Question about Kay Kyser movie

[bradleyem]

I am writing about the 1939 Kay Kyser picture "That's Right -- You're Wrong," and I'm wondering about the presence of a certain person in the film.

His name is Charles G. Doehrer (1923-2013), and this is his only movie credit in the AFI catalog or on IMDB. He's oddly billed under his own name when he plays a contestant on Kyser's radio show, which makes me think that he actually had been a contestant on the show. (The other contestants in the film are all played by actresses, and not under their real names,)

I have other info from Doehrer from Media History Digital Library, Newspapers.com and Ancestry.com, but I can't find any more details about this appearance on film. Can anybody out there who's an old-time radio expert or who might have a press book on "TRTW" be able to shed any light on Charles Doehrer? Thanks in advance.

[Rick Lanham]

Here's where he is apparently buried, unless, it is his father or someone else who appeared:
He died in Chicago and the same info appears in the Chicago Sun-Times.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114 ... -g-doehrer

Rick

[bradleyem]

Thanks, Rick … that link is to this guy. I've seen Doehrer's obits, and info about his war record, etc.

What I need to know is why he was in THAT'S RIGHT -- YOU'RE WRONG billed under his own name in his only movie. My suspicion is that he might have been a well-known contestant on the real Kyser radio show, sort of like the guy currently on "Jeopardy," making a cameo (as himself) in the Kyser movie.

[westegg]

Where will I be able to read about this movie? I always liked it.

[Lamar]

Found this on Facebook-"Charles G Doehrer, Jr. (Libertarian Socialist / Wobbly)
Doehrer was born in Connecticut on July 19, 1923. In 1930, his family moved to Los Angeles, living mostly in the Pasadena area (on E Los Flores Ave and then later on Sacramento Street.)
At age 16, Doehrer was cast in an uncredited role in Lucille Ball film, “That’s Right - You’re Wrong.” He continued to work as an extra until he enrolled in the army in 1942. After returning from the war, Doehrer was accepted to UCLA. During this period Doehrer was a member of the Westwood Socialist Club and the Socialist Party, running in 1948 and 1950 in state elections (ironically, in 1950, as part of the Prohibitionist Party since there was no Socialist Party ballot to file on.)
Doehrer left the Socialist Party joining the Libertarian Socialist League in Los Angeles and then later joining the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Doehrer eventually moved to Chicago, becoming the full-time editor of the IWW’s newspaper, The Industrial Worker and also worked for the radical publication, Resistance Press.
In 1969, Doehrer was among eleven journalists arrested for defying an injunction that prohibited picture-taking and broadcasting in the federal building in Chicago during the 'Chicago 8’ trial. The case against him and the others was eventually dropped.
Doehrer spent the majority of his life in Chicago until he eventually moved to San Diego. He died on June 15, 2013. He was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery." https://www.facebook.com/pages/category ... 690697064/
Also-this appears to be info on his surviving widow-not sure how accurate but their is a phone number-https://nuwber.com/person/563a1d5ecf00835c7f56f166

[bradleyem]

Thanks, Lamar. I knew about the photographer angle and wondered if it were the same Charles Doehrer as in the Kyser film.

I guess I was wrong about him having some previous connection to Kyser's show, although unlike all the other actors in the film's re-creation of the radio program, Doehrer is referred to by his real name and real hometown. I would think the Facebook item would've mentioned he'd been on the show if he actually had. Maybe the filmmakers just liked his name.

[bradleyem]

Where will I be able to read about this movie? I always liked it.

I'm writing a book about "trendy" 1930s Hollywood musicals (75 of them) in which TRYW will be included. You might see it sometime next year from McFarