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Forrest Barnes
BornWilliam Forest Barnes
(1905-06-11)June 11, 1905
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 20, 1951(1951-10-20) (aged 46)
Salinas, California, U.S.
Occupation
  • playwright
  • radio writer
  • screenwriter
  • stage actor
LanguageEnglish
EducationSenn High School
Alma materMajor School of Acting
Years active1927 – 1951
Spouse
Evelyn Bolster
​
​
(m. 1936; died 1951)​

Forrest William Barnes[1] (born William Forest Barnes;[2] July 11, 1905 – October 20, 1951) was an American radio writer, producer and actor, a screenwriter, and a stage actor and director. Perhaps best known for John Barrymore's radio mini-series, Streamlined Shakespeare,[3][4] Barnes also scripted shows such as Old Gold Hour,[3] Stars Over Hollywood,[5] The Man Behind the Gun,[6] First Nighter,[3] The Alex Templeton Show[7] and Hollywood Playhouse,[3] and as well as a series of historically themed short films produced by Warner Brothers,[8][9] and the series premiere of the TV variety show, Ford Festival.[10]

Life and career

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A native of Chicago, Illinois,[1] Barnes was the youngest of two sons born to Sylvanus Warren Barnes and Louise Hart Blodgett.[11][2][12][13] He attended Senn High School and later the Major School of Acting in Los Angeles.[3][14]

Beginning in 1932, Barnes worked at radio station KMPC in Beverly Hills, both as an announcer and as the writer and narrator of his own weekly series, Famous Operas.[15] The following year, he was promoted to program manager.[16]

In 1934, Barnes moved to KFWB, where he produced a weekly series of historical plays, The American Parade.[17][18] In September, Broadcasting reported that he had moved to KFI, as the writer/producer of numerous shows, including his American history series, as well another, simply titled Makers of History.[19]

In January 1936, at KECA in Los Angeles, Barnes directed a live, on-air performance of Othello, in its entirety, featuring Lindsay MacHarrie in the title role and Mary Jane Higby as Desdemona and Bret Morrison as Iago.[20]

In November 1940, Barnes was elected national president of the Radio Writers' Guild.[21]

Throughout his career (extending from the initial stock company tours through his tenure, not quite two decades later, as actor-director of the Palo Alto Community Players), Barnes retained an ongoing commitment to performing, and to live theater. Highlights of that onstage career include portrayals of 'Maxim' de Winter in Rebecca, of the "burnt-out movie director" in Kay Van Riper's Cantina,[22] of "Pat"—to his real-life wife's "Mabel"—in Three Men on a Horse,[23][24] and of Sheridan Whiteside, the Alexander Woollcott-modeled protagonist of The Man Who Came to Dinner. Reviewing the latter performance, Palo Alto Times critic Dorothy Nichols notes that "Woollcott playing Woollcott doubled the joke in San Francisco, but Forrest Barnes, without reliance on rotundity, makes his own characterization.

He holds the key to Sheridan Whiteside in an unending relish for all sensation, whether a bit of dripping sentimentality, a juicy murder, a genuine love affair, a bold stand, a touch of genius, or a bite of food. [...] Without this gusto he would become an insufferable impertinence, for he belongs to the decade when the calculated insult was the highest form of wit, but with it he is a lovable devil. Barnes' tone of voice on the telephone, his laugh, his eager ear and susceptible eye convey the man's relish of a situation, and his savage ruthlessness is mainly a defense against bores.[25]

As for writing, one particularly intriguing—albeit ultimately unrealized—project was Goodbye Uncle Tom, envisioned as a socially conscious musical reimagining of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, with Barnes assisting Essie Robeson—wife of Paul—in providing the book and conductor/composer David Broekman handling the music.[26] Despite respective 1944 news reports of "an early summer production"[27] and "an upcoming Broadway production" (with erstwhile Orson Welles trouper Maurice Ellis set to star),[28][29] adaptation evidently proved a lengthier process than anticipated,[30] and the finished product was eventually nixed—as excessively "ponderous"—by producer Herman Shumlin, and the project was ultimately abandoned.[31]

Political activity

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During the 1948 U.S. presidential race, Barnes was an outspoken opponent of Harry Truman and supporter of Truman's vice presidential predecessor Henry Wallace.[32] According to a November 1937 Palo Alto Times piece recounting a hotly contested meeting of that city's Democratic Club, Barnes drew "a burst of crackling applause" with his retort to Truman supporters, urging members to opt instead for "a man of stature."

