Age Of Ballyhoo (edited, 1979)

Narrated by Gloria Swanson. “Age of Ballyhoo” captures the vibrant and transformative decade of the 1920s in America, highlighting the cultural, technological, and social changes of the era. It reflects on the post-war optimism, the rise of the automobile, the boom in consumerism, and the emergence of organized crime during Prohibition. The film showcases key figures and events, including Gloria Swanson’s film debut, the fame of Babe Ruth and Charles Lindbergh, and the societal shifts that defined the Jazz Age. Through authentic documents, songs, and films, it portrays the 1920s as a time of excitement and innovation, while also hinting at the underlying challenges of the period.

Keywords
1920s, Jazz Age, Gloria Swanson, Roxy Theater, automobiles, Prohibition, organized crime, Babe Ruth, Charles Lindbergh, consumerism, cultural change, technology