Stumping with the Stars in Portsmouth NH

SeacoastNH.com Presents 
Historic Portsmouth #433

Chuck Norris, Jon Voight, Donny Osmond, Scott Baio, Kid Rock, and Clint Eastwood support Team Romney according to an NBC news report. George Clooney, J. J. Abrams, Mariah Carey, Steven Spielberg, Ricky Martin, and Aretha Franklin support Barack Obama according to CNN. Celebrity endorsements are nothing new in the presidential race. And here’s proof.  (Continued with photos below)

 

According to Portsmouth Athenaeum records this photo was taken in 1964 as television/movie stars stumped in Portsmouth for candidate Barry Goldwater. Both veteran actors have Portsmouth film connections. On the left is Walter Brennan (1894-1974), best known for his lead role in the comedy TV series “The Real McCoys.” Brennan also starred with Spencer Tracy in the 1940 film Northwest Passage, adapted from the historical novel by Kenneth Roberts. The opening scene of the film was shot on a Hollywood set recreating Portsmouth in 1760. On the right is Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. (b 1918), star of the popular shows “77 Sunset Strip” and “The FBI.”  He also appeared in the 1979 made-for-TV movie The Gathering, Part II that was filmed in Portsmouth.  In the center is Portsmouth attorney Jeremy Waldron. (Courtesy Portsmouth Athenaeum)

(c) Portsmouth Athenaeum and SeacoastNH.com

 

READER RESPONSE:
I never knew Mr. Brennan was such a flaming ultra-conservative.   I'm disillusioned because this guy was probably one of the finest character actors of all time.   You say he may best be remembered for his role in the Real McCoys but he actually has won three academy awards for best supporting actor in motion pictures, a record he holds with Jack Nicholson.   Interestingly, Nicholson co-starred in a film (The Last Detail) which at least in part, involved the Naval Prison in Portsmouth. – Jack Goterch