I'm sorry. I cannot go along with the rather hopeless philosophy of Mr. McDonald. I don't want Truman! I don't want his lip service to Roosevelt, and his actions in favor of the men he is supposed to be opposing.[33]

Personal life and death

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Beginning on May 30, 1936, and for the remainder of his life, Barnes was married to novelist, actress and—on at least one occasion—onstage co-star, Evelyn Bolster,[34][24][23] with whom he would raise three sons, including one from Bolster's previous marriage.[35][36][37]

On October 18, 1951, it was reported that a benefit performance was to be staged for Barnes, who had recently contracted poliomyelitis and was "fighting for his life" at Salinas County Hospital.[38] On October 20, the day of the planned fundraiser, Barnes lost that fight.[39] Survived by his wife and children, the late actor was paid a tacit tribute the following month by CBS-TV and two "old friends," Vincent Price and Hans Conried, the respective star and director of Stars Over Hollywood's November 17 broadcast of the Barnes teleplay, "Challenge to Glory".[5]

Works

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Radio

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Year Title Role Notes
1932 Famous Operas Creator, writer, narrator [15]
1934– Ladies Laugh Last Creator, writer, producer [40]
1935–1936 First Nighter
"The King of Shadows"
 Writer [41]
1937 Thrills Creator, writer [42]
1937 Streamlined Shakespeare Creator, writer Mini-series feat. John Barrymore in six 45-minute adaptations.[4]
1937 The Life of Byron
Ep. 12/13/37 		Actor, John Hanson [43]
1939, 1951 Stars Over Hollywood
Ep. "Breathes There a Man" & "Challenge to Glory" 		Writer [44][5]
1939 Hollywood Playhouse
Ep. "Broadway Miracle" & "Manhattan Serenade" 		Writer [45][46]
1939 The Alex Templeton Show Writer [7]
1939—1943 The Little Stranger Creator, writer Christmas special aired annually on KFI[47][48]
1941 The Great Gunns Creator, writer [3]
1942 Alias John Freedom Creator, writer [49]
1942–1944 The Man Behind the Gun Writer [6]
1946 This Is My Best
Ep. "For Always" 		Writer [50]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGF9-F15S : Thu Jan 16 16:47:33 UTC 2025), Entry for Forrest William Barnes and Evelyn B Barnes, 16 Oct 1940.
  2. ^ a b "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1953", , FamilySearch (https://www.fam;ilysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQYH-WLN : Sat Jan 11 12:02:52 UTC 2025), Entry for William Forest Barnes and Warren S. Barnes.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "'Great Gunns,' Hilarious Comedy Series, To Make WTJS-Mutual Net Debut From 8:30 To 9:00 Tonight". The Jackson Sun. May 8, 1941. p. 12. "The Great Gunns is written by Forrest Barnes, a native Chicagoan, graduate of Senn High school who now lives on a ranch at Redwood Park, Calif. Five years of traveling with stock companies gave Barnes his background for radio and theater writing. Among top radio shows for which he has written are the John Barrymore Shakespeare series, Alec Templeton Hour, Hormel Show, Silver Theater, Texaco Show, Old Gold Hour, First Nighter and Knickerbocker Playhouse."
  4. ^ a b Burt, Richard, ed. (2002). Shakespeare After Mass Media. New York : Palgrave. p. 219. ISBN 0-312-29453-0.
  5. ^ a b c Jenkins, Dan (November 15, 1941). "On the Air". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 8. ProQuest 2640082693. BRIEFLY: CBS will air the late Forest Barnes' 'Challenge to Glory' Saturday on Stars Over Hollywood, with Vincent Price starring and Hans Conried directing, both old friends of Barnes.
  6. ^ a b Dunning, John (1998). On the Air : The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. New York: Oxford University Press. p. . ISBN 0-19-507678-8.
