Episode 55: Masquerade
Second Anniversary Bonus
All they want is love. Everyone else wants their fortune.
Second Anniversary Bonus Recap and Future Storylines.
Archival music provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, www.pastperfect.com.
Publish Date: April 02, 2022
Length: 18:59
Opening Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
Section 1 Music: I’ve Got An Invitation To Dance by Roy Fox, Album The Great Dance Bands Play Hits of the 30s
Section 2 Music: Swinging at Maida by Benny Carter & His Orchestra, Album Jazz Age!
Section 3 Music: Ooh! That Kiss! by Carroll Gibbons, Album Elegance 2
End Music: My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands
AS THE MONEY BURNS
Podcast by Nicki Woodard
Episode 055 – Masquerade: Second Anniversary Bonus Episode
00:00
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast by Nicki Woodard. Based on historical research, this is a deep exploration into what happened to a set of actual heirs and heiresses to some of America’s most famous fortunes when the Great Depression hits.
Each episode has three primary sections. Section 1 is a narrative story. Section 2 goes deeper into the historical facts. Section 3 focuses on contemporary, emotional, and personal connections.
Story Recap
00:31
This two year anniversary recap and teaser of future storylines.
Now back to AS THE MONEY BURNS
Title
Masquerade – Second Anniversary Bonus Episode
[Music Fade Out]
Episode Tag
All they want is love. Everyone else wants their fortune.
00:53
[Music – I’ve Got An Invitation To Dance by Roy Fox, Album The Great Dance Bands Play Hits of the 30s]
Section 1 – Story
[Music Fade Out]
01:14
Time eternal, any place, any era, the same scenario repeatedly occurs. The interchangeable players performing the same roles to the same results. Again and again and again.
A young girl sits in front of a large vanity engaged in the game of dress up. She preps like going to a ball. As she twists her hair up in an elaborate do, her locks change colors and textures.
She paints her face, and with each stroke her features shift and change until she grows older and into a different person.
She stands up growing taller and her figure matures as she puts on an intricate and elaborate gown. In the mirror, she looks beautiful. A former ugly duckling is now a swan.
Then her delicate hands pick up an ornate porcelain face mask and puts it on transforming her once again into someone unrecognizable.
02:11
Outside a palatial estate, a crowd gathers in excitement and anticipation. The onlookers hope to glimpse and guess at the elite in their elaborate costumes. The brilliance temporarily distracts the outsiders from their hunger and exclusion.
Inside, gilded edges reflect the light around a large, magnificent ballroom. Everything is sumptuous from the extravagantly painted ceiling above to the fancy trimmings throughout. Yet the real décor comes from all the guests, each in a flamboyant costume and an ornate mask. Some masks are happy, some are sad, and others are downright frightening.
Familiar signature sparkling jewels might be the only hint of those underneath. The Hope Diamond is never mistaken for another. Other illustrious gems dangle and harken connections back to centuries before.
03:04
A young gentleman asks the young lady to dance. She is at first nervous until he slips his mask down far enough to reveal his true identity. Her face lights up as he takes her hand.
A quadrille forces them to line up and switch off partner after partner, returning back ever so many turns.
Since everyone is wearing a mask, it is hard to determine who is who. Crushes and rivals are equally hidden and undetermined.
Hands touch with familiarity and trepidation. Faces shift and change with every turn and spin. A tinge of excitement at the unknown safely hidden by the masks. True feelings and motives concealed for the time being.
03:47
Outside the crowd has become larger. The glow from the windows attracts them like moths to a flame. The crowd grows restless in the cold from hunger. Fury igniting in each of them as they imagine a world forbidden to them.
The part of the evening comes when people are allowed to remove their disguises. To the delight and laughter of many, while for others a slight horror and disappointment.
A potential flirtation burgeons to possible romance when pleasantly surprised. Hopes dashed if the reveal is undesirable. Even unintended deceit comes with regret and mortification.
The ornate costume masks are gone, but the real masks remain.
04:29
The dancing and merriment continue. Only now the real games begin. Targets are refocused, and a shuffle of partners begin.
Once popular under disguise are discarded as the coveted become more prized. Tactics recalibrated.
Veneers of carefree joviality hide calculating agendas. Faces flicker in the candlelight hinting at the motives underneath. Jealousy, greed, envy, lust,… present then conceal in shadows and light.
Large feigned smiles. The gentleman dances once again with his targeted young beauty. The string of pearls around her neck slip into his grip. He smiles widely thinking of breaking her neck with a quick twist.
