By the time that the silent era had run it’s course and the “talkies” were growing in popularity, Hollywood’s honeymoon with Will Hays was long over. In 1929 Hays’ association with Harry Sinclair of the Consolidated Oil Corporation was called into question by a number of Washington Senators. In 1924, Hays, the man who’s reputation was supposed to be beyond reproach, performed poorly before a Senate committee when asked to explain his 1920 roll as the go-between who collected a $75,000.00 donation from Sinclair in order to fill the coffers of the Republican National Committee. There were allegations of dubious gifts in exchange for this service and the Hollywood community, which has no difficulty generating it’s own scandals and needed no help from Will Hays, thank you very much, began to grumble. Various assorted unkind remarks concerning Will Hays were printed in this short article that appeared in a long forgotten Hollywood trade publication.
Click here if you would like to read about Will Hays and his 1922 arrival in Hollywood.
Click here to read a 1939 article about an alumni organization for the pioneers of silent films.
To read a 1924 article regarding Hollywood film executive Irving Thalberg, click here.
If you would like to read about the films of the 1930s, click here.
