Early last year I wrote a couple of essays regarding Pelley’s Silvershirts and their presence in RPGs (role-playing games) and alternate-history strategy games such as Hearts of Iron. I went so far as to say, if there were conventions for this sort of thing, a reenactor or LARPer (live-action role player) might show up wearing the obligatory red ‘L’ and be recognized as one of Pelley’s guys.
Well, someone just shared this next-level video and song with me on facebook and I’m just… just… stunned! I don’t even entirely absorb the context, but I take it this new fantasy Silver Legion of America anthem was written by and for gamers who are rather taken with Pelley’s movement.
Leave them a YouTube comment and let them know you heard it via American Archvillain. Enjoy!
Whoops - not Balso Snell but A Cool Million by West. Thanks for the essay. Will read asap.
I suspect you know that Pelley was a thinly disguised character in Nathanael West's novella The Dream Life of Balso Snell. He's also in It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis but I can't remember if he is explicitly named or disguised.
Glad to see you are still posting. Don't let the bastards get ya down!