05:14
The fervor inside and out grows. As the darkness of night consumes, the greed and envy burn bright. Kind and happy faces fill with coldness and anger. The once desirables feel more like the sacrifice to be slaughtered in a bizarre ritual. Another lady screams as her paramour betrays her.
The crowd begins to chant loud enough to be heard inside. A rock crashes through a window then joined by several more. They storm the palatial estate ransacking and pillaging.
The partygoers scatter about for safety rushing to hide their identities. Stripping away their opulence, pulling off their masks only to hide behind another.
The young lady wanders about the street in tattered clothing lost and confused. From a swan back to an ugly duckling.
Everyone loves a masquerade, or do they? Guess it depends on what’s hidden underneath.
06:15
[Music – Swinging at Maida by Benny Carter & His Orchestra, Album Jazz Age!]
Section 2 – History & Historiography
[Music Fade Out]
06:28
The story unfolding is based on real people and events. A retelling of fortunes passed and their descendants during a time of upheaval known as the Great Depression.
Now the Wall Street Crash on Tuesday, October 29th, 1929 is the precipitating event. Many lost their fortunes instantly, but it would take well into the next year for the real effects to be felt. Many expected an immediate reversal back into good fortune. But well over a year later the bank failures began in the summer of 1930 then grew significantly by October and November and the worst is yet to come. The fall bank failures in Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas, Ohio, and Kentucky are tied to the Caldwell & Company. But bank failures are happening worldwide including Portugal and Cuba. Over the next 3 years, bank failures and the consequent bank runs would become the primary financial concern of both individuals and governments.
07:26
As incomes and savings dwindle down, even large fortunes are not immune. Built primarily during the Gilded Age, the main fortunes and dynasties include the Astor, Vanderbilt, Woolworth, and Duke. It takes a few more generations for the new money to be accepted into the old. However with no new influx in cash, several of those new and old fortunes will be depleted if not immediately then over one generation and lifetime. A few will result in elder abuse scandals.
Still money is the game that everyone is watching. Alas the elite become media celebrities as they attempt to navigate the old traditions and new rules in Society and life.
08:09
Tall and awkward Doris Duke becomes the debutante of the 1930 season after bowing at Buckingham Palace. Barbara Hutton will follow one year later in 1931 and curtsey to the King and Queen this upcoming May.
Following in the footsteps of It Girl Louise Van Alen, Doris and Barbara both have their debutante balls. Only their special nights are not the fairytale evenings they had hoped. Doris hobbles around injured while escorted by heir to two fortunes Jimmy Cromwell, who is 17 years her senior. The ever romantic Barbara is escorted by the nonromantic options of her cousins (one of whom is most definitely gay but keeps her laughing) while her main crush Prince Alexis Mdivani dances the night with Louise.
Press announcements about Barbara’s ball mingle with the Prince and Louise’s engagement. Furthermore due to having the most expensive ball ever, Barbara now becomes on ongoing target of press and public criticism as she symbolizes the disaffected wealthy during times of despair.
09:07
While females focus on dances, the males want more manly pursuits. The sea provides plenty of adventure whether re-exploring the Galapagos Islands, competing in the America’s Cup, or romancing aboard the cruise ships. Other male activities include boxing and baseball and catching Society burglars in the act. But forewarning to those who try the most dangerous explorations like going into the Arctic.
09:31
Others deal with changing financial circumstances. Despite her losses, supreme hostess Cobina Wright continues hostessing charity activities for the Metropolitan Opera, while Dowager Alice Vanderbilt rents out her box office seats. Marjorie Merriweather Post devotes herself to charity fundraising including establishing founding a soup kitchen in Hell’s Kitchen.
09:53
Stories are fleshed out from biographies, history books, documentaries, newspapers, magazines, and whatever else I can find that links and ties the events and people together. Fleshing out details and moments, and especially trying to clarify the who, what, when, where, and why.
10:11
In this chase, I have uncovered a few tangential connections –
-Al Capone funds a soup kitchen (Episode 49: Ladies Section)
-Catwoman Julie Newmar (Episode 51: Millionheir and Episode 52: Believe It Or Not)
-Rudolph Valentino (Episode 54: Coldest End)
-former socialites working as debutante shopgirls (Episode 45: The Butterfly Effect)
-the deadliest Hollywood film (Episode 53: Stroke of Luck)
10:27
Trust me, I know this is a lot of information to digest, so if you want to know more specifics come visit us at the website asthemoneyburns.com. There you will find handy character and episode guides, a timeline of events, and transcripts.
