About this item
In October 1958, Pan American World Airways began making regularly scheduled flights between New York and Paris, courtesy of its newly minted wonder jet, the Boeing 707. Almost overnight, the moneyed celebrities of the era made Europe their playground. At the same time, the dream of international travel came true for thousands of ordinary Americans who longed to emulate the jet set lifestyle. Bestselling author and Vanity Fair contributor William Stadiem brings that Jet Age dream to life again in the first-ever book about the glamorous decade when Americans took to the skies in massive numbers as never before, with the rich and famous elbowing their way to the front of the line. Dishy anecdotes and finely rendered character sketches re-create the world of luxurious airplanes, exclusive destinations, and beautiful, wealthy trendsetters who turned transatlantic travel into an inalienable right.
About the Author
WILLIAM STADIEM is the author of twelve books, including the bestselling Marilyn Monroe Confidential; Dear Senator; and Mr. S: My Life with Frank Sinatra. In 2014 he has two major books coming out: Daughter of the King and Jet Set. A feature length documentary of Mr. S, which Stadiem is scripting for producers Graydon Carter, Brian Grazer and Brett Ratner, is also planned for production this year. A Harvard JD-MBA, Stadiem abandoned Wall Street for Sunset Boulevard, where he has written such films as Franco Zeffirelli's Young Toscanini, Elizabeth Taylor's last major starring role. As a screenwriter, a columnist for Andy Warhol's Interview, and the restaurant critic for Los Angeles, Stadiem has enjoyed a ringside seat for the decadence and outrageousness he recounts in his 2013 Moneywood. He lives in Santa Monica, California.
