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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 25, 1944)
It Takes Heap o' Fussin' to Make a Hall Into a Home For Major Political Parties' National Conventions - •< GOP and Democrats Work Harmoniously On Arrangements. By AL JEDLICKA Released by Western Newspaper Union. Amid buzz and bedlam, col or and decoration, and teem ing thousands with their ting ling enthusiasm, America holds its great political con ventions every four years. As convention delegates fuss and fume through the lengthy, historic sessions, millions of Americans throughout the nation follow the pro s' ceedings with attention and even heat, since either the Republican or the Democratic party embodies the principles they hold most consistent r with their social ideals. During the period of the conven tions, well might it be said that the heart of the nation is centered in the localities of the meetings, bound ing with the people's delegates, with newspaper men, newsreel men and radio broadcasters milling to flash stories of the unfolding events to an anxious citizenry, and with visitors attracted by the great spectacles. Normally, cities compete to have the conventions held in their locali ties, since the delegates’ and visi tors’ expenditures for hotel accom modations, food and entertainment and shopping in the business dis tricts amount to hundreds of thou sands of dollars. But with the coun try riding the crest of a profitable war boom this year, with housing facilities taxed and heavy demands made for limited stocks of mer chandise, only Chicago actively bid for the conventions, offering each party $75,000 for expenses. Ordi narily, it costs between $100,000 and $150,000 to run a national conven tion. When both parties accepted Chi cago’s bids, financial problems thus were added to other special war time difficulties confronting Republi can Walter Hallanan of Charleston, W. Va., and Democrat Ambrose O’Connell of New York in making arrangements for the conventions. On these two men falls the responsi bility of setting up the smooth func tioning of the meetings assuring or derly activity on the floor of the con ventions and establishing facilities for quick transmission of news to the waiting world outside. Two Old-Timers. Both O’Connell and Hallanan are old hands at conventions, O’Connell having attended his first as a mem ber of A1 Smith’s entourage in 1928, and Hallanan his as a newspaper man in 1912. Although red hot parti sans inclined to admit nothing, both men have worked together in mak ing the principal arrangements, since the Republican convention of June 26 will be followed by the Democratic on July 19. Because of the heavy wartime strain on the railroads, transporta tion posed one of the big problems of this year’s conventions. But the problem promises to be solved by use of day coaches by those within 6% hours of traveling time of Chi cago, and of provision of extra sleeping and dining cars for ac credited representatives from far ther distances. To assist delegates from Hawaii to attend, the navy will furnish plane service to the main land. Next to transportation, housing has presented another major diffi culty. Although both parties were assured of approximately 5,000 rooms, the Republicans, for one, could use another 3,000. In quest of extra housing, Hallanan has even scoured Chicago’s outlying apart ment districts for accommodations, and it was reported that some good Republicans offered to come to the aid by boarding convention attend ants. As if O’Connell and Hallanan were not having trouble enough, they have been pestered for accommoda tions by that type of individual who feels that no business is so impor tant as that of finding a particular room for him, even though all hotel arrangements are to be made by the head of the state delegation. Plenty of Problems. Preparation of Chicago’s huge, streamlined Stadium for this year’s conventions has not been without its problems, either. Until the Citi zens committee which bid to bring the conventions to Chicago arranged to furnish the Stadium for $25,000 to each party, Hallanan estimated that the cost of readying the amphi theater alone would amount to $48, 000, not including rental. The services of over 100 men working about three weeks are de manded for preparing the Stadium. Canopies outside the main en trances must be draped with bunt ing. One hundred and twenty flags must be hung from the rafters to sway impressively above the floor. Three emergency "hospitals” must be set up and equipped with medical goods, light and water. A huge plat form holding 180 people must be constructed, with a special confer ence room underneath it. And, of course, seats enclosed within stanch ions for the different state delega tions must be put up. Elaborate preparations must be made to accommodate the press, newsreel and radio, especially this year when the two conventions will attract international attention. Al ready, reservations have been asked by newspaper representatives from Britain, Russia, South America, Chi na, Sweden and French Africa, and. in all, about 3,000 observers with their technicians will be on the job to describe the proceedings to the U. S. and world. Not only will the press be seated in front of the main platform, but a special newsroom will be provided in the basement. At both places, telephone and telegraph facilities must be established to send