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Weekly News September 12, 2016Description
Actors and Actresses Depicting Famous People: The “News” of December 11, 2006, was entitled “Let’s Go to the Movies.” When I was young during the Golden Age of Hollywood, I loved the movies, culminating in the Club House Theater in Yorklyn, which I operated for two seasons in 1947 and 1948.
From the 1930s through the ‘50s, leading stars of the screen were under contract with the big studios and often took roles not to their liking. Among the features during this period was the portrayal of American heroes in full-length films, which carried over to historical documentaries on TV. The earlier movies took liberties with actual facts, but they were popular. Big name stars were often asked to portray historical figures. Sometimes they were honored to do it; often they “had to.” Following is the list of those I can recall.
Spencer Tracy: Clarence Darrow, Father Flanagan, Christopher Jones, Jimmy Doolittle, Thomas Edison, Robert Rogers.
Edward Arnold: Pawnee Bill, Daniel Webster
Walter Hampden: Thomas Jefferson
Hal Holbrook: John Adams, Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln
Henry Fonda: Abraham Lincoln
James Stewart: Glenn Miller, Charles A. Lindbergh
Cary Grant: Cole Porter
Don Ameche: Alexander Graham Bell, Stephen Foster
James Cagney: George M. Cohan
Gary Cooper: Lou Gehrig, Sergeant York
Joel McCrea: Buffalo Bill Cody
Louis Calhern: Buffalo Bill Cody
Raymond Massey: Abraham Lincoln, John Brown
Robert Walker: Jerome Kern
Jose Ferrer: Sigmund Romberg
Tony Curtis: Harry Houdini
Charlton Heston: Andrew Jackson (twice)
Van Heflin: Andrew Johnson
Ronald Reagan: George Custer, George Gipp
Errol Flynn: Earl of Essex, Gentleman Jim Corbett, Jeb Stuart, George Custer
Howard Keel: Frank Butler
Fess Parker: Swamp Fox Marion, Davy Crockett, James J. Andrews
Ralph Bellamy: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Charles Boyer: Napoleon
Charles Laughton: Captain Bligh
Gene Lockhart: Stephen A. Douglas
James Mason: General Edward Braddock
Victor Mature: Samson
Walter Huston: Abraham Lincoln, Jerry Cohan
John Wayne: Davy Crockett
Richard Widmark: Jim Bowie
Mickey Rooney: Young Tom Edison
Ray Middleton: Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Frank Butler
Clark Gable: Fletcher Christian
Howard Da Silva: Benjamin Franklin, Jack Armstrong
Fredric March: William Jennings Bryan
Yul Brynner: King Solomon
Pat O’Brien: Knute Rockne
Fred Astaire: Vernon Castle
Mario Lanza: Enrico Caruso
Ethel Merman: Annie Oakley, Perle Mesta
Helen Hayes: Queen Victoria, Empress Maria of Russia
Bette Davis: Queen Elizabeth I
Hedy Lamarr: Delilah
Elizabeth Taylor: Cleopatra
Gina Lollobrigida: The Queen of Sheba
Mary Tyler Moore: Mary Todd Lincoln
Ruth Gordon: Mary Lincoln
Patty Duke: Martha Washington
Jaclyn Smith: Sally Fairfax
Ingrid Bergman: Princess Anastasia
Betty Hutton: Annie Oakley
If you need to know who some of these historical people were, or what film they were in, drop me an E-mail.
Work Report: On Tuesday, September 6, 22 volunteers were on hand, but several limited their activity to hearing Rose Ann Hoover’s talk about her ’40 Packard 120 convertible sedan. It was a warm summer evening and very enjoyable sitting alongside her car, both for the content of her information and for the favorable weather. Several attended in addition to our work volunteers. The volunteers on hand were as follows: Jerry Lucas (in charge), Rose Ann Hoover, Jerry Novak, Ted Kamen, Bob Jordan, Neal Sobocinski, Steve Bryce, Brent McDougall, Dennis Tiley, Anne Cleary, Matt Richard, Dave Leon, Tom Marshall, Ruth Marshall, John Bacino, Bill Rule, Tom Sandbrook, Mark Russell, Dennis Dragon, Jay Williams, Bob Koury, and Lou Mandich.
The steam pipe for the Model H-5 was insulated and a first attempt was made to install it. Locomotive 402 was thoroughly cleaned from its runs on Sept. 4. Wiring progress continued on the ’37 Packard, and more copper tubes were removed from the old boiler of the Model 87.
On a very hot Wednesday afternoon, September 7, with Tom Marshall in charge, no one else showed up. Tom left early, and no work was done.
On Thursday, September 8, 14 volunteers were on hand: Tim Ward (in charge), Tom Marshall, Bill Schwoebel, Dave Leon, Jim Personti, Geoff Fallows, Bob Jordan, Ted Kamen, Neal Sobocinski, Bob Koury, Devon Hall, Jerry Lucas, Bob Stransky, and Paul Kratunis.
The pilot and pilot tank were both installed (and the last connection made the next day) on the Model 735. Additional track work was accomplished on the A.V.R.R. in the afternoon. The throttle was removed and replaced in the smoke box of Locomotive 402.
The Mountain Wagon was prepped and polished for its use at the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival on 9/10 and 9/11, and its speedometer cable was completed and hooked up. The electric fuel pump was connected to the new harness in the ’37 Packard. The other cars to be used at the Mushroom Festival and at Chadds Ford Days, including Stanley Models 76, 725, and 740, the Rauch & Lang electric, and the ’32 Packard were prepped for their appearances.
Our attendance at the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival and at Chadds Ford Days on both Saturday and Sunday were a success. Five of our cars ran very well, and their occupants had an opportunity to promote FAHP and our upcoming Auburn Heights Invitational to hundreds of interested people. Thanks to all our volunteers and to Susan for yeoman service.
