Meade McClanahan
Encyclopedia
Meade McClanahan was an industrial engineer and businessman who was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1945 but was ousted by voters in 1946 based upon his support for controversial preacher and political organizer Gerald L.K. Smith.
, and moved to Southern California
around 1930, where, as an industrial engineer, he operated a foundry
at 1423 Riverside Drive. The two separated in October 1954 and were divorced in January 1955 after Beulah McClanahan testified her husband used a "judo cut" on the back of her neck after watching wrestling on television. Mrs. McClanahan got the family home at 2325 Riverside Terrace at Riverside Drive, and her husband kept his business, the Ace Tank and Boiler Company of Maywood, California
, which he operated with a son, Bernard.
He died at the age of 65 on October 5, 1959, in Glendale
, leaving a wife, Alice Moore, an attorney; two sons, Bernard of Maywood and Thomas of Los Angeles; and a daughter, Beverly N. Cabral of Los Angeles. Burial was at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
.
In February 1939, McClanahan was president of the Riverside Drive District Business Men's Association. In that year he was sued, along with two others, by Clifford E. Clinton on a charge of criminal libel
for having sponsored a radio program that attacked Clinton and for helping to publish a booklet that referred to Clinton as "Der Los Angeles Fuehrer." He and the other defendants were acquitted in a jury trial. Clinton also filed a civil suit for defamation; it was dismissed in 1945 because Clinton did not proceed with the action.
In September 1942 McClanahan brought suit against the city, the chief of police and other officials, seeking to block the installation of parking meters in the city.
McClanahan first ran for the City Council in 1943, but finished third in the primary that year. He was elected in 1946 over Joseph W. Aldlin, who had labor backing, to represent Los Angeles City Council District 13, succeeding Ned R. Healy
, who had resigned to go to the U.S. Congress. In those days the district represented Silver Lake and an area west of downtown
to Vermont Avenue
and south to Valley Boulevard.
.
Pickets, 1945. He submitted a resolution advocating new legislation giving the mayor and police more authority to deal with picket lines being used by union workers in a Hollywood film strike
. He claimed that pickets in front of theaters "had forced women and children to walk in the street to get past them" and that efforts were made to "prevent servicemen from buying tickets." He later urged a "no" vote on his own resolution to avoid embarrassing any other council member.
Americanism, 1945. He made a suggestion that children being cared for in public day-care center be taught "Americanism" and be shielded from "subversive foreign ideologies." The idea was defeated largely because other council members deemed the wording to be too general.
movement against McClanahan was based upon his association at public meetings with controversial political organizer Gerald L.K. Smith, founder of the America First
party. McClanahan issued a statement saying that he disagreed with Smith "on many points" but that he participated in the meetings because of "my belief in free speech and free assembly." On March 19, 1946, McClanahan was recalled from office by a vote of 12,394 to 8,913, and John R. Roden
was elected in his place.
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Biography
A native of Ohio, McClanahan was married to Beulah McClanahan on January 1, 1914, in Chillicothe, OhioChillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
, and moved to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
around 1930, where, as an industrial engineer, he operated a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
at 1423 Riverside Drive. The two separated in October 1954 and were divorced in January 1955 after Beulah McClanahan testified her husband used a "judo cut" on the back of her neck after watching wrestling on television. Mrs. McClanahan got the family home at 2325 Riverside Terrace at Riverside Drive, and her husband kept his business, the Ace Tank and Boiler Company of Maywood, California
Maywood, California
Maywood is a small city in southeast Los Angeles County, California. At , Maywood is the third-smallest incorporated city in Los Angeles County....
, which he operated with a son, Bernard.
He died at the age of 65 on October 5, 1959, in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, leaving a wife, Alice Moore, an attorney; two sons, Bernard of Maywood and Thomas of Los Angeles; and a daughter, Beverly N. Cabral of Los Angeles. Burial was at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Forest Lawn Memorial Park is a privately owned cemetery in Glendale, California. It is the original location of Forest Lawn, a chain of cemeteries in Southern California. The land was formerly part of Providencia Ranch.-History:...
.
