Jun

The American Magic That Was Hollywood

The American Magic That Was Hollywood
(By the way, this was way before my time too!)

Once there was a great and good nation. It was fully committed and set forward in the same direction by it’s citizenry. The goal was a safe, secure United States of America with a world of peace and prosperity. Tight knit communities existed with sharing between members. There was also a great pride in our military, men and women, officers and enlisted, and in all branches. That was WWII:

Hollywood and the movies were an escape for the harsh sacrifices made here at home and abroad. There were glamorous and handsome movie stars who were involved in the military, in the USO, training films, patriotic films, and often could be the last person that military personnel saw before they shipped out through the Hollywood Canteen. These same movie stars also enabled a fantasy in the way of entertaining movies. We didn’t know their political affiliation, religion or sexual orientation. They were Americans “performing” their Patriotic Duty that was open to them for us, yes us, because their shining example, formerly on celluloid, is now often available on DVD. When was the last time you saw “Yankee Doodle Dandy”? What about “Sergeant York”? Have you watched a real American hero in Audie Murphy who came back from war and made the movies his new life? Hollywood was golden in more ways than one. There was a draft but many enlisted voluntarily.

I remember the Vietnam War well. I grew up in the 60′s. I had a teacher on crutches because he had artificial legs. This was due to an injury received in a military action. He was a hero and I was proud of him, and of my family members who also served. Many of us lived in the newly developed suburban communities. We knew our neighbors. On TV, we watched the “Rat Patrol”, “Combat”, “Gomer Pyle”, “McHale’s Navy”, “The Lieutenant” and we had a heck of a lot of Westerns. We had Bob Hope’s USO tours and specials on TV for the patriotic feel. We still didn’t know Hollywood and TV stars’ religion, sexual orientation but, thanks to “Hanoi Jane”, we were beginning to see a political affiliation with opposition to patriotism. There was a divisive feeling in the country and old wounds that still won’t close. There was a draft but many enlisted voluntarily. Some, although, ran to Canada to evade responsibility.

I look at today; with wars here, threats there. We are a mobile country, from homes to phones. There are superficial communities with selfish spirit (Nimby has been coined). We have garbage on TV and no quality main stream media. Our celebrities, no longer movie stars, have issues (well publicized too like a “Badge of Honor” with respect to drugs, delinquent child rearing, alcoholism, divorces, affairs, arrests, overindulgence, excesses still far too numerous to list), political affiliations or distastes, sexual orientation is “in your face”, religious advertising or antagonizing. This is an all voluntary military and it’s disrespected daily, WHY? Where is the patriotic feel good attitude? There is a destructive force at work and today it permeates in Hollywood.

Where is the American Magic that was Hollywood?