Hollywood Comes to Riverside: Fox Film Shoots "David Harum" at Local Fairgrounds

Hollywood invaded Riverside for a few days in early January 1934. Starting at 8:30 on Monday morning, January 8, Fox Film Corporation arrived with a crew of 150 people to film scenes for their new picture, "David Harum." The crew was housed at both the Mission Inn and the Reynolds Hotel.

The movie was an adaptation of Edward Noyes Westcott's 1898 best-selling novel David Harum: A Story of American Life. The main character was David Harum, a small-town banker and horse trader.  The movie climaxed with a sulky or harness race in which John Lenox, a bank teller who worked for Harum, won a 10 to 1 odds bet to gain enough money to propose to his sweetheart, Anne Madison. The two rival racers were David Harum and Deacon Perkins.

The film, directed by James Cruze, starred Will Rogers as David Harum. Charles Middleton as Deacon, Evelyn Venable as Ann, Louis Dresser as Polly Harum, and Kent Taylor as John Lennox also had leading roles.

Riverside was chosen to film the harness racing scenes using the racetrack at the Fair Grounds near Fairmount Park.  Races were held annually during the fair, and track and grandstands were available.  Rogers commented, "The old grandstand fits into the picture like a glove on your hand, and the track and buildings were made for this picture." 

The film's production manager noted that upon his arrival, he signed up 200 Riversiders for parts and would need an additional 100 people on Tuesday morning for crowd scenes. During the race scene, two familiar Riverside faces, J. F. Backstrand and Herman Stanley, were seen as timers on the judge's stand. Both Backstrand and Stanley were noted Riverside horsemen. Rogers also commented on the crowd, saying, "Well, if we have this many people out to see the picture when it is put on the screen, it will be a financial success." 

In his weekly newspaper letter column, Will Rogers gave Riverside a boost when he wrote: "Did you ever drive one of those 'sulkys' in a trotting horse race? Well, they got old David Harum sitting straddle of a horse's tail out here on the Riverside track, and if you think that hasn't got it on the all auto driving, you are wrong."

Fox Film reported at the end of filming that they had spent about $8,000 during the five days of filming in Riverside, with $3700 going to the extras hired from the city. 

A little over a month later, Roy Hunt, the manager of the Fox Riverside Theater, announced that the picture "David Harum" would have a five-day run in Riverside starting on Tuesday, February 27. The only place the film had been seen before this showing was in Los Angeles, where crowds besieged the theater. A few weeks later, Hunt announced on April 11 a return date for showing Will Rogers in David Harum. This time, the film was shown at another theater managed by Hunt, the Golden State, at 3745 Seventh Street (formerly the Loring Opera House).

 Over the years, several movies have been filmed in Riverside at locations like the Mission Inn, Fairmount Park, and the Fairgrounds. One of the better movies is this comedy romance starring Will Rogers. Available on DVD, the picture is good for observing early scenes in Riverside.

We extend our deepest sympathy to all mourning the loss of Will Rogers State Historic Park, tragically impacted by the ongoing wildfires. As surrounding communities continue to face these challenges, our thoughts are with those affected, and we stand in solidarity with everyone working toward recovery and restoration during this difficult time.