You Can Change the World - 1950

 

 

Hollywood stars moonlight in this short subject with Fr. James Keller of The Christophers in You Can Change the World (1950).  Bob Hope provides the introduction in a comic bit, and the rest of the cast includes Jack Benny, Eddie Rochester Anderson (both also along for laughs), William Holden, Paul Douglas, Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, and Ann Blyth.  Though The Christophers was a Roman Catholic based group, the cast represents a non-denominational aspect to influence  young people to change the world for the better by pursuing careers in public service such as teaching and government work.

 

Above is a press photo.  And here is the link to watch the short on YouTube.

Square Dance at Toluca Lake

 

Ann was voted the honorary “mayor” of her Toluca Lake neighborhood of North Hollywood in September 1949, succeeding Bob Hope in the office.  The ceremony was attended by Fletcher Bowron, the real mayor of Los Angeles, and several other actor honorary mayors from San Fernando Valley communities, including Andy Devine. 

 

 

These photos—newspaper clippings from the album of a fan—show the fun at a Toluca Lake costume square dance with a pioneer settlers theme.  Here she is with Gordon MacRae, and below with Hollywood gossip columnist and radio and TV personality Jimmie Fidler, and some other guy named Bob Hope.  Ann had just finished making Free for All (1949) and had launched into work on Our Very Own (1950). 

 

 

All work and no play…