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Source Description
Original Exhibition Caption: During World War II, Hollywood stars created the "Hollywood Canteen," a free social club hosted by actors for American servicemen and women. In January 1943, the Canteen's president, film star Bette Davis, sent FDR this birthday greeting. Young actor Roddy McDowall added his name at the bottom of the letter.
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Document identity
localId
519767859
label
Letter, Bette Davis and Roddy McDowall to Franklin Roosevelt
core
doc
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document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
519767859
contentType
document
title
Letter, Bette Davis and Roddy McDowall to Franklin Roosevelt
description
Original Exhibition Caption: During World War II, Hollywood stars created the "Hollywood Canteen," a free social club hosted by actors for American servicemen and women. In January 1943, the Canteen's president, film star Bette Davis, sent FDR this birthday greeting. Young actor Roddy McDowall added his name at the bottom of the letter.
citationUrl
identifierLocal
AR 2025.1.12
collections
Papers as President, President's Personal File
President's Personal Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
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import
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Source extras
naId
519767859
levelOfDescription
item
productionDates
day
18
logicalDate
1943-01-18
month
1
year
1943
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
b465808c6a9bb0d5
ocrText
Hollywood Canteen
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
January 18, 1943
OFFICERS
BETTE DAVIS-President
CARROLL HOLLISTER-Vice. Pres.
JOHN GARFIELD-Vice Pres.
J. K. WALLACE-Vice Pres.
JEAN LEWIN-Secty. and Ass't. Treas.
ALFRED C. YBARRA-Treas.
Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt
COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN
President of the United States
HOSTESSES: Doris Stein, Florence C. Cadrez
HOSTS: Mervyn LeRoy, Harry Crocker
White House
PUBLICITY: Mack Millar
CONTRIBUTIONS: Ann Warner
Washington, D.C.
BUS. MGEM'T: Jules C. Stein
STAGE MGEM'T: George Ramsey
BLDG. & ALTERATIONS: Alfred C. Ybarra
FOOD DONATIONS: Chef Milani
Dear Mr. President:
KITCHEN EQUIP.: William Simon
DESIGNERS: Casey Roberts
TREASURERS: Catherine Baldwin
CHECKERS: Pepe Ruiz
We take great pleasure in sending you a picture
ENTERTAINMENT:
Bob Hope (Hon. Chairman)
which was taken on New Year's Eve at the Hollywood
John Garfield
Al Malneck
Canteen, signed by many of our boys and our presi-
John TeGroen
Kay Kyser
dent, Miss Bette Davis.
Baron Moorehead
Georgia Fifield
Florine Bale
We all stand back of you one hundred per cent, as
SNACK BAR: Mrs. John Ford
Billie Burke
you can see from the expression on the boys' happy
SPONSORS OF
HOLLYWOOD CANTEEN
faces. We all wish you a very happy and victorious
Actors Equity Assn.
birthday, and if someday, perhaps, you are depressed,
Affil. Property Craftsmen, IATSE Local 44
Amer. Fed. of Musicians, Local 47
look at this picture and we feel sure that your
Amer. Fed. of Musicians, Local 767
Amer. Fed of Radio Artists
sweet smile will return to you with the realization
Amer. Guild of Musical Artists
Amer. Guild of Variety Artists
of the great job that you are doing in saving the
Artists Managers Guild
Asso. Motion Pic. Cost., IATSE Local 705
world from disaster.
Association of Motion Pic. Producers
B.S.E.I.U., Local 99
C.,L.GR.F.D., Local 1247
Federated Amusement & Allied Crafts
With sincere thoughts, all of us wish you good
Film Technicians, IATSE Local 683
Independent Publiicsts
health, happiness and divine guidance in the great
Int. Photographers, IATSE Local 659
task remaining to be done, and may this coming
Int. Sound Tech., IATSE Local 695
Makeup Artists, IATSE Local 706
birthday bring you many more blessed with God's
Mot. Pic. Hair Stylists, IATSE Local 706
Motion Picture Illustrators
greatest gifts that can be bestowed upon such a
M.P. Set Electricians, IATSE Local 728
M.P. Studio Grips, IATSE Local 80
great human being as you.
M.P. Studio Projec., IATSE Local 165
M.P. Painters & Scenic Art., Local 644
Radio Writers Guild
Screen Cartoonists Guild
Please rest assured that America is confident of
Screen Directors Guild
Screen Office Employes Guild
your leadership and will gladly make any sacrifice
Screen Publicists Guild
Screen Readers Guild
necessary to help win this war and the lasting
Screen Set Designers
Screen Writers Guild
peace to follow.
Society of Motion Picture Art Directors
Society of Motion Picture Film Editors
Society of Motion Picture Int. Decorators
God bless you and grant you strength and courage
Songwriters Protective Assn.
Studio Carpenters, Local 946
in this great battle for freedom and civilization.
Studio Elec. Union, IBEW Local 40
Studio L. & U. Workers, IATSE Local 727
Studio Misc. Employees, Local 1104
Studio Trans. Drivers Union, Local 399
With deepest gratitude and sincere admiration,
Studio Util. Emp. Union, Local 724
U.A.J.P.&S., Local 78
W.C.U.,B.S.E., Local 101.
Bitt Kans
ENDORSED BY
Bette Davis, President
California State Federation of Labor
Hollywood Victory Committee
Hollywood Writers Mobilization
State Theatrical Fed. of California
U.S.O.
excheilain
Chef Milani, Food Director
AFFILIATION
American Theatre Wing, Inc.
BD
CM/fs
Rodly McLowall
1451 NORTH CAHUENGA BOULEVARD
PHONE HEMPSTEAD 4801