  7. ^ a b "Late Personal and News Notes". Broadcasting. July 1, 1939. p. 199. ProQuest 1016838044. FORREST BARNES, Hollywood free-lance writer, has been assigned to write the weekly Alex Templeton program which replaces Fibber McGee and Molly for the summer, effective July 4, under continued sponsorship of S. C. Johnson & Son (floor wax). Besides Templeton, blind pianist, the program will feature Conrad Nagel as master-of-ceremonies; Edna O'Dell, vocalist, and Billy Mills' orchestra.
  8. ^ "WB Plans Color Series Of Patriotic Shorts". The Hollywood Reporter. March 29, 1936. p. 4. ProQuest 2297382083. Warner Bros. will produce a series of color shorts based on patriotic themes and to be known as The American Parade. The studio has purchased a story for the first, 'How the Star-Spangled Banner Was Written,' from Forrest Barnes, and has taken an option on 12 additional stories of similar themes from the KFI radio writer.
  9. ^ a b c d e United States Congress (1947). Hearings Regarding the Communist Infiltration of the Motion Picture Industry. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 23. OCLC 41889415.
  10. ^ a b Ackerman, Paul (April 14, 1951). "Television-Radio: Television-Radio Reviews - Ford Festival". The Billboard. p. 8. ProQuest 1040099856. TELEVISION–Reviewed Thursday (5), 9-10 p.m. [...] Writers, Gordon Auchincloss, Forrest Barnes, Lewis Allen and Howard Merrill
  11. ^ "Death Notices: In Memorium". Chicago Tribune. April 29, 1922. p. 15.
  12. ^ "United States, Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKZV-R58 : Fri Jan 10 10:07:34 UTC 2025), Entry for Sylvanus W Barnes and Peonise H Barnes, 1910.
  13. ^ "United States, Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ79-KNT : Fri Jan 17 08:18:02 UTC 2025), Entry for Sylvanus Barnes and Louise Barnes, 1920.
  14. ^ "Graduates of Drama School Accept Posts". The Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1927. pt. III, p. 16.
  15. ^ a b "Radio: FORREST BARNES NEW WRITERS' GUILD PREXY". Broadcasting. November 15, 1932. p. 22. ProQuest 1505602921. Forrest Barnes is the newest announcer on the staff of KMPC, Beverly Hills, Cal. [...] Forrest Barnes, announcer of KMPC, Beverly Hills, Cal., is author and narrator of a Saturday series of 'Famous Operas' now being featured on that station.
  16. ^ "BEHIND THE MICROPHONE". Broadcasting. September 1, 1933. p. 21. ProQuest 1505555515. Forrest Barnes, announcer at KMPC, Beverly Hills, Cal., has been promoted from announcer to program manager.
  17. ^ "Radio: KFWB's Histrionics". Broadcasting. February 13, 1934. p. 37. ProQuest 1475863754. Tom Moore, Eric Snowden, Montague Shaw and other film players go into a weekly historical play, starting Feb. 18 over KFWB, commercialled by Alberta Food Co. Series under title of 'American Parade,' produced by Forrest Barnes, was formerly a sustainer at KMPC, Beverly Hills.
  18. ^ "BEHIND THE MICROPHONE". Broadcasting. March 1, 1934. p. 26. ProQuest 1505556686. Forrest Barnes, who recently resigned as production manager of KMPC, Beverly Hills, Cal., has written 'American Parade,' historical series, which started over the Southern California Network late in February from KFWB, key station.
  19. ^ "BEHIND THE MICROPHONE". Broadcasting. September 1, 1934. p. 28. ProQuest 1505542386. Forrest Barnes, the past several years producer at KMPC, Cal., has been added to the continuity staff at KFI, Los Angeles, to write and produce 'Makers of History' and other weekly features.
  20. ^ Nye, Carroll (January 14, 1936). "New Adventure-Mystery Serial Will Make Its Bow to Radio Audiences Today; Shakespeare Classic to Be Produced". The Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