out sto ries from the building. Darkrooms will be constructed for photogra- i phers to develop pictures. Microphones Everywhere. Important for transmitting the ac tual reality of the convention atmos phere to the world, all four of Amer ica’s great radio networks will make elaborate arrangements for cover ing every detail of the conventions. Contact will be made with dele gations through microphones on the floor; portable equipment will be used to interview dignitaries throughout the entire building; spe cial booths will be erected to ac commodate the radio commentators, and facilities will be installed to i> pick up the rumbling, rolling peal of the huge Stadium organ. Approximately $6,000 will be spent by the parties to furnish newsreel men with enough lighting to take moving pictures of the proceedings. With 10,000-watt incandescent search light units set up. enough light to illuminate a medium-size town will be provided cameramen shooting from the high rafters. This lighting must be arranged to permit shoot ing from any angle of the building without causing blind spots from too much light on any one point. In making a success of a conven tion, the little things are as impor tant as the big ones, and sometimes the little things cause as much both er as <he big ones. For instance, O’Connell and Hal lanan have had their difficulties pro viding badges and tickets. Because of wartime, metals have been un available for badges, and it has been necessary to secure plastic material. To convention - wise Ambrose OConnell, there is more to badges than meets the eye. For instance, they must be so designed as to avoid catching onto clothing and ripping it, and all kinds of different types must be used to restrict the move ments of the various attendants throughout the Stadium. Tickets a Headache, Too. Also because of wartime, there has been a scarcity of certain paper stocks, a condition of particular pique to bustling Walter Hallanan, since it is necessary to print tickets on material that cannot easily be counterfeited. Incidentally, In the distribution of tickets to the conventions, each dele gation is allotted a percentage, usu ally depending upon the approxi mate distance of its state from the meeting site. The idea, of course, being to provide more seats for those who might be able to come in by auto, etc., from neighboring re gions. Civic committees which put up the finances to bring the conven tion to their cities also receive an allotment of ducats. Unique, in that this year’s con ventions will be the second in the history of this country held during wartime—the first being in 1864— the impending Republican and Dem ocratic meetings are expected to lack some of the flourish and hoopla of bygone days. However, they are not expected to be bereft of all pop ular enthusiasm so easily stirred over a candidate, or over the ex pression of a party’s outstanding principle stressing the hopes, the aspirations and the achievements of its partisans. In their excitement over the swift stream of dramatic events often ac companying conventions, even the soberest politicians and statesmen sometimes forget their immediate environment and lapse into what aft erthought must characterize as the comic. For instance, during the 1932 Dem ocratic convention in Chicago, O’Con nell remembers the heated fight over the election of a permanent chair man, which would have demonstrat ed the strength of the contending factions. As the fight developed, the Missis sippi delegation caucused, only to find venerable old Senator Pat Har rison absent. Without further ado, some members hurried off to his hotel and after pressing the urgency of the situation upon him, hustled him back to the convention hall in his pajamas, carpet slippers and bathrobe, there to cast his vote. As Hallanan said, this year’s con ventions will be marked by the so ber restraint of a nation at war. Once events have stirred up the at tendants. the enthusiasm may carry over into the typical hysteria of these great national meetings. Dozens of workmen are preparing the huge Chicago Stadium for the conventions. Upper left is pictured Walter Hailanan, chairman of the Republican committee on arrange ments, and lower right, Ambrose O’Connell, Demorcatic chairman. Army Press and Radio Must Maintain Political Neutrality The war department, in instruc tions sent to all commanders both in the United States and overseas, has prescribed a policy of strict im partiality in the dissemination of political information. Title V of the new federal voting law. which is an amendment to the Hatch act, prohibits use of federal funds or sponsorship to influence the armed forces in voting in federal elections. Instructions to commanders in ob servance of this law state: ‘‘The burden is on the army to see that the information and entertainment which it furnishes to the soldiers is either (1) nonpolitical or (2) if political, is justified by presentation in strict accordance with the al lowed exceptions. “It is not the purpose of Title V to shut off information and enter tainment from the armed forces. Its purpose is to see to it that no in formation or entertainment which is federally financed or sponsored and which might have the political character, will be disseminated to soldiers except in conformity with the statutory provisions designed to prevent unfairness or partiality in any such dissemination.” The law permits rebroadcasts of