Evening star., 1924-10-17
THEATRICAL FOLK
: COOLIDGE GUESTS.
Al JoIson Leads Actor Band
in Pledge of Support at
Breakfast Party.

Government business was put aside
for an hour or so this morning while
President Coolidge fraterniZed with
half hundred actors and actresses
who were breakfast guests at the
White House and who afterward staged
an impromptu entertainment in the rear
grounds.
These performers, led by Al Jol-
son, are members of the Coolidge
Eon-Partisan League and made the
pilgrimage to the White House to
pledge their support to the President
in the coming election. Jolson mixed
in a few presidential jokes" and was
successful in his threat to make Mr..
Coolidge laugh out loud.
In the party besides Al JolSon We're
such well known theater stars as
John Drew, Raymond Hitchcock. the
Dolly Sisters. Hal Ford. Charlotte
Greenwood Stella and t'rancine Lar
rimore, Gerald Griffen. Justine John
son, Cecil Lean and Cleo Mayfield.
There was singing, band music,
storytelling and speech making Al
Jolson, in making a brief speech in
which he attempted to tell the Pres
ident that the theatrical profession
is satisfied with his administration OF
the Governments affairs and wants
no cha nge. said Every one is going
to vote for Coolidge who is working
and the theater performers are all
working"
RAYMOND Hitchcock made one of
those impromptu speeches for which
he is famous, and which had the en-
tire gathering laughing from start to
finish.
keep Coolidge" Sung.
Probably the real feature of this pic
turesque and entertaining political
meeting was the singing of song,
Keep Coolidge written specially for
this occasion. and which will be sung
extensively by theatrical performers
during the remainder of the campaign.
Al Jolson. in true Jolsonian style, led
the singing of this song. which fol-
lows:
The race is now begun
And Coolidge is the one
The one to fill the presidential chair.
Without lot of fuss
He did a lot for us.
So ,et's reciprocate and keep him there.
REFRAIN.
Keep Coolidge. Keep Coolidge,
And have no fears
For four more years.
Keep Coolidge, Keep Coolidge
For he will right our wrongs
He's never asleep;
Still water runs deep
So keep Coolidge. Keep Coolidge,
He's right where he belongs.
Mrs. Coolidge Joins Singers.
Mrs. Coolidge. who was in the
gathering, and who gave the appear
3nce of having the time of her life"
Joined in the singing and at times
her clear soprano tones could be
heard above the other voices Mrs
Coolidge purposely held the last note,
which was a high one. and Jolson
nd a
hear. Some note" That's so good. |
let's have it again. The song was
sung half dozen times. And it was
sung well, even though with the ex-
ception of two or three it was the
first time those present had seen the
words.
This pilsrimag ge was staged by Col.
Rhinelander Waldo, prominent Demo
crat, and former commissioner of
police of New York, who is head of |
the Coolidge Non-PartisAn League !
The party came directly to the White |
House from Union Station and after |
being informally received by the |
President and Mrs. Coolidge went to |
the state dining room, where a good |
old fashioned breakfast with hot cakes
and sausage as the banner attrac-
tions was waiting.
Storytelling Period.
Photographs were taken in the
grounds, and while waiting for the
appearance of Ray Miller's Jazz Band |
there was storytelling and joking
such as only would be expected from
a gathering Of entertainers of the
caliber Of the Presidents guests.
The President stayed with his call
ers until 10:30- although the Cabinet
meeting had been scheduled for 10
o'clock. He remarked to one of his
friends afterWard that that catherine
was far more interesting and enter
tanning than a Cabinet meeting and
that he enjoyed it fully.
Mr.. Coolidge thanked the guests
Tor their praise and their support
and he told them that the White
House would be always open to them
whenever they come to Washington
at least until March 4th." as he
expressed it