public alike. Our
Buckles story is of excess, public frenzy, and the un
for giving court of public opinion. As we continue our

(05:04):
journey through the Roaring Twenties and beyond, we will see
these themes play out repeatedly, each time reshaping the cultural
landscape and preparing society for the next major turning point.

(05:31):
By the end of our journey today, we might begin
to understand the deeper forces at play, the same forces
that propelled the nineteen twenties into an age of excess
and the subsequent crash that redefined an entire generation. What
role did the scandal hungry media play in feeding the flames.

(05:52):
Was Arbuckle a victim of this machine or was he
a symptom of Hollywood's hedonism? Perhaps both? Together, we'll explore
these questions as we continue to unravel the turning points
that shaped Hollywood and indeed the world. Before we continue,

(06:18):
remember to subscribe to Unexplained History wherever you get your podcasts.
If you enjoy today's episode, leave us a review and
share it with your friends. Your support helps us keep
bringing you stories that matter. Now, let's dive deeper into
the fallout of the r Buckle scandal and the other

(06:40):
controversies that would soon engulf Hollywood. The next scandal to
rock Hollywood came in nineteen twenty two, just a year

(07:00):
after Arbuckle's trials. This time, it was the shocking murder
of director William Desmond Taylor that captured the headlines. William
Desmond Taylor was found dead in his Los Angeles home,
and the circumstances surrounding his death were nothing short of mysterious.
The police investigation quickly revealed a tangled web of secrets

(07:22):
involving Hollywood's elite, and soon the public was entranced by
the drama that unfolded. Taylor was well liked in the industry,
known for his charm, talent and his associations with some
of Hollywood's most famous actresses. But behind closed doors, Taylor

(07:43):
had secrets of his own. He was rumored to have
been involved with two prominent actresses, Mabel Normand and Mary
Miles Minter, both of whom became suspects in the public's eyes.
The investigation into Taylor's death uncovered romantic letters, hidden motives,

(08:03):
and even whispers of blackmail. The case quickly grew cold,
and to this day, no one knows who killed William
Desmond Taylor. Was it an act of jealousy, a crime
of passion, or perhaps a more sinister conspiracy involving Hollywood's
powerful elite. The lack of clear answers only fueled the

(08:24):
public's fascination, making the story a lasting piece of Hollywood's
unsolved mysteries. Just two years later, another tragedy struck, this
time aboard the yacht of the powerful media magnate William
Randolph Hurst. In nineteen twenty four, director Thomas Ince died

(08:49):
suddenly after attending a weekend gathering on Hurst's yacht. Officially,
Ince's death was ruled as being due to acute indigestion,
but rumors of a darker truth quickly surfaced. Some speculated
that Hurst, in a jealous rage, had shot Ince by accident,

(09:11):
mistaking him for actor Charlie Chaplin, who was also present
on the yacht and rumored to be romantically involved with
Hurst's mistress, Marion Davies. The secrecy surrounding Ince's death, combined
with the influence and power of Hurst, meant that the
full story was never revealed. Ince's death remains one of

(09:35):
Hollywood's great unsolved mysteries, a story that hints at the
lengths to which powerful figures would go to protect their reputations.

(10:04):
And then there was Alla Nazimova, one of Hollywood's most
enigmatic figures. Nazimova was a Russian actress known for her
incredible talent, but also for her unconventional lifestyle. She owned
a mansion in Hollywood known as the Garden of Allah,
a place that would become infamous in its own right.

(10:27):
The Garden of Allah was not just a luxurious residence.
It was a haven for Hollywood's nonconformists, actors, writers, and
creatives who found solace in its secluded grounds. Nazimova, openly
bisexual at a time when such openness was almost unheard of,

(10:49):
hosted lavish parties that became legendary. These gatherings were whispered
about in Hollywood circles. Rumors of all female orgies and
for bidden love affairs made the Garden of Allah a
symbol of the hidden hedonism that thrived in the early
days of Hollywood. Nazimova's mansion became a place where those

(11:11):
who felt stifled by societal norms could be themselves away
from prying eyes, but in the eyes of the press
and the public. The Garden of Allah was yet another
example of Hollywood's unchecked indulgence, a place that represented the
excesses and moral decay that many believed were rampant in

(11:33):
the industry. The stories of William Desmond, Taylor, Thomas Ince,
and Ala Nazimova show us that Hollywood in the Roaring
twenties was a place of immense creativity, but also immense darkness,
a place where the line between fantasy and reality blurred,