Public life
McClanahan ran for the Los Angeles School Board in 1939. At that time he was sponsoring a radio program, "Los Angeles Speaks," which opposed the political activities of political figure Clifford E. Clinton.In February 1939, McClanahan was president of the Riverside Drive District Business Men's Association. In that year he was sued, along with two others, by Clifford E. Clinton on a charge of criminal libel
Criminal libel
Criminal libel is a legal term, of English origin, which may be used with one of two distinct meanings, in those common law jurisdictions where it is still used....
for having sponsored a radio program that attacked Clinton and for helping to publish a booklet that referred to Clinton as "Der Los Angeles Fuehrer." He and the other defendants were acquitted in a jury trial. Clinton also filed a civil suit for defamation; it was dismissed in 1945 because Clinton did not proceed with the action.
In September 1942 McClanahan brought suit against the city, the chief of police and other officials, seeking to block the installation of parking meters in the city.
Election
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1943–47McClanahan first ran for the City Council in 1943, but finished third in the primary that year. He was elected in 1946 over Joseph W. Aldlin, who had labor backing, to represent Los Angeles City Council District 13, succeeding Ned R. Healy
Ned R. Healy
Not to be confused with Don R. Healy, Los Angeles labor leader of the 1940s and 1950s.Ned Romeyn Healy , who went by Ned R. Healy, was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council in 1943 and 1944 and a member of Congress from 1945 to 1947.-Biography:Healy was born August 9, 1905, in...
, who had resigned to go to the U.S. Congress. In those days the district represented Silver Lake and an area west of downtown
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
to Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue
Vermont Avenue is one of the longest running north/south streets in Los Angeles, California with a length of about . Located just west of the Harbor Freeway for the major portion south of Downtown Los Angeles, it starts in Griffith Park at the Greek Theatre in the Los Feliz neighborhood as a...
and south to Valley Boulevard.
Positions
Tax, 1945. As chairman of the City Council revenue and taxation committee, McClanahan proposed a 5% tax on theater tickets and a 10% tax on athletic contests as a way to avoid a planned garbage-collection charge or to help finance the Hyperion outfall sewerHyperion sewage treatment plant
The Hyperion Wastewater Treatment plant is located in southwest Los Angeles, California, next to Dockweiler State Beach on Santa Monica Bay. The largest wastewater treatment facility in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, Hyperion is operated by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works,...
.
Pickets, 1945. He submitted a resolution advocating new legislation giving the mayor and police more authority to deal with picket lines being used by union workers in a Hollywood film strike
Hollywood Black Friday
Hollywood Black Friday is the name given, in the history of organized labor in the United States, to October 5, 1945. On that date, a six-month strike by the set decorators represented by the Conference of Studio Unions boiled over into a bloody riot at the gates of Warner Brothers' studios in...
. He claimed that pickets in front of theaters "had forced women and children to walk in the street to get past them" and that efforts were made to "prevent servicemen from buying tickets." He later urged a "no" vote on his own resolution to avoid embarrassing any other council member.
Americanism, 1945. He made a suggestion that children being cared for in public day-care center be taught "Americanism" and be shielded from "subversive foreign ideologies." The idea was defeated largely because other council members deemed the wording to be too general.
Recall
A recallRecall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
movement against McClanahan was based upon his association at public meetings with controversial political organizer Gerald L.K. Smith, founder of the America First
America First Party (1944)
The America First Party was an isolationist political party which was founded on January 10, 1943. Its leader, Gerald L. K. Smith, was the party's presidential candidate in the 1944 U.S...
party. McClanahan issued a statement saying that he disagreed with Smith "on many points" but that he participated in the meetings because of "my belief in free speech and free assembly." On March 19, 1946, McClanahan was recalled from office by a vote of 12,394 to 8,913, and John R. Roden
John R. Roden
John R. Roden was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1946 to succeed Meade McClanahan, who was recalled from office. Roden served until mid-1947 and was defeated for reelection.-Biography:...
was elected in his place.
Return attempt
McClanahan ran anew for reelection in 1947 but finished third in a field of four.External links
- Founding of the Ajax and Ace Boiler companies by Meade McClanahan Perhaps a relative, or a mistake in the date.
- Tom Sitton, "Direct Democracy vs. Free Speech: Gerald L.K. Smith and the Recall Election of 1946 in Los Angeles," Pacific Historical Review, August 1968, p. 285+ Library access required.
- David J. Leonard, "The 'Little Fuehrer' Invades Los Angeles," Free Library Includes reference to McClanahan at a Gerald L.K. Smith rally.
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