  21. ^ "Radio: FORREST BARNES NEW WRITERS' GUILD PREXY". Variety. November 20, 1940. p. 25. ProQuest 1505854005. Forrest Barnes was elected national president of the Radio Writers Guild last week, with Paul Franklin replacing him as California regional president and Katherine Seymour elected as Eastern regional president, succeeding Knowles Eutrikin.
  22. ^ Arlen, David (October 30, 1937). "Legitimate: Out-of-Town Openings - 'Three for an Evening'". The Billboard. p. 24. ProQuest 1032146695. Cantina features Miss Van Riper as a native Panama girl whom a burned-out movie director tries to promote for a Hollywood career. [...] Three outstanding performances feature this one-act drama—those of Forrest Barnes as the dissipated megaphonist; Lynne Arden, as his paramour, and, of course, Miss Van Riper in the leading role.
  23. ^ a b De Witt, Carroll (May 29, 1943). "Comedy With Plenty of Plot is Players' Lively Offering – 'Three Men on a Horse'". The Palo Alto Times. p. 2. "Edward Perkins, Ben Keeney and Forrest Barnes are ideally cast as Charlie, Frankie and Patsy, the "Three Men,' who never step out of their Damon Runyonesque characters for a moment, and who keep the audience in a state of unholy glee. [...] Evelyn Bolster does a superb job of the role of Mabel, Patsy's -uh-'girl.'"
  24. ^ a b "The First Reader: Evelyn Bolster's 'Morning Shows the Day'". News and Record. April 9, 1940. p. 6. "The author, whose early life seems to have been similar to that of the Colwells, is wife of Forrest Barnes, radio writer. (Vanguard Press, $2.50.)"
  25. ^ Nichols, Dorothy (March 8, 1943). "'Man Who Came to Dinner' Given Top-Notch Performance". Palo Alto Times. p. 3.
  26. ^ Cohen, Harold (August 25, 1944). "The Drama Desk; "The Drama Desk; Addenda". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Daily Magazine. p. 4. "Theater Guild is considering a musical version of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.' Called 'Goodbye Uncle Tom,' the "American folk music drama" stresses modern connotations with leanings toward social significance. Forrest Barnes and Essie Robeson (Mrs. Paul Robeson) wrote the book and the melodies are by David Broekman, the radio conductor."
  27. ^ Oakley, Annie (April 6, 1945). "The Theatre and Its People". The Windsor Daily Star. p. 16. "An early summer production is promised for 'Goodbye, Uncle Tom,' musical version of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' with a book by Forrest Barnes and Essie Robeson, wife of Paul Robeson."
  28. ^ Calvin, Dolores (August 4, 1945). "Wants Out of 'Negro' Roles". The Weekly Review. p. 1. "'For 1946, the Negro's future in the theatre looks bright, for every day producers and fellow workers are falling in line with those who believe that the theatre is a vital weapon to ward off prejudice of all kinds and therefore, must be kept democratic.' Those were the strong and frank words of 6' 3" Maurice Ellis, 170 pounds of powerful actin [sic], who will take the lead in a forthcoming Broadway production, 'Goodbye Uncle Tom.'"
  29. ^ Boyd, Herb (January 30, 2003). "'The perfect voice' is silenced". New York Amsterdam News. p. 18. ProQuest 390204630. But it was on the stage where Ellis found his true metier, particularly his performance in the 1936 production of "Macbeth" directed by Orson Welles at the Lafayette Theater. At first, Ellis portrayed Macduff, but when Jack Carter left, he took over the leading role in this Federal Theater Project. Welles converted this Shakespearean tragedy into a lively, picaresque romp that takes place in Haiti with a voodoo motif. The performance ran for several successful weeks. [...] Several theater writers believe Welles brushed up on his Shakespeare and used Ellis' portrayal of Macbeth to refine his own film and stage versions.
