Scandals and Celebrations of Early Hollywood

This chapter explores the dark side of early Hollywood, focusing on notorious figures and scandals that sparked public moral panic. It discusses the Motion Picture Exposition's efforts to rehabilitate the film industry's image amid controversies, featuring attractions that highlighted both film production and patriotic narratives. The chapter also critiques the relationship between the storied Monroe Doctrine and Hollywood's ambitions, weaving in themes of commercialization and historical reinterpretation.