Video & Multimedia
Related: About this forumThe first attack ads ever. against Upton Sinclair's socialist bid for Gov of Calif. 1934
The 1934 race for governor of California by muckraking Socialist author Upton Sinclair--and how it took the invention of modern media politics to defeat him and his mass movement after he swept the Democratic primary.
The campaign also marked Hollywood's first all-out entry into politics, including the first use of the screen to defeat a candidate--via faked newsreels (which I discovered 20 years ago) produced by MGM's legendary producer Irving Thalberg.
"Nothing is unfair in politics," he explained later. Studio bosses, led by Louis B. Mayer, threatened to move to Florida if Sinclair was elected. Most of them also docked all of their actors and workers a day's pay for contributions.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)Right-on, brother.
Very good history, which repeats itself until you have versions of this by the Koch Brothers enterprises.
meegbear
(25,438 posts)It's a writeup on that election and tactics used by the wealthy, especially the Hollywood Studio owners, to smear an electoral candidate.
I really recommend the book ...
http://www.amazon.com/The-Campaign-Century-Sinclairs-California/dp/1468075721
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Substitute "Louis B. Mayer" with "Koch Brothers" and "bums & hobos" with "immigrants" and you've got the current situation.