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Tales Of Hollywood And Politics
By Stephen Schochet
Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory in the California Recall Race brought
to mind the many times Hollywood figures have been involved in
politics. Here are some related anecdotes:
When actors first came to Hollywood there were signs put up in front
of hotels and apartments that said no dogs or actors allowed, with
the performers ruefully complaining about not getting top billing.
The insecurity of the profession has come through in political
campaigns. When Ronald Reagan successfully ran for Governor of
California in 1966 one of the fruitless tactics used by his
opposition was a television commercial featuring Gene Kelley
stating," In films I played a gambler, a baseball player and I could
play a Governor but you wouldn't really want an actor to really be a
Governor would you?"
Ronald Reagan at one time was such a Liberal Democrat he drove
friends to distraction with his views. One day in the thirties he was
driving a friend home from work, yammering on about President
Roosevelt's New Deal policies. Reagan who was near sighted and an
erratic driver at best, seemed oblivious to road conditions. "Ronnie,
watch out for that truck!" the friend yelled. Missing an accident by
a hair, Reagan continued," Truck drivers, that's who the New Deal
will help!"
Like former President Reagan, Walt Disney claimed to be a Roosevelt
New Dealer until a nasty worker's strike at his studio made him take
a right turn. Although he campaigned heavily for Republican
candidates the cartoon maker kept friendly relations with the other
side. Walt loved giving personal tours of Disneyland, and enjoyed
having former president Harry Truman as his guest, even when his
fellow Missourian turned down a ride on Dumbo: Too much Republican
symbolism.
Another mogul, Louis B. Mayer the founder of MGM was a staunch
Republican his entire life. Mayer never quite got over Franklin
Roosevelt beating his good friend Herbert Hoover but accepted an
invitation to meet the Democratic President at the White House in
1933. Immediately upon arriving in the Oval Office Mayer surprised
Roosevelt by pulling a clock from underneath his coat and placing it
on the President's desk. "What's that for, Mr. Mayer?" "Pardon me Mr.
President. I heard you have the ability to have a man in your hip
pocket after 18 minutes." Brandishing his long cigarette holder
Roosevelt threw his head back and laughed, then began chatting with
the film executive . He was startled when after seventeen minutes the
mogul got up, grabbed the clock and left the room.
Another difficult encounter for the Roosevelt administration was with
Shirley Temple. Hoping to get people's mind off the Great Depression
the President was nonstop in praise of the moppet's movies saying
that Americans should forget about their problems by paying fifteen
cents to see "the smile of a little girl". Both Franklin and Eleanor
Roosevelt were so enamored they invited little Shirley and her
parents to visit them at their private estate in Hyde Park, New York.
In the limo Shirley received mixed messages from her Conservative
parents. On the one hand they were thrilled to meet the President and
his wife, but they also hated their Big Government policies. Upon
their arrival Mrs. Roosevelt graciously asked Shirley if she would
like something fixed on the barbecue. "Oh that would be wonderful,"
replied the child star. As Eleanor walked out back, the mischievous
Shirley took out a slingshot, checked to make sure nobody was looking
at what she was doing, and nailed the First Lady in the rear. The
Secret Service came running at the sound of her shout, looked around
the property for possible intruders but never thought about searching
the angelic little movie star, who had skillfully hidden her weapon.
Dinner passed pleasantly and the Temples returned to their hotel.
Only then did Gertrude Temple tell her daughter that she had seen her
naughtiness, and Shirley got walloped.
Many Hollywood figures prefer to have others speak for them. When
Marlon Brando won the Academy Award for The Godfather (1972) he
shocked the nation by sending a Native American named Sacheen
Littlefeather in his place, She used the international platform of
winning the Oscar to blast the USA's treatment of her people( it
turned out she was an imposter, she was actually a professional
actress named Maria Cruz). There were many calls from the media for
Brando to come out and state his views himself, but the reclusive
star refused. One rumor had Brando sitting alone in his hilltop house
watching John Wayne movies backwards so the Indians would win.
Stephen Schochet is the author and narrator of the audiobooks
Fascinating Walt Disney and Tales Of Hollywood. The Saint Louis Post
Dispatch says," these two elaborate productions are exceptionally
entertaining." Hear realaudio samples of these great, unique gifts at
http://www.hollywoodstories.com.