Hollywood Gets Political

Oct. 12, 1964 - A great surge in political activity among motion picture stars has taken place. Hollywood old-timers say they cannot recall any previous election in which so many performers were openly working for Presidential candidates.

Some stars are even participating in the campaign in a more official capacity. Ronald Reagan (left at a California Goldwater rally) is serving as co-chairman for California Citizens for Goldwater and Miller, while an old-time star, George Murphy (center), is running for a Senate seat.

Last week, the Democrats attracted 1,000 women who paid $5 each to come to a rally at the Goldwyn Studios attended by Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Eddie Fisher, and Janet Leigh, among others.

Another rally at the Hollywood Bowl for opponents of Propositions 14 — a state initiative that would nullify California’s fair housing laws — obtained the services of Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Yul Brynner, Burt Lancaster, Milton Berle, and Dick Van Dyke.

Some observers not that many of the younger personalities favor the Democrats, while the Goldwater followers in Hollywood have enlisted the services of an older generation of stars. A recent advertisement in support of Goldwater that ran in the movie trade papers, for example, was signed by such stars as Ginger Rogers, Mary Pickford, Alice Faye, Irene Dunne, James Stewart, Robert Taylor, and John Wayne.

Mr. Wayne, despite recent hospitalization, has worked hard for the Goldwater cause. He has, among other things, sent out thousands of letters to his fraternity brothers noting: “We have organized ourselves above partnership to help install one of our own as Chief Executive. We seek your help. Not since Grover Cleveland has the White Cross of Sigma Chi been in the White House.”

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