(11:57):
often with tragic consequences. Behind the glamour and the spotlight,
there were secrets, lies, and scandals that shape the industry
and the public's perception of it. As we continue our journey,
we'll see how these early scandals set the stage for

(12:17):
what would become a pattern in Hollywood, a cycle of fame, excess, scandal,
and sometimes redemption. But for many, like Arbuckle, Tailor, and Ince,
that redemption never came. Instead, they became the first victims
of Hollywood's insatiable hunger for drama, both on and off

(12:42):
the screen. If you're enjoying today's exploration into the scandals
of early Hollywood, make sure to subscribe to Unexplained History
wherever you get your podcasts, and remember you can hear

(13:06):
us exclusively on Unexplained Radio every Tuesday and Thursday, right
after Ground Zero. The story of Hollywood's early scandals is
far from over. The Public's fascination with the lives of

(13:27):
the stars only grew stronger, and soon Hollywood would have
to reckon with its own image in a way it
never had before. As the scandals of the nineteen twenties

(13:59):
began to up, Hollywood found itself under increasing scrutiny. The
public was growing weary of the tales of excess, immorality,
and crime that seemed to follow the stars wherever they went.
The newspapers, always eager to sell a story, fed the

(14:19):
narrative that Hollywood was a city full of corruption, where
the glamorous facade barely hid the moral decay beneath. The
industry knew that it had to change or risk losing everything.
In nineteen thirty, in response to the growing backlash, the
Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America MPPDA introduced the

(14:45):
Production Code, more commonly known as the Hayes Code, named
after will H. Hayes, a former Postmaster General who was
brought in to help rehabilitate Hollywood's image The Hayes Code
set out a strict set of moral guideline that films
were required to follow. The goal was simple, to clean

(15:05):
up Hollywood's act and restore public trust in the movies.
The Hayes Code laid out specific rules about what could
and could not be shown on screen. Violence had to
be minimized, sexual content was heavily restricted, and even the
depiction of certain criminal activities was closely monitored. Films could

(15:29):
not glorify crime or show criminals getting away with illegal acts.
Topics like adultery, drug use, and homosexuality were either heavily
censored or banned entirely. The message was clear. Hollywood was
determined to show that it could be responsible, that it

(15:49):
could produce entertainment without crossing moral lines. But the implementation
of the Hayes Code was more than just a public
relations move. If fundamentally changed the way films were made. Directors, screenwriters,
and producers suddenly found themselves under the watchful eye of censors,

(16:11):
who could demand changes to scripts and cut scenes that
they deemed inappropriate. Creativity was often stifled as filmmakers were
forced to find ways to work around the strict guidelines
instead of directly addressing controversial subjects, directors had to resort

(16:31):
to subtlety, innuendo, and implication. The impact of the Hayes
Code was felt throughout the industry. On the one hand,
it forced filmmakers to be more creative, leading to the

(16:52):
development of new techniques in storytelling and visual communication. On
the other hand, it limited the scope of what could
be explored on screen, creating a sanitized version of reality
that often felt disconnected from the world outside the theater.
For over three decades, the Hayes Code defined what Hollywood

(17:15):
could and could not show. The stars were put on notice.
Behavior both on and off the screen, was expected to
align with the new moral standards. The studios, fearing further
public backlash, kept their actors in check, ensuring that their
private lives did not spill into the headlines. The age

(17:38):
of unchecked indulgence and public scandal was, at least for
a time, brought under control. But the Hayes Code was
not without its critics. Many saw it as a form
of censorship that stifled artistic expression and forced filmmakers into
a narrow, restrictive mold. As the night eighteen sixties approached,

(18:01):
American society began to change. The cultural revolution of the
nineteen sixties brought with it a new appetite for realism,
freedom of expression, and an aversion to the sanitized morality
that the Hayes Code represented. By the late nineteen sixties,
the Hayes Code had outlived its usefulness. The changing social landscape,

(18:26):
combined with the rise of television and foreign films that
pushed boundaries, led to the code's decline. In nineteen sixty eight,
it was officially replaced by the MPAA Film Rating System,
which offered a new way of categorizing content, one that
allowed filmmakers greater freedom while still giving audiences a guide

(18:49):
to what they could expect. The Hayes Code was Hollywood's
attempt at redemption, a way to regain the trust of
a public that had grown tired of scandal and excess.
For a time, it worked. It brought order to an
industry on the brink of chaos, and it showed that

(19:11):
Hollywood could be responsible. But it also highlighted the tension
between creativity and control, a tension that continues to shape
the film industry to this day. As we continue our
journey through Hollywood's history, we'll explore how the end of
the Hayes Code led to a new era of filmmaking,

(19:32):
one that would challenge conventions, break boundaries, and forever change
the way we think about movies. Stay with us as
we uncover the stories of the stars and filmmakers who
dared to defy the code and the lasting impact their
work had on Hollywood and beyond. Hollywood in the early

(20:14):
twentieth century was a place where public perception was everything,
and yet the personal lives of its biggest stars often
contained the kind of drama that would shock even the
most jaded tabloid reader. One of the most beloved figures
of the silent film era, Charlie Chaplin, was no exception.

