During this period, she appeared in films, toured Alaska with a USO troupe, and began to be an advocate for women musicians. After a difficult period following the Second World War, in the 1950s Gilbert had success on radio and television programs. In 1974, at 69 years old, she created her last great all-female band, The Dixie Belles, with musicians from vaudeville and the Big Band era. The group performed on TV and at jazz festivals, appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and in the 1980 Rose Bowl Parade. In 1985 the band recorded the album "Peggy Gilbert & the Dixie Belles". Gilbert lived until the age of 102 and died in Burbank, California.