by Rose of Sharon Winter
synopsis
This video is part of a series that chronicles American history from the 1890s until the mid-'30s. The series was developed as a teaching aid, and is intended for students from junior high school through college. In this program, the topic is the Depression years, which saw the rise to power of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Archival film footage shows the disturbing events in Europe that portended more war. The program also includes vintage film clips of comedian Jack Benny and New York mayor Jimmy Walker, in an era that was not without its light moments.