(20:35):
Behind the image of the endearing tramp with the bowler
hat and cane lay a complicated personal life that often
blurred the lines of legality and morality. In nineteen eighteen, Chaplain,
at the height of his fame, married sixteen year old
actress Mildred Harris. The marriage was controversial from the outset,

(20:59):
not only because of Harris's age, but also because of
the power dynamics inherent in the relationship. Chaplin was twenty
nine at the time, and his success had already made
him one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood. Rumors
swirled that the marriage was prompted by a pregnancy scare,

(21:21):
a claim that added fuel to the public's already uneasy
perception of the union. The marriage lasted only two years
and ended in a bitter divorce, with Harris alleging emotional
neglect and a controlling, manipulative Chaplain. Not long after, Chaplain

(21:43):
would repeat this pattern. In nineteen twenty four, he married
another sixteen year old Lida Gray, after she became pregnant
with his child. At the time, such a relationship was
not only frowned upon, but bordered on statutory war rape
given Gray's age. The couple had two sons together, but

(22:05):
the marriage was anything but happy. Gray later described Chaplain
as tyrannical and emotionally abusive, painting a picture of a
man whose perfectionism and need for control extended beyond his
films and into his personal life. The public began to

(22:25):
take note. Despite Chaplin's continued success on the screen, his
relationships with teenage girls sparked outrage and concerns about predatory
behavior in an era when Hollywood was already struggling to
maintain its image in the face of scandal after scandal,

(22:46):
Chaplin's actions drew criticism that threatened to tarnish his reputation.
The press had a field day, and the court documents
from his divorce from Lita Gray became fodder for tabloids.
Exposed using the darker side of one of Hollywood's most
cherished figures. Chaplain's marriages to underage girls were indicative of

(23:08):
a broader problem within Hollywood during its formative years, a
problem of power exploitation and a disregard for boundaries that
would continue to haunt the industry for decades. The same
charisma and charm that made Chaplain a star were also

(23:28):
what allowed him to manipulate those around him, particularly young
women whose vulnerability made them easy targets. Yet, despite the scandals,
Chaplain's career endured, His films remained immensely popular, and his
character The Tramp, continued to delight audiences around the world.

(23:53):
It was as if the public was willing to overlook
the personal transgressions of their favorite stars as long as
they continued to entertain. But the whispers and suspicions never
fully went away, and Chaplin's personal life would continue to
be scrutinized for years to come. As Hollywood grew into

(24:29):
a booming industry, young women flocked to Los Angeles with
dreams of stardom. They came from small towns and big
cities alike, each hoping to become the next big thing.
But for many, the reality of life in Hollywood was
far from the glamorous image they had envisioned. To address

(24:49):
the growing number of aspiring actresses arriving in the city,
the Hollywood Studio Club was established, a dormitory meant to
provide young women with us a safe place to live
while they pursued their dreams. The Hollywood Studio Club was
intended to be a solution to the dangers that these

(25:09):
young women faced, a chaperoned residence where they would be
protected from the darker elements of the city. The club
was run by the YWCA and offered not only housing,
but also classes in acting, etiquette, and personal development. It
was a place where young women could form friendships and

(25:32):
build the skills they needed to succeed in the film industry.
For many, it represented hope and opportunity, a stepping stone
to the fame they so desperately sought. But behind the
facade of safety and opportunity lay a more complicated reality.
The Hollywood Studio Club, while providing a roof over the

(25:55):
heads of aspiring actresses, also served as a symbol of
the inn industry's control over young women. The chaperones and
strict rules were not just about protection, They were about
policing behavior, ensuring that the young women conformed to the
standards that the studios demanded. Actresses were expected to be wholesome, virtuous,

(26:21):
and above all, marketable. Any deviation from this image could
mean the end of a career before it even began.
The club also highlighted the stark power imbalance between the
studios and the young women who dreamed of stardom. The
casting couch, a term that became synonymous with the exploitation

