Hollywood Motion Picture Review (1944)

s4n Open cjCet ter to Loyd Wright Chairman of California Horse Racing Board Dear Sir: You will be interested to know that my recent editorial on Vet¬ erans Park in this magazine was received throughout Southern California and even Northern Cali¬ fornia most joyously. I have had numerous compliments on the fact that I brought to light the mil¬ lions and millions and millions of dollars being made by the major racetracks in Southern California that are going into the pockets of the millionaires, (I understand, in addition to buying Lake Arrow¬ head, they are going to buy Big Bear Lake also merely as a re¬ serve body of water for purposes of putting out any fire that may be built under them), instead of going for good civic and veterans’ use in this State as all gambling money should go. However, being your letter was the only one I received criticizing my editorial, I will print it here for the readers to absorb, which letter is on the stationery of the California Horse Racing Board of the State of California and in the left hand corner, stating Loyd Wright, Chairman, etc . (It is amusing to note that the letter¬ head has only the name of Loyd Wright, Chairman and Earl War¬ ren, Governor, and does not even state the names of the two asso¬ ciates of Loyd Wright; yes, as we call them, his “yes men.) The letter: Dear Sir: While ordinarily I do not pay any attention to articles premised upon either false misrepresenta¬ tion or incorrect information, I thought perhaps if you are really interested in the veterans and it is your real desire to be construc¬ tive in racing, you might wish to drop into my office some time, so I may show you numerous letters voluntarily addressed to the Rac¬ ing Board, going on record against any additional tracks. Very truly yours, Loyd Wright (Signed) My dear Mr. Wright, your let¬ ter does speak for itself and ob¬ viously it is a simple matter for anyone to show numerous letters about any issue because as we all know, letters are cheap to get. However, it is obviously shown by your letter that my editorial is correct in each and every word be¬ cause all you want to do is show me some letters but you don’t say a word about the millions and millions and millions of dollars that could be helping the veterans and charities in this State instead of your millionaire friends. Mr. Wright, I don’t want to see a lot of letters, I want you to explain to me why you are against the millions and millions and millions of dollars being made by the race tracks in Southern California go¬ ing to help the veterans and chari¬ ties of this State. Yes Mr. Wright, this time I believe Mr. Wright is wrong. We all know, Mr. Wright, that you are the attorney for the pro¬ fessional football group that is trying to get into our Coliseum, namely, the Dons. It was very amusing to read how you and your associates claimed you were “shut out” before the Coliseum Commis¬ sion and the Rams were in before the meeting was even heard. Seems to me, Mr. Wright, that a certain Mr. Vincent X. Flaherty, writing for a local paper made the same observation about your California Horse Racing Board. When the shoe is on the other foot, it doesn’t feel so good does it, “Sir?’ I also note with squeamish de¬ light, that a certain writer in a certain local morning paper, name¬ ly, on February 5, 1946, prints: “But the behind the scenes talk now is not so much the Grid War as it is a purported plan by back¬ ers of the All American Team — Don Ameche, Loyd Wright, Ben¬ jamin F. Lindheimer and others — to build a race track here.” Sir, I say to you that we also have heard the same rumors and, sir, I say to you that where there is smoke, there is fire and, sir, I say to you, as an interested person in a race track here in Southern California, that you have absolutely no right, privilege or otherwise to be a member of the California Horse Racing Board, and sir, it is the suggestion of this writer and many other good citizens of this fair city, county and State that you immediately tender your resignation because it is now obvious why you are defi¬ nitely prejudicially and discriminatorily against any other horse racing track here in Southern Cali¬ fornia unless perhaps sir, it is your own race track and your own group of people and your own interest so that perhaps you and your associates may participate in the millions and millions and mil¬ lions of dollars resulting in again preventing the veterans and hon¬ est charities from receiving help from horse racing in this State. Very truly yours, JIMMY TARANTINO Krasner Photographing “Dark Mirror” After photographing “Scarlet Street” and “Without Reserva¬ tions” on loan from International, Cinematographer Milton Krasner returns to his contract studio to photograph the Nunnally John¬ son production “The Dark Mir¬ ror,” starring Olivia de Havilland and Lew Ayres. Robert Slodmak di¬ rects. Early Morning Memories Every once in a while people are amazed when Dennis Morgan, the Warner Bros, star, remembers vague, early morning appoint¬ ments. The answer is simple . . . not liking jewelry he keeps a ring on his nightstand and, when he has something particular to re¬ member, he slips it on before go¬ ing to sleep. Joan Crawford, another Warner star, reverses the procedure. If she has something to remember she takes off a ring that she has become used to wearing— its ab¬ sence is sure to jog her memory. New Staff Writer at ABC-KECA newsroom today an¬ nounced an additional writer to the news staff. He is Don Miller, just recently out of the U. S. Ma¬ rines, where he saw service in the Marshall Islands, Okinawa and Japan campaigns. Miller former¬ ly was with the station-events de¬ partment of a Des Moines radio station and he also was a free¬ lance publicist in the mid-west. Bobby Ramos Stays On Bobby Ramos is doing very well at the Troc and has been retained for a while longer in addition to the King Cole Trio who are back in their old stomping grounds. Edward G. Robinson Acting, says Edward G. Robin¬ son, is a cinch. All a fellow needs to play any part is the right prop — a derby hat, or preferably a pipe. It’s as simple as that. This talk about genius, dramatic artistry and temperament irks Mr. Robinson. He scoffs at critics who claim that special qualifications, rare as a filet mignon, are neces¬ sary for the portrayal of emotions on either stage or screen. Robinson thinks that a pipe, properly used, is the actor’s best friend. He’s been burning out sev¬ eral of them in Universal’s “Scar¬ let Street,” which headlines him with Joan Bennett and Dan Duryea. Hollywood Slack Shop Gets Into Groove There was a lot of hep jive talk going around in the Hollywood Slack Shop the other day when the boys in Benny Goodman’s Band descended en masse to sharpen up their wardrobes. They stayed but a short time — but the box score shows that each of the boys came out with at least one pair of slacks. Not a bad deal at all. BUY VICTORY BONDS PRESENTS NIGHTLY BOBBY BYMOS HIS ORCHESTRA AND ENTIRE COMPANY TWICE NIGHTLY TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF KING COLE TBIO ALSO FROM 8 'TIL 12 KING COLE ROOM nil V f||f«rif n«»9{l FINE FOOD AND COCKTAILS DIIiIiIIiIIijIiCiX m Lunch-Pinner-Supper RESTAURANT— 5927 SUNSET BLVD.— HO. 2901— OPEN 11:30 A.M. If You Want GOOD DRY CLEANING — HAND LAUNDRY ALTERATIONS Drop in To See CLAUDE At Del Mar Cleaners 8023 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood GR. 9022 Page Four Hollywood NITE-LIFE