Please also join me on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter all at @asthemoneyburns. Where I post images related to episodes and will try to answer any further questions. It was through Facebook that one fan pointed out the Catwoman Julie Newmar connection.
10:57
Now looking into the future, plenty of action in upcoming episodes will include:
-several marriages and divorces, with one surprise elopement
-another bow at Buckingham Palace & a dance with the Prince of Wales
-an incident at Wimbledon
-a bankruptcy court proceeding
-a suicide
-a triple homicide
-the aftermath of the Lindbergh kidnapping
Then there are the ongoing questions and answers yet to be revealed:
· One fortune has doubled. Another has been lost. And more than one remains in doubt.
· Fortunes hunters target Great Dames with greater fortunes. Only the ladies themselves enjoy the sport of title hunting. Princes are easy, but how close will one get to nabbing a future king?
· The marital and divorce games begin. Two are engaged, and two will be married soon enough. While an attempt to thwart a third causes marital problems for one of the newlywed couples.
· As economic situations grow dire, the scrutiny of the wealthy increases, and many falter under the constant spotlight. Safety becomes an issue, even for those who are hiding their losses.
· Several scams are in the midst whether in business or in love, but the most common results will be broken hearts and potentially broken bank accounts.
12:14
As the game of fortunes continues, there are several lessons to learn & remember:
-Don’t be fooled by appearances. Not all that glitters is gold.
-No good fortune lasts forever.
-Passions will wane as bank accounts drain.
When you have millions of dollars, you don’t need a fairy godmother. Or do you?
Our heirs and heiresses better prepare for the bumpy rides ahead.
12:42
[Music – Ooh! That Kiss! by Carroll Gibbons, Album Elegance 2]
Section 3 – Contemporary & Personal Relevance
[Music Fade Out]
13:00
Oh how time can go by so quickly. Two years ago, life for everyone around the world turned upside down and outside in.
A drastic, sudden, nearly irrevocable period of seclusion, isolation, and social distancing became the norm and stayed way too long. We are now coming out of that in mass, and it is going to take a lot of adjusting.
13:23
There’s a new term for those experiencing this transition out of the mask mandates. “Mask Fishing.” A play on the term catfishing, but this is in relation to how the mask mandate covered up people’s self-conscious appearance issues, especially the hyper anxieties of teens with acne, teeth, skin, scars, or whatever else.
Now collectively we all must venture back and interact again. Social graces will once again be re-established with modifications. As well as rusty social skills will need to be exercised and relearned.
13:57
The recent television series Gilded Age and Bridgerton and the upcoming Downton Abbey movie reminds us of the fun and delight it can be watching stories set in another era.
And the more current subjects following fraud and scams like Tinder Swindler, Inventing Anna, and Bad Vegan indicate the constant need to be vigilant about those who will do anything to live a better lifestyle. We learn about their trickery and deceit in hindsight, but the question really is can you spot a fake before you have a problem?
You might be able to avoid one pitfall, but when the ground before you is a field of landmines would you be able to pass through it unscathed?
Such are the tales I am telling. A top-down precursory look would be too neat and self-congratulatory to learn their lessons. Plus, the art, the con, the deception, and the story are all in the details. I hope you enjoy and continue the journey with us.
14:53
I want to highlight one of the most consistently and universally praised part of the podcast has been the music selections. The archival music is provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music. Digitally remastered original music recorded in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s. Past Perfect has a most wonderful collection across multiple albums and has been featured in films such as The King’s Speech. No doubt actual Royal fans enjoy it too. The main theme song for this podcast is My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, and other pieces include works from Benny Carter, Carroll Gibbons, Savoy Orpheans, Roy Fox, Al Bowlly, to only name a few.
For more on their collection and albums, please visit their website at www.pastperfect.com.
Hook
15:40
[Music – My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Billy Cotton, Album The Great British Dance Bands]
There are plenty of scandals, love triangles, scams, betrayal, lust, greed, and envy coming up on AS THE MONEY BURNS…
So don’t miss out.
Until then…
Credits
15:55
AS THE MONEY BURNS is an original podcast written, produced, and voiced by Nicki Woodard, based on historical research. Archival music has been provided by Past Perfect Vintage Music, check out their website at www.pastperfect.com.
Please come visit us at As The Money Burns via Goodpods, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Transcripts, timeline, episode guide, and character bios are available at asthemoneyburns.com.
18:59
THE END.