Many years ago, when I was in California, I was given a tour of Frank Bresee's house. Frank was a producer, actor, announcer and board game designer. Among his collection was a Hollywood prop known to historians as "The Oh S--t Bar." I was in awe of that prop. It was historical in nature. And I told Frank, "If you ever want to part with that, drop me a line." He gave me some reassurance that he would drop me a line. But years later it was donated to a museum and now being preserved. Good for him.
Never heard of the prop? Well, you are about to get a two-minute crash course on this unique prop.
For two decades (1930s to the 1950s) one of the highest rated radio programs was The Lux Radio Theater. The weekly program had a huge budget. Practically everyone in Hollywood appeared on the program at one time or another. Adaptations of big screen movies were presented -- many with the original screen cast reprising their roles. But with high prestige came a sense of panic -- many of the Hollywood stars inadvertently grabbed the mike stand during the broadcast. This reaction could be carried over the radio broadcast. So someone on the technical side decided to create a bar that would keep the actors from grabbing the mike. Soon after, the microphones were arranged to be hung from above. The bar continued to give celebrities something to hold on to while at the same time, kept them the proper distance from the microphone.
When I say everyone in Hollywood, that is an understatement. Lana Turner, Clark Gable, Edward G. Robinson, Debra Paget, Bette Davis, Wallace Beery, Van Heflin, Donna Reed, James Stewart, Henry Fonda... you name them, they were on the program. Which means almost everyone in Hollywood touched that prop.
When I returned to Hollywood to attend a SPERDVAC convention, a reenactment on stage for an episode of The Lux Radio Theater was performed on stage. The producers of that event arranged for the museum to loan them "The Oh S--t Bar" so they could feature it on stage. After the performance, and the dinner banquet, people rose from their chairs, applauded, and then adjourned to the hotel bar or chatted amongst themselves. I, on the other hand, went over to the bar (then placed in the corner off stage) to have my photo taken with the prop. I was amazed that when the event was over, no one had gone over to take a photo of the prop. Not surprisingly, my action must have been observed. A minute after I had my photo taken with the prop, there was a small line of people who gathered to have their photo taken with the same.
The photo of me holding the prop is from that event. The photos that followed are with various celebrities and the same prop in the photos.
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| Barbara Hale, Al Jolson, and William Demarest |
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| Victor Mature |
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| Barbara Stanwyck |
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| Bette Davis and Glenn Ford |
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| Joan Fontaine and Burt Lancaster |
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| Cary Grant |
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| Charlton Heston |
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| Fred MacMurray |
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| Glenn Ford |
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| Greer Garson |
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| Cary Grant |
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| Joan Crawford |
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| Kirk Douglas |
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| Margaret O'Brien |
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| Richard Conte |
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| Veronica Lake |
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| William Powell and Myrna Loy |