(26:44):
of actresses, was an open secret in Hollywood. Many of
the young women who stayed at the Hollywood Studio Club
found themselves facing difficult choices comply with the advances of
powerful men in the industry, or watched their dreams slip away.
The very place that was meant to protect them often

(27:06):
felt like a cage, with their ambitions held hostage by
those who wielded power over their futures. For some, the
Hollywood Studio Club was a place of camaraderie and growth,
a supportive environment in a challenging industry. For others, it

(27:27):
was a reminder of the limitations placed on them by
a system that valued their beauty more than their talent.
The club's existence underscored the precarious position of women in
early Hollywood, caught between the promise of fame and the
harsh reality of an industry that too often saw them

(27:49):
as disposable. Coming up, we'll examine how this decade of

(28:14):
excess and transformation aligns with the cyclical nature of history
described in the fourth Turning Theory, and what lessons we
can draw from this pivotal era. Join us after the
break as we explore how the social upheaval, cultural shifts,
and economic boom of the Roaring twenties mirror patterns that

(28:35):
continue to shape our society today. Welcome back to Unexplained History,
where we unravel the mysteries and stories that echo through history.
I'm your host, Tom mackenzie. Earlier we dove into the

(28:58):
darker side of Hollywood's glamorous past. Now we're zooming out
to explore an even broader canvas, the sweeping historical forces
that shaped the nineteen twenties. Today, we'll dissect this pivotal
decade through the lens of the fourth Turning, a theory
by historians William Strauss and Neil Howe that suggests history

(29:21):
operates in cycles of generational change. What if history isn't
a straight line but a spiral. What if the roaring
decade of the nineteen twenties wasn't just an era of flappers, jazz,
and excess, but a signal, a harbinger of seismic shifts
to come. Let's uncover the story of the nineteen twenties

(29:46):
as part of a much larger cyclical rhythm of triumph, turmoil,
and transformation. To understand the context of the nineteen twenties,
we must first explore the high periods eras characterized by

(30:10):
confident expansion, societal unity, and flourishing institutions. In these times,
societies build foundations of strength and purpose. Think of the
American Revolution spanning the seventeen sixties to the seventeen eighties.
This was a time of extraordinary unity as colonies rallied

(30:33):
to overthrow British rule and forge a new nation. The
energy of revolution wasn't just political, It was deeply cultural,
embedding ideals of democracy, liberty, and self determination into the
fabric of American identity. Fast forward to the mid nineteenth

(30:54):
century and we see another high period. From the eighteen
fifties to the eighteenth seventies. The Civil War had torn
the nation apart, but reconstructions symbolized a concerted effort to rebuild,
not only through infrastructure and governance, but through ideals. This

(31:15):
was the dawn of industrial America. Railroads stretched across the continent,
cities grew rapidly, and a sense of national destiny permeated
every corner of society. But history doesn't linger in periods
of harmony forever. What follows unity and growth is a reaction,

(31:37):
a cultural awakening. After every high period, there comes a
time when the structure and systems built during growth are questioned.
Strauss and Howe call these awakening phases. These are eras

(32:01):
of rebellion, introspection, and spiritual exploration. Let's begin with a
post revolutionary period in America, the seventeen seventies through the
seventeen nineties. Once independence had been won, the philosophical underpinnings
of the revolution were scrutinized. Citizens debated the meaning of liberty,

(32:24):
the role of religion, and how power should be wielded
in this brave new world. It was an era of
soul searching as the young nation grappled with the ideals
it had fought to uphold. Similarly, the eighteen eighties through
the nineteen hundreds, the Gilded Age was another awakening phase.

(32:48):
On the surface, this was an age of immense wealth
and industrial might. Titans of industry like Rockefeller and Carnegie
amassed fortunes, and skyscre vrapers rose as symbols of progress.
Yet beneath this glittering facade lay deep discontent. Workers began

(33:09):
to question the ethics of capitalism and labor exploitation. Philosophical
movements like Transcendentalism and progressive reform took hold, spurring Americans
to challenge the status quo. It was a time of
spiritual and cultural upheaval as the cracks in the foundations
of societal growth began to show. But what happens when

(33:33):
this introspection leads to widespread cynicism and disillusionment. That's when
we enter an unraveling phase. And here's where the nineteen
twenties takes center stage. Unraveling phases are periods of societal discord.

