Just how famous was Reagan in his hey-day by using one of today’s stars as a comparison?
Was he somewhere around the Sam Waterston range, or bigger?
I’d put him in a class with Jeff Daniels.
Jeff Daniels sounds about right. Jeff Bridges, max.
I think he became a truly household name when he did TV in the 1950’s - keep in mind there were only 3 stations, so think of some guy today who’s even more widely exposed than a current host of a moderately sucessful weekly network primetime show.
His film appearances don’t leave a strong impression. If anything “Bedtime For Bonzo” made his film career a bit of a joke. He would have been someone you have seen before, and recognize from another movie; probably recognize his voice (Reagan does have one of those “voices”) - but not someone on the “A list”. His role as president of the Screen Actors Guild during the blacklist period probably got him far more headlines. I am of course being very speculative here, since I am not over 65.
I think Jeff Daniels might be a little too generous - well Daniels hasn’t been in anything in a while - so who knows.
Ironically, ** BingoBurringo ** mentioned San Waterston…
Reagan appeared in a film entitled “Law and Order” http://us.imdb.com/Title?0045991
Back in the old days, when movies were a dime (Reagan wasn’t a star when they were a nickel), you went to the afternoon show. (My parents keep repeating this for some damn reason, I’m not that old).
You saw the coming attractions, nowadays called the previews. You got a newsreel, a cartoon, a short feature (like the Three Stooges), the B feature and the A feature. Obviously, this took all day. Great babysitting. (For the evening show you got the plate of the week for your china set.)
The A feature was the serious film that would be in contention for the Academy Award nominations and was the studio’s top product by its first string of talent, although it could be a comedy. Shirley Temple films were A features for kids. Shirley and the Three Stooges were the biggest money makers of the depression for their respective studios.
The B feature was forgettable schlock. In fact most of them no longer exist.
Reagan was with some exceptions, strictly a B feature actor. He did have supporting parts in some A films, like the Knute Rockne story and King’s Row (his best film and actually quite good.) As the studio system was getting old, and so was Reagan, he began to get more A picture type supporting roles.
He was a much better poltician than an actor. And I mean that in the most generous sense that a Democrat can: he got his agenda through.
Other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?