1939 American Nazi Rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden
In 1939, 20,000 Americans rallied in New York’s Madison Square Garden to celebrate the rise of Nazism – an event largely forgotten from American history. A Night At the Garden uses striking archival fragments recorded that night to transport modern audiences into this gathering and shine a light on the disturbing fallibility of seemingly decent people. At one point they recite the original pledge of allegiance. The words "under God" weren't added until 1954, by President Eisenhower! This first video is the stand alone video A Night At The Garden. The second video includes a discussion. Academy Award-nominated documentarian Marshall Curry screened his film "A Night at the Garden" at the Museum on February 28, 2019. He and Professor Rebecca Kobrin (Russell and Bettina Knapp Associate Professor of American Jewish History, Department of History, Columbia University) discussed the film as well as the history and rise of Nazism in the United States.
