‘Hollywood Hotel’
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Recently a local television station showed a 1937 movie called “Hollywood Hotel.” The movie had such stars as Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane and Lola Lane. Made during the years of the Great Depression, the bright movie tried to create an atmosphere of high spirits, optimism and cheerful high-jinks.
After I saw it, I realized that this was the essence and spirit of Hollywood: to counteract the dour years of the Depression and show America what could be done and might be possible.
When Dick Powell sang “Hooray for Hollywood,” he celebrated the average man and woman who pursued their idea of happiness and the American Dream. Indeed (as we all know), one of the actors in this optimistic movie eventually became American President, Ronald Reagan. We should all have faith in ourselves and in America--this choice land and land of liberty.
KENNETH LLOYD LARSON
Los Angeles
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