(33:58):
Were once unifying institutions are met with skepticism, and social
order begins to fray. The nineteen twenties is perhaps one
of the most vivid examples of such a phase in
modern history. On the surface, the nineteen twenties was a
time of celebration. The First World War had ended, and

(34:19):
people yearned for release, a chance to live in the
moment and embrace modernity. The jazz Age epitomized this ethos.
Women defied convention by becoming flappers, drinking and smoking in public,
and wearing shorter skirts. Music evolved, with jazz becoming the

(34:40):
soundtrack of a generation that was unafraid to experiment. Cities
like New York and Chicago became vibrant cultural hubs as
night life flourished and innovation abounded. But beneath this glittering
facade laid deep societal unrest. The Prohibition era, meant to

(35:00):
curb alcohol consumption and enforce moral standards, instead fueled organized
crime and corruption. Figures like al Capone became infamous, and
lawlessness pervaded even as the government tried to maintain control.
Racial tensions surged as the Ku klux Klan experienced a resurgence,

(35:22):
wielding political power and spreading fear across the nation. Meanwhile,
economic inequality deepened. The gap between the wealthy and the
working class widened, creating stark divisions that would come to
a head during the Great Depression. The nineteen twenties wasn't

(35:43):
just a period of disillusionment with social norms. It also
saw a rejection of old cultural ideals. The Harlem Renaissance,
for example, redefined the narrative of African American identity through art, life, literature,
and music. It was a bold statement against the status quo,

(36:05):
as figures like Langston, Hughes and zora' Neil Hurston elevated
voices that had long been marginalized. Every unraveling prepares the
way for a crisis, a period of intense societal transformation.

(36:29):
For the nineteen twenties, This phase came in the form
of the Great Depression, World War II, and the eventual
postwar reconstruction of American society. When the stock market crashed
in nineteen twenty nine, it was the culmination of years
of reckless speculation and unchecked capitalism. The resulting economic collapse

(36:53):
forced the nation to reckon with its values. Out of
the ashes of the Depression, transformative policies like the New
Deal emerged, reshaping the role of government in American life.
Then came the Second World War, a global crisis that
demanded unity, sacrifice, and innovation. It was a time of

(37:18):
profound transformation as the United States emerged as a superpower,
its society redefined by the values of democracy and freedom.
Strauss and Howe's theory of the fourth turning provides a

(37:41):
framework for understanding these cycles. The nineteen twenties, while not
a crisis itself, was a preparatory period, a time of
unraveling that laid the groundwork for the transformative events to come.
This framework invites us to view history not as random chaos,

(38:02):
but as a series of interconnected chapters, each influencing the next.
What can we learn from this cycle? Perhaps it's that
periods of disillusionment and disorder aren't the end of the story.
They're a necessary step in the journey toward renewal. The
nineteen twenties was a decade of contradictions, dazzling yet disillusioned,

(38:28):
progressive yet unequal. But through this tension, seeds of transformation
were planted, setting the stage for the profound changes of
the mid twentieth century. Welcome back to Unexplained History, where

(39:06):
we explore the mysteries that echo through time. I'm your host,
Tom mackenzie, and in our last segment, we delved into
the unraveling of the nineteen twenties, a decade of decadence, discord,
and defiance. Now, as we continue our exploration of this
transformative period, we are going to zoom in and meet

(39:28):
the individuals who lived through it. The dreamers, the rebels,
and the disillusioned who are swept up in the tides
of history. Their stories illuminate what it meant to navigate
the chaos of an unraveling world. The nineteen twenties were

(39:52):
filled with people who dared to dream, individuals whose vision
was so powerful that it shaped the world around them.
Think of Charles Lindberg, who made his groundbreaking solo flight
across the Atlantic in nineteen twenty seven. His journey was
more than an act of courage. It was a statement

(40:15):
that the old barriers of distance and geography could be overcome.
People looked up at the skies and saw possibility a
new frontier that could connect the world in ways never
imagined before. And then there was Henry Ford, whose innovations

(40:35):
in assembly line production had already changed the way people
worked and lived in the nineteen twenties. Ford wasn't just
manufacturing cars, he was manufacturing a new way of life.
The Model T brought mobility to millions, and with it
came a sense of independence and opportunity. People were no

(40:59):
longer confined to where they were born. They could travel, explore,
and broaden their horizons. But dreams come with costs, and
while some soared, others faced the harsh reality of progress.