  30. ^ Hill, Abe (August 11, 1945). "Sepia Plays, Galore, Headed for Broadway". New York Amsterdam News. p. 22. ProQuest 226056012. POKE COUNTY, GOODBYE UNCLE TOM, BONTEMPT'S MUSICALE, and the BLACK and WHITE musical plus ELLINGTON'S musical all fall into the I-Haven't-Heard-Anymore-Department.
  31. ^ Duberman, Martin (1988). Paul Robeson: A Biography]. New York : Knopf. pp. 292–293, 668. ISBN 0-394-52780-1. "By the end of 1944 she had not only completed her doctoral thesis, but was also revising Goodbye Uncle Tom, the play she had labored over intermittently for ten years [...] For a time she had high hopes her play would find a producer, her spirits soaring each time a favorable reading suggested a possible production—but none materialized [...] 24. Herman Shumlin to ER, Oct. 5. 1944 (pronouncing Goodbye Uncle Tom on the "ponderous side"); ER to Shumlin, Oct. 16, 1944 (accepting his verdict with grace).
  32. ^ "Students for Wallace Will Meet Tomorrow". The Palo Alto Times. Palo Alto Times. p. 2. "Heading the speakers on the program will be Forrest Barnes, movie and radio writer, who will talk on 'Wallace's proposal to stop the cold war.'"
  33. ^ "Group Bolts P.A. Democratic Club in Wallace Row: Kreps Heads 'Rightists' Refusing to Support Former Vice President; Resolution at hectic meeting is adopted by a vote of 71 to 11". Palo Alto Times. July 25, 1947. p. 1.
  34. ^ Nye, Carroll (May 27, 1936). "Sea Themes for Radio; New Queen Mary Will Sail; 'Wedding of Oceans' Rites to Be Held in New York Harbor; Are You Listening" The Los Angeles Times. p. 8.
  35. ^ "Baby Tidings: New Sons Join Barnes, Broesamle, Linger Clans". Palo Alto Times. June 8, 1946. p. 2. "Babies are social news these days. For Mrs. Forrest (Evelyn) Barnes, her third son timed his arrival just before her third novel, which is soon to be out. Although the book is as yet unnamed, she and Mr. Barnes have designated the newcomer Timothy Charles. [...] His brothers are Christopher, 12, and David, 2."
  36. ^ "Two Smart Weddings Hold Attention of Social Realm After Series of Gay Affairs: Miss Bolster Weds". Los Angeles Evening Express. September 23, 1931. p. 9. "Another wedding announcement of interest to their friends here is that of Miss Evelyn Bolster and Howard V. Swinney."
  37. ^ "News in Brief: Asserts Cruelty". The Twin Falls Times-News. p. 2. "Charges of cruelty form the basis for a divorce action filed in district court here by Mrs. Evelyn Swinney against Howard Swinney, now a resident of Chicago. The couple married in Los Angeles, Sept. 13, 1931."
  38. ^ "Benefit Play in Behalf of Barnes". Pacific Grove Tribune. October 18, 1951. p. 1. "A benefit production of 'This is It' in behalf of Forest Barnes, well known director of many Peninsula plays who was stricken with poliomyelitis last week, will appear in a repeat performance at 8:30 p. m. Saturday, October 20, in Sunset auditorium."
  39. ^ Jenkins, Dan (October 23, 1941). "On the Air". The Hollywood Reporter. p. 11. ProQuest 2320405501. Forest Barnes [sic], one of radio's veteran writers and producers, and a free-lance for the past three years, died of polio Saturday. Mrs. Barnes can be reached at P.O. Box 1873, Carmel.
  40. ^ "STUDIO NOTES". Broadcasting. November 15, 1934. p. 38. ProQuest 1505549783. KFI, Los Angeles, has started 'Ladies Laugh Last,' a series of drawing room comedies, with Forrest Barnes doing scripts and production.
  41. ^ Palmer, Zuma (September 27, 1935). "On the Air". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 15. "'The King of Shadows,' the First Nighter play to be broadcast by KFI at 6, was written by Forrest Barnes of the Earle C. Anthony station. Mr. Barnes' dramatic series for KFI have included 'Ladies Laugh Last.' He adapted 'The Three Musketeers' for radio and now is doing 'Men and Empire' and '20 Years After.' 'The King of Shadows' is a story of the young Bonaparte, the Duchess Sophia and Count Metternich."
