Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr. Film Screening at the Peoria Women’s Club

The Peoria Women’s Club, in partnership with the Peoria Area World Affairs Council (PAWAC) at Bradley University, is proud to present a rare screening of Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr.’s 1934 documentary Hitler’s Reign of Terror—one of the earliest American films to warn against Nazi Germany. This event marks only the second U.S. showing since Vanderbilt himself visited the Club in 1939, when he spoke on “Important Interviews on the Eve of War.”

As recorded in the Peoria Women’s Club archives, Vanderbilt was celebrated as “one of America’s young cosmopolitan intellectuals whose every day life is full of adventure and straight thinking. He is a seasoned lecturer, a prolific writer, an adventurous globe trotter, and a strong advocator of the principles of democracy.” His 1939 appearance in Peoria connected local audiences directly to world affairs on the eve of war.

After decades of obscurity, Hitler’s Reign of Terror was rediscovered and restored by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 2013. After months of searching by the PWC's own Archive Detectives, the Peoria Women's Club was able to find the remastered documentary in Europe and gained the screening rights from the Royal Film Archive of Belgium. This co-hosted program is a singular opportunity to experience both an important piece of early journalism and a powerful chapter in the Peoria Women’s Club’s own history of civic dialogue. Following the film will be a discussion led by Bradley University History Professor John Williams.

Additional Details

• Attendance is limited to 100 guests.

• Scholarships are available for local high school and college students to attend free of charge.

Catering & Refreshments

• Beverages (cash bar): Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Noir, Cabernet; Miller Lite, Mich Ultra, local IPA; Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite

• Complimentary: PWC Cosecheras Coffee and water station

• Hors d’oeuvres station:

  • Large charcuterie board featuring seasonal and local fall specialties

  • Sausage, parmesan stuffed mushrooms or mushroom truffle arancini 

  • Maple-glazed, bacon-wrapped shrimp

  • Cranberry-infused BBQ meatballs

  • Pumpkin cheesecake dessert shooters

  • Chocolate pecan dessert bars