(41:21):
Innovation was at the heart of the nineteen twenties. Amid
the jazz age, George Gershwin composed Rhapsody in Blue, blending
classical music with jazz in a way that transcended traditional boundaries.
It was a soundtrack for an age that was challenging
old norms and celebrating the new. The Harlem Renaissance, meanwhile,

(41:46):
was flourishing, and artists like Duke Ellington were using music
to express the complexity of African American identity, an identity
that demanded recognition and respect in a societ society that
had long marginalized it. The spirit of innovation was also

(42:06):
present in literature. Writers like f. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest
Hemingway captured the restlessness of a generation caught between the
glitter of excess and the emptiness that lay beneath. Fitzgerald's
The Great Gatsby was a vivid portrayal of ambition and disillusionment,

(42:28):
a reflection of the dreams that the nineteen twenties seemed
to promise but often failed to deliver. These innovators gave
voice to the contradictions of their era, holding up a
mirror to society so it could see itself more clearly.
But it wasn't just artists and writers who were shaking

(42:49):
the status quo. Women like Margaret Sanger were advocating for
birth control, challenging the conservative views on women's rights and
section ruality. The Flapper wasn't just a fashion icon. She
was a symbol of independence of a generation unwilling to
be bound by the strictures of the past. For every

(43:19):
dreamer and innovator, there were also rebels, those who refused
to conform to the societal expectations placed upon them. One
of the most iconic of these rebels was al Capone,
whose rise to power during Prohibition highlighted the unintended consequences
of government attempts to legislate morality. Capone wasn't just a criminal,

(43:45):
he was a product of his environment, an environment where
the law itself had created lucrative opportunities for those willing
to take risks. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in eighteen
ninety nine to Italian immigrant parents, Alphonse Capone grew up
in a tough neighborhood, surrounded by crime and limited opportunities.

(44:07):
From an early age, he became involved in street gangs,
eventually joining the notorious Five Points gang. Capone's moved to
Chicago in the early nineteen twenties was a turning point.
He became the protege of Johnny Torrio, a seasoned mobster
who saw in Capone not just muscle, but ambition and

(44:28):
business acumen. When Torio retired after a near fatal assassination attempt,
Capone took over his operations, becoming the de facto leader
of Chicago's underworld. Capone's empire was built on the back
of Prohibition, the eighteenth Amendment that banned the production, sale,

(44:49):
and transportation of alcohol in the United States. Instead of
reducing alcohol consumption, prohibition created a thriving black market, and
own was quick to capitalize on the opportunity. He established
a vast network of speakeasies, breweries, and distribution channels, ensuring
that alcohol flowed freely throughout Chicago. His organization was not

(45:13):
just about selling liquor. It involved bribing police officers, judges,
and politicians to keep the operation running smoothly. At the
height of his power, Capone was earning an estimated one
hundred million dollars annually, a staggering amount. At the time.
Capone's persona was larger than life. He was both feared

(45:35):
and admired, often seen as a modern day Robin Hood
by some of Chicago's poorer citizens. He donated money to charities,
opened soup kitchens, and made sure that many of the
cities underprivileged had food and basic necessities during harsh times.
Yet this public benevolence was sharply contrasted by the brutality

(46:00):
with which he ran his empire. Capone was ruthless when
it came to dealing with rivals. The infamous Saint Valentine's
Day massacre in nineteen twenty nine, where seven members of
a rival gang were lined up and gunned down. Was
a chilling reminder of the lengths Capone would go to

(46:21):
maintain his dominance. Despite his power, Capone's lifestyle made him
a target for law enforcement. The federal government, frustrated by
their inability to bring him down for more serious crimes,
eventually charged him with tax evasion, a charge that seemed

(46:42):
almost mundane compared to his other activities. In nineteen thirty one,
Capone was convicted and sentenced to eleven years in federal prison.
His time in Alcatraz, the infamous island prison, marked the
end of his reign. By the time he was released
in nineteen thirty nine, Capone was a shadow of his

(47:04):
former self. His health deteriorated by syphilis and his influence waned.
He spent his final years in relative obscurity, far from
the spotlight he once commanded. Capone's story is a testament
to the contradictions of the nineteen twenties, an era of
opportunity but also of lawlessness and corruption. He exploited the

(47:30):
weaknesses of prohibition, becoming one of the most powerful and
notorious figures of the decade. His rise and fall were
emblematic of the excesses of the era. Where the pursuit
of wealth and power often came at the cost of
morality and stability. And while Capone operated in the shadows,

(47:52):
other rebels were challenging boundaries in the open. Bessie Smith,
the Empress of the Blues, saying about pain, love and resilience,
her powerful voice giving strength to those who felt forgotten.
Her music spoke to the human condition, resonating with audiences

(48:13):
across racial and social divides. It was a time of extremes,
and those who pushed against boundaries often found themselves caught
in the crossfire of progress and tradition. The Scopes Trial
of nineteen twenty five, dubbed the Monkey Trial, saw teacher