  42. ^ Helm. (February 3, 1937). "Radio-Reviews: 'THRILLS'". Variety. p. 36. ProQuest 1476023652. Narration by Gayne Whitman was clean-cut and concise. Carlton Kadell handled the commercials crisply and with restraint. Forest Barnes rates a curtsy for his script. Show is a welcome relief from the run of noisy, swingy, unfunny programs now cluttering the coast lanes. No matter which member of the family tunes in, it'll stay put. There's something in it for everyone, and that's aiming for a vast audience which this one rates.
  43. ^ Harper, James (December 13, 1937). "Schmeling-Thomas Bout on NBC; Montgomery, Lupino and Jewel Star in DeMille Dramatization". Los Angeles Daily News. p. 21. "Another episode of 'The Life of Byron,' KFAC's dramatic series, is heard tonight at 7:30 with Forrest Barnes, writer-actor, as guest artist in the role of John Hanson. Robert Swan portrays lead role under direction of Celeste Rush."
  44. ^ Stenhauser, Sy (February 22, 1939). "Only Brainy Folks Can Swing It, If You Ask Professor Whiteman—All of Which, If True, Praises Mr. Dorsey". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 11. ProQuest 2269859036. The Star Theater presentation on WJAS at 9 o'clock will headline Madeleine Carroll, British movie star, in 'Breathes There a Man,' an original drama by Forrest Barnes. True Boardman will support Miss Carroll.
  45. ^ "Radio News and Programs". The Morning Union. April 29, 1939. p. 3. "Helen Wood, youthful actress of radio and screen, will be the guest artist and 'Broadway Miracle' the play in the Hollywood Playhouse production starring Charles Boyer over WBZA at 3 p.m. The play was written for this program by Forrest Barnes. In it, Boyer will be heard in the role of a Broadway producer who, in spite of himself, falls in love."
  46. ^ "Hollywood Playhouse". The Sacramento Bee. Jul 1, 1939. p. 14.
  47. ^ Palmer, Zuma (December 22, 1939). "Radio: Programs, Personalities". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 12.
  48. ^ Palmer, Zuma (December 22, 1943). "Radio: Programs, Personalities". Hollywood Citizen-News. p. 7.
  49. ^ Corbett, Noel (April 21, 1942). "Valley Radio Voices". San Fernando Valley Times. p. 11. "'Alias John Freedom' is written by Forrest Barnes, one of radio's outstanding writers and producers. Barnes, who did the Charles Boyer series, and the summer show starring Gale Page and Jim Ameche in seasons past, deserted Hollywood sometime ago for San Francisco. Not that Barnes doesn't like Hollywood, but he simply wanted to make his home on the Bay City Peninsula. Recently he decided to get back into radio, so presented this series to the Blue Network. For that reason, broadcasts will be from the Northern city, and will be the first transcontinental dramatic program to originate from there in recent years."
  50. ^ Hilton, Chuck (March 19, 1946). "On the Town". Globe-Gazette. p. 2. "William Eythe and Louise Albritton co-star in a radio adaptation of Valerie Winkler Griffiths' love story, 'For Always,' on KGLO-CBS' 'This Is My Best' Tuesday at 8:30 p. m. Forrest Barnes adapted the story. James Wallington announces and Bernard Katz conducts the orchestra."
  51. ^ a b Rainey, Buck (1996). The Reel Cowboy : Essays on the Myth in Movies and Literature. Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland. pp. 128, 167. ISBN 0786401060.
  52. ^ Schallert, Edwin (March 5, 1937). "'Green Light' Flashes on Warner Theater Screens". The Los Angeles Times. p. 10.
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