Episode 3A - Hollywood Hotel (1937)

Red Time For Bonzo: A Marxist-Reaganist Film Podcast (Ronald Reagan Filmography)

Ronald Reagan in a Busby Berkeley extravaganza!!?? Well, sort of... The Gipper graduates from Warners' B-squad to the big time, but only to the tune of a 30 second two-shot with the great Dick Powell (67% of our hosts disagree with that description of Dick). And it's not exactly Berkeley's finest effort, either. Nothing proto-psychedelic here. Unless Mabel Todd's dotty dialogue disorients you.

And - to quote Mabel - we had some interesting talks! Topics include some notes on Johnny Mercer; the sad demise of erstwhile Stooge Majordomo Ted Healy; the return of Clinton Rosemond and Allyn Joslyn; the mystery that is Hugh Herbert; a despicable blackface gag that tells you everything you need to know about the banality of white supremacist evil during the 1930s; counterfeit fashion plate Alan Mowbray; Louella Parsons; some excuses for Dave to talk about the Lane Sisters (Rosemary and Lola are actually in the film); Glenda Farrell, professional wiseacre; Frances Langford; Johnnie "Scat" Davis; the Second New Deal; Court Packing; some more quality time with Norbert "I LOVE ACTRESSES" Lusk; and even a bona fide cultural leap forward in the persons of the Benny Goodman Quartet (BG, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, and Teddy Wilson, the "Marxist Mozart") - the first integrated group of musicians ever to appear upon an American screen.

Toward the end, Dave, Romy, and Gareth discuss their dismal expectations re: the then-imminent Ontario provincial election (the episode was recorded in May). Suffice it to say, those expectations have been lived down to by Doug Ford, who is even less "refreshing" than Ted Healy.

Now is a time for choosing. Choose RED TIME FOR BONZO!

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Intro Theme:

"Driving Reagan" by Gareth Hedges