Tuesday, August 24, 1920

Today is the busiest day in Marion since the nomination ceremonies on July 22; it is also a milestone in presidential campaign history because it is the first time that national celebrities are used to publicize a candidate.

Thousands of people want to see the stars who have traveled from New York to visit Senator Harding. The seventy members of the Harding and Coolidge Theatrical League, including Al Jolson and many other "names," are greeted by a crowd at Marion Union Station, including members of the John Hand band from Chicago, who will support the festivities on Harding's lawn today. A reporter for the Marion Star "was reminded of circus day in viewing the large numbers of citizens who crowded the station platform eager for a glimpse of the stars," who arrive at 7:34 a.m.:

The local citizens have an opportunity to also see Charles Evan Hughes, the previous Republican nominee, who is also here to visit Harding and is on the same train as Jolson and his friends; he is not aware that they'd be traveling together. The procession moves from the train station to the Marion Club, where the stars are served breakfast. Hughes heads to the Harding home for a conference with the candidate.

At the Harding home, another crowd gathers in anticipation of the festivities. The band positions itself to the right of the Harding's walk. Someone carries a sign with the message "We Want a Man Like Teddy":

Al Jolson opens the program by presenting Florence Harding with a roll of names of league members. Here she is holding the roll; Jolson is to her left:

Here's a photograph of Mrs. Harding pinning a boutonniere on Jolson:

Jolson explains that the members in attendance had a busy season ahead of them but still traveled to Marion: "[Y]ou realize how important it is to elect Harding and Coolidge." He mentions the actors who sent regrets, including some names that resonate a century later: Irene Castle, Mary Pickford, and Pearl White. 

Jolson and the band perform a "Harding, You're the Man For Us," a new campaign song that Jolson wrote for the occasion (but never recorded). He also sings "Swanee," one of his signature tunes; the crowd sings "My Country 'Tis of Thee," and the band offers a performance of "A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight."

Harding uses the speech as another opportunity to criticize the current president:

There are many plays especially written for notable stars and their presentation has depended on the work of one portraying genius. There is, of course, a fascination in the one-lead drama, but it makes the spectator very much dependent upon one individuality, and if the star should be incapacitated for any reason, there is inevitable disappointment. I think it is a very practical thing to suggest that our American popular government ought not to be a one-lead or a one-star drama of modern civilization. I want to commend the policy of each and every one having his part to play, and we all must play with enthusiasm in order to perfect the whole production. We have been drifting lately under one-lead activities and I am sure the American people are going to welcome a change of the bill. For the supreme offering, we need the all-star cast, presenting America to all the world.

A lunch is held at the Sawyer farm and dinner is provided later. The actors leave Marion in the evening.

Sources:

• "Stars Frolic Around Porch." Marion Star. 24 August 1920.
• All these pictures, except one, are from the Ohio History Connection. The photograph of Mrs. Harding pinning the boutonniere on Jolson is from the Smithsonian Institute (but is cataloged in the same alphanumeric way the OHS photos are).