political speeches over government controlled stations provided equal time is given each party. Jttdda Looking at JT LOOKS as though history is set' * to repeat itself and movies will; again make America dance mad. During World War I the Vernon Castles helped the country forget its woes and worries through the me dium of grace and rhythm. Now it seems likely that another pair of dancers, Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly, will accomplish the same thing and set a new vogue in dancing through their fine work Gene Kelly Rita Hayworth in "Cover Girl.” During World War I the folks in the big cities went dance mad. Every gay blade out of a wheel chair and every deb wanted to imitate Irene and Vernon Castle doing the Castle walk, the hesitation waltz, and what was considered the last word in daring— the tango. Waltz King and Queen Then the movies figured if the Castles could pack night spots and legitimate theaters with their danc ing, chances w.ere the public in the hinterlands, who had heard about Irene and Vernon, would pay money at the nickelodeons to see the shad ows of the famous pair. So the Castles appeared in “The Whirl of Life” in 1918. It was a great hit, and the dance craze spread through every cranny of the country. More than two decades ago, in 1920, to be exact, Hollywood discov ered its first really great dance star, Mae Murray—blonde, curvacious, the original Nell Brinkley girl of the "Follies,” and a dancer to boot. When she first came to movies she did western films and was practi cally unnoticed until Bob Leonard and George Fitzmaurlce gave her a chance to dance. In “On With the Dance” Mae was sensational. Tripping to Fame Rudolph Valentino made a num ber of pictures before Rex Ingram let him do the tango in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” and that single dance with a partner long since forgotten skyrocketed him to fame. Joan Crawford, then a young, at tractive girl, was winning cups for her Charleston and "black bottom” at the Coconut Grove and other hot spots of Hollywood. When she did the same routine before the cam eras in such epics as “The Taxi Dancer” and “Our Dancing Daugh ters” she became a star. Double Harness About this time a girl who had at tracted no special attention and a dancer from the stage were teamed as second leads in a musical star ring Dolores Del Rio and Gene Ray mond. The picture was “Flying Down to Rio.” After it was shown everyone talked only of the new dance stars—Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Following this they were co-starred in "The Gay Di vorcee,” in Jerome Kern’s “Ro berta,” and also "The Life of Irene and Vernon Castle,” the saga of the two people who actually introduced terpsichore to the movies. The Neu) Era Toumanova, from the Russian bal let, has finished her first film, “Days of Glory,” and Hollywood is repeat ing past mistakes by not letting her dance. Zorina and Baronova both appeared in pictures, and each ap pearance makes one want more of them. Ann Miller, one of the newer danc ers, is under contract to Columbia. Possibly the Kay Kyser picture in which she's appearing will put her on top. Gene Kelly, of “Pal Joey” on Broadway, really comes into his own as a dancer in “Cover Girl.” His work in the “alter ego” num ber, in which he dances as himself and his “double,” is an amazing thing to watch. And, together with Rita Hayworth, they’ve got what we're all looking for—youth. Holly wood has made stars of many danc ers. has tried to make dancers of many stars. But few have ever managed to gain anything of the luster of Rita and Gene in “Cover Girl.” If they don’t start another dance craze in America a lot of people who have already seen the musical are going to be very much sur prised. • • • Always a Showman Mark Twain always was a show man. I remember him in the the ater at a performance given by Julia Marlowe and E. H. Sothern. He was seated alone in a box. The air was chilly, he was dressed com pletely in white, and with that white ! shaggy head of his, took half the attention away from the stage. . . . | Walt Disney’s “Saludos Amigos” | has been recorded in Spanish, Por-' tuguese, Swedish, in addition to Ital-1 ian. Before the war, Disney made 10 language versions of his pictures. ! By VIRGINIA VALE Released by Western Newspaper Union. RKO Radio Pictures inaug urates a new daily coast to-coast radio si 29, “Hollywood featuring their film favorites of the year; it will originate in the studio dining room. Go ing out over 177 stations of the Blue network, it will be broadcast daily from Monday through Friday, at 12:15 to 12:30 Pacific Coast time, an hour later in each successive time zone. And Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, equally radio - minded, launches “M-G-M Screen Tests” on June 12, over the full basic Mutual Network, five days a week at 9:15 Eastern war time; it will consist of actual screen tests, the aspiring actor being required to play oppo site a Metro star. -* In “Going My Way” Bing Crosby proves that he doesn’t have to sing; In fact, he sings comparatively IHtle In the picture, yet has probably the best role of his screen career. He and that very talented actor, Barry BING CROSBY Fitzgerald, share honors In this sweet, human story — and anybody who can share acting honors with Fitzgerald has to be good. This is one of the pictures that people will remember. -* Jane Withers, young Republic