(48:34):
John Scopes put on trial for teaching evolution in Tennessee,
symbolizing the clash between science and religious fundamentalism. Scopes became
an unlikely rebel, standing at the center of a battle
over the very nature of knowledge and belief. As the

(49:01):
decade progressed, it became clear that not everyone was thriving
in this brave new world. The gap between the wealthy
and the poor grew wider, and the frenetic pace of
change left many feeling disoriented. Farmers in the Midwest faced
economic hardship as crop prices fell and they struggled to

(49:24):
make ends meet, while the cities seemed to revel in
endless prosperity. Yet amidst the chaos, there were stories of
quiet resilience. The dust bowl was still a few years away,
but already signs of environmental strain were evident. Families who
would later be displaced by the ecological disaster were in

(49:47):
the nineteen twenties laying the groundwork for the resilience that
would carry them through. These were people who, despite the odds,
held on to hope, who planned crops, raised children, and
dreamed of better days, even as the world around them

(50:08):
seemed to be spiraling out of control. The stories of

(50:31):
the dreamers, innovators, rebels, and survivors of the nineteen twenties
are a testament to the human spirit's capacity to adapt,
to challenge, and to endure. The nineteen twenties was a
decade of unraveling, a time when old certainties gave way
to new possibilities. It was chaotic and contradictory, filled with

(50:56):
both excess and hardship, and yet through it all people
found ways to navigate the uncertainty, to carve out meaning
and to leave their mark on history. As we look back,
we can see that the individuals of the nineteen twenties
were not so different from us today. They faced a

(51:18):
world that was changing rapidly, where new technologies and ideas
challenged the old ways of life. They made mistakes, they
dreamed big, and they rebelled against what they felt was wrong,
and in doing so, they set the stage for the
crises and transformations that would follow. In our next segment,

(51:43):
we'll explore the Great Depression, a crisis that tested the
resilience of those who had lived through the nineteen twenties
and forced a nation to rebuild from the ashes. How
did the optimism of the jazz Age give way to
the desperation of the nineteen thirties. Welcome back to Unexplained History.

(52:16):
I'm your host Tom mackenzie. In our previous segment, we
explored the roaring excesses, scandals, and innovations of the nineteen twenties.
The nineteen twenties, a decade of bright lights and bold dreams,
came to an abrupt end as the world spiraled into uncertainty. Today,
we continue our journey as we dive into the shadowy

(52:39):
corridors of the nineteen thirties, a decade defined by despair, manipulation,
and the sinister forces that moved behind the scenes, pulling
the strings of entire nations. This was a time when
hope collapsed under the weight of economic ruin, and while
many struggled just to survive, others seized the moment to

(53:03):
rise from the ashes and wield control. A time when
the world, in its moment of greatest vulnerability, became the
playground for those who thrive on chaos. The nineteen thirties
weren't just about economic hardship. They were about unseen powers,

(53:27):
the ones who capitalized on this crisis for their own gain.
What if the Great Depression was not just an economic downturn.
What if it was a deliberate collapse, engineered by those
with the power to profit from the suffering of millions.
As breadlines grew longer and hopes dwindled, the financial elite

(53:50):
quietly consolidated control, setting the world on a dark path
towards inevitable conflict. It was during this time that one
of the most disturbing conspiracy theories took hold, the idea

(54:15):
that a secret network of global financial elite were the
puppet masters behind the scenes. This theory often points to
the Bank for International Settlements, founded in nineteen thirty. Publicly,
it was established to facilitate reparations between nations, but according

(54:35):
to some, it was actually a covert meeting ground, a
secret council for the world's most powerful bankers to quietly
manipulate national economies like pieces on a chessboard. In the shadows,
these financial masterminds whispered promises of loans and aid while

(54:56):
nations sank deeper into debt and ultimately into servitude. And
as Europe descended into turmoil, authoritarian regimes began to rise,
and many conspiracy theorists suggest that this wasn't by accident.

