The Wrangell sentinel., 1924-03-27
Hooper Still Doing Good
 Boosting


 John Hooper, head of the Tourists Society, at Santa Monica, Los An geles county, Southern California, state that many parties are being planned for Alaskan trips, for this summer.
 He states Increased interest is manifest, both among Canadian and American tourists. The trip-toIEu- rope fad has about died out. and with the exception of people who have rel atives over the Atlantic, not much IS heard this year of Atlantic voyages.
 T have had splendid opportunity to boost Alaskan travel, because, not working for any travel bureau or steamship line, I have been able to get the ear of those who want re- liable unbiased information apart from the paid agent, or boomster, who wants to form party, or sell tickets.
 First, had the privilege of ad- dressing another monster gathering of former Alaskans and Yukoners in ILosAngeles. At one meeting the place was packed to suffocation, and most all were old timers from Alaska with friends, among whom I noticed ex- Governor Strong and party.
 With the outside people my pho tos of flowers and vegetables was distinct new idea for them, as they had all pictured Alaska as the land of perpetual icebergs and frozen depths.
 My address to the Alaska Yukon Club, at the Veterans Hall, was to an audience that had some two hun dred or more standing, after all the seats were taken. My address to the tourists was to an audience of Cana dians and Americans that was esti- mated at fifty-five to sixty-five thousand. We had almost twenty thousand in the grand stand. My line of talk is simple-See Alaska first, go early and avoid the rush. unless you make reservations early you will never get there; May, June and September are just nice in most places as July and August.
 note that Charlie Chaplin is at new comedy, as Alaskan gold-rush play. He is going to Alaska to fin ish it, I hear. He has selected Miss Lita Gray, relative of ex-Governor Gage, one of the most prominent families in California, to take the leading part, a portrayal of the Girl Called Lou" Around 'Soapy" Smith and his gang he has woven a play that will advertise Alaska, because it is part true and part comedy of the old mining days. I also hear neau and Skagway, as well as other points, is their filming of the play The plot is laid during the gold rush to Alaska in 1898. The pathos and hardships of the unfortunate DOT trayed with tragic situations con- verted into laughter, with all the old time characters in the cast, make up the film.
 We are hearing lots of talk of ex- tra boats, new boats, and augmented service. I had the pleasure of sec ing the recently purchased steam ship, Emma Alexander, and I heard people say they would like to take trip to Alaska on a steamer just like that. Another thing, we were told that the Canadian National or Grand Trunk would not do anything in AL aska, then we hear that they are
 hunting all over for boats. Time
 alone will tell the tale. Nobody
 knows exactly, not even the steam
 ship people. I have no doubt that
 the existing companies will meet
 the demad. Meantime, we must try
 and get the 1924 summer rush
 spread out over five months, or at least four, and not have it crowd in to two months, as it has been doing I am doing my part, voluntarily, and
 gladly. I am still hoping to get to
 Alaska before the rush starts, just
 to breathe the ozone and see for my self, then go as far as the Atlantic
 and tell the tourists all about it."