star, had two birthday cakes on her 16th birthday, one with a party of soldiers near her own age, the sec ond with an 18-year-old elephant belonging to Ringling Brothers-Bar num and Bailey circus. Both sol diers and elephant let Jane blow out her own candles and make a wish. The elephant also gulped the cake and then devoured Jane’s birthday orchids. _lie_ Producer C. P. MacGregor, of the Hollywood Radio Theater, is directly responsible for the successful careers of many leading movie actors and actresses. When talking pictures came in, parts were awarded on the strength of voice transcriptions—made by him! -X Frank Sinatra won about 1,500 new friends at a luncheon given in New York for the American News paper Publishers association; he sang a parody on “Sunday, Monday and Always,” the refrain being that people are telling him to look out, for Dick Haymes, Dick Todd and Perry Como are crowding him too comfortably for his own good. He wound up by gallantly concluding "There’s just one Crosby.” A new puppy belonging to Ronnie, son of George Burns and Grade Al len, chewed a hole in an expensive rug at the Burns’ home. Grade was upset, but Ronnie saved the day. “Maybe if I train him,’’ said he, “I ran get him so he'll lie over the hole most of the time.’* '■* $ Around CBS a pleasant glow is still noticeable, due to the fact that six of their network and regional programs were cited as winners in the 1943 George Foster Peabody Awards, gaining CBS top honors in five of the seven classifications. -* Bettejane Greer (Mrs. Rudy Val lee) whose first national prominence came when she was chosen two years ago as official model for tha first WAC uniform, will be groomed for top starring roles by RKO. For the past year she’s been under con tract to Howard Hughes, doing in tensive work with dramatic coaches. As soon as her release from that contract was negotiated she signed with RKO. Yakima Canutt, seven times world champion cowboy and famous movie stunt man, now directs scenes for Republic pictures demanding hair raising stunts. His latest thriller is the finale of a lightning-like chase in Allan Lane’s “Marshal of Monte rey.’’ -* ODDS AND ENDS—Remember Wes ley Barry, one-time boy star? An RKO assistant when he enlisted, he’s in the front lines uith a photographic unit in the Burma campaign. . . . Phil Baker says the days of ordering a meal in a restaurant are gone—nowadays it’s an entreaty.4 new rose, resembling an American Beauty, has been named for Dinah Shore. . . . Recognizing the advantage of u closer link between the church and radio, the National Broad casting company and the Congregation al-Christian churches will award five fellowships each year to ministers in the active pastorate, at one of NBC’s summer institutes. 7027 A GREAT morale-lifter either in your own home or at the can teen is this smartly embroidered hostess apron. Glamorous yet practical, too! Makes a useful gift. * • • Smart geranium apron. Pattern 7027 con tains a transfer pattern of embroidery, necessary pattern pieces; direcUons. Poet, Novelist Differ in Choice of Beautiful Words A well-known British novelist and a representative American poet have recorded their choices of the ten most beautiful words in the English language. The British selection was: Carnation, Azure, Peril, Moon, Forlorn, Heart, Silence, Shadow, April, and Apricot. The American chose: Dawn, Hush, Lullaby, Murmur ing, Tranquil, Mist, Luminous, Chimes, Golden and Melody. Due to an unusually large demand and current war conditions, slightly more time is required in filling orders (or a (ear of the most popular pattern numbers. Sewing Circle Needlecraft Dept. 564 W. Randolph St. Chicago 80, UL Enclose 15 cents (plus one cent to cover cost of mailing) (or Pattern No. Name ... Address ... YOU CANT BUY more in aspirin than the assurance of quality and purity guaranteed when yoa buy St. Joseph Aspirin, world’s largest seller at 10^. Demand St. Joseph Aspirin. . SNAPPY FACTS ABOUT RUBBER Milk, or latex, flows from the rub ber tree best In early moming.There fore, rubber tapper* start their day's work long before down. An overload which might re duce the life of a crude rubber tire only 29 per cent or oven be carried through until the tread was worn smooth, may reduco the life of a synthetic rubber tire 90 per cent or more and result in a blowout while there Is still wear In the tread. Rubber belting, which now plays such an Important part In mining and Industrial operations, was first manu factured In this country In 1836. BFGoodrich That’s the real reason for owning a radio.' Whether it’s an amateur stunt from nearby Hill’s Crossing, or a network show from Hollywood, you want what you want when you want it without interference. And that is what selectivity means. CLARION was always famous for selec tivity. The experiences of our engineers in work for the armed forces will make CLARION selectivity even more pronounced after the war. CLARION will have the finest radios for you—including battery sets and battery-radio phonograph combinations, as well as a fine line of consoles, table models and portables. Your neighborhood will have a CLARION dealer. I n due time you can get the CLARION you want, with full assurance of trouble-free performance of the highest type. WARWICK MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 4640 West Harrison St. Chicago 44, Illinois I LOOK FOR THIS NAME WHEN RADIOS ARE AGAIN AVAILABLi RADIO