(55:18):
Hidden financiers from London and New York are believed to
have funneled money into the hands of the fascist leaders.
Figures like Hitler were not only tolerated, but actively supported
by those who saw opportunity in control and chaos. These
financiers wanted order, but only the type of order that

(55:42):
served their interests. Hitler was viewed as a useful puppet
in their global game, a strong man whose rise to
power could secure their investments and establish a controlled Europe.
Across the Atlanta, America faced its own internal transformation. The

(56:04):
New Deal, introduced by Franklin D. Roosevelt, was portrayed as
a remedy to alleviate the nation's suffering, but some ask
was it also a tool of control. As the government
expanded its reach into the lives of everyday citizens, Critics
whispered of a growing authoritarian state. The Council on Foreign

(56:26):
Relations and other powerful institutions seemed to move in step
with these changes, guiding them for their own purposes. Was
the New Deal really for the people or was it
a strategic move by those in power to ensure that
the population remained dependent, desperate, and easily influenced. One of

(56:54):
the most chilling aspects of the nineteen thirties was the
rise of eugenic This belief that only the fittest should
reproduce was embraced by influential figures across America. Under the
guise of social betterment. Forced sterilizations became state policy in

(57:15):
many areas. Thousands of vulnerable people deemed unworthy had their
rights stripped away. Targeted simply because they were poor, disabled,
or otherwise seen as undesirable was this about creating a
stronger nation, or was it a cold and calculated attempt

(57:36):
to cull the herd, molding society to the preferences of
the elite. Troubling connections between the American elite and the
rise of fascism in Europe went even further. Figures like
Henry Ford and Charles Lindberg openly admired Hitler's vision, and

(58:00):
financial support flowed across the Atlantic to aid Germany's resurgence.
And what did the American government do? Turn a blind eye?
For some, this was a calculated move, using the rise
of fascism as a bulwark against the growing communist threat.

(58:20):
It was a decade of murky alliances and blurred lines,
where the enemy of my enemy could become an ally,
even if that ally represented something deeply sinister. Background ambiance,
distant factory sounds, metal clanking, and atmosphere of industry. Then

(58:43):
there was the dust Bowl, a tragedy that, while largely natural,
became a symbol of government neglect and societal despair. As
the land dried up and farms failed. The powers that
be seemed to look the other way, indifferent or perhaps
even eager to see the population weakened in the midst

(59:05):
of economic despair, Paramilitary organizations and radical ideologies began to
take root, adding further instability to an already fragile society.
To many, it felt like a deliberate act of sabotage,
a planned effort to deepen the crisis and strengthen control.

(59:30):
The culmination of all of these forces was perhaps the
greatest conspiracy of all that The Second World War was inevitable,
planned and orchestrated by those who stood to gain the most.
War was the ultimate economic engine, the way to reset
a broken system and reinstate control on their own terms.

(59:53):
Nations began to mobilize, factories roared back to life, and
economies reignited, but at what cost. Millions of lives would
be lost and the entire world would be plunged into darkness.
To those in power, it was merely another move on
the chess board, one that would secure their influence for

(01:00:15):
generations to come to day. As we look back at
the nineteen thirties, we see not just economic devastation, but shadows,
shadows that hint at a darker plan, orchestrated by unseen
hands who truly controlled the fate of millions during this

(01:00:37):
bleak decade, and what did they want? As we close
today's chapter, keep in mind that history has a way
of repeating itself. The ghosts of the nineteen thirties are
not buried, merely hidden, waiting for another opportunity to resurface,

(01:01:01):
to gain new ground in the modern world. What if
those forces, those same elite networks never truly went away.
What if they evolved, adapted, and continue to weave their
influence around us even now, orchestrating the rise and fall
of nations while remaining just out of sight. These are

(01:01:25):
the questions we must consider as we look back, but
more importantly, as we look forward. In our next episode,
we will turn our focus to America, exploring how the
same forces that drove Europe into the arms of fascism

(01:01:47):
also took root closer to home as the troubles of
the nineteen twenties and nineteen thirties gave way to a
rise of fascist leanings in the American populace. We will
investigate how economic despair, fear, and propaganda converged to create
a fertile ground for authoritarian ideas. How did these ideologies

(01:02:09):
find support among the American elite and what role did
secret networks and shadowy interests play in their growth? And
we will ask ourselves how close did America come to
the precipice and most importantly, how do these echoes from
the past continue to influence us today. I'm Tom McKenzie

(01:02:38):
and you've been listening to Unexplained History. Until next time,
keep questioning, keep searching, and remember not everything is as
it seems like. You can get early access to episodes
of Unexplained History by becoming a member of Aftermath premium

(01:03:01):
podcast network. Membership not only gives you early access to
new episodes, but also includes exclusive content from other shows,
a library of videos, and access to our vibrant private
social network. This show is written and directed by Rob Davenport,
with research by Mike Sherwin, music by Smoking Man Studios,

(01:03:25):
and published by The Unexplained Company. Copyright twenty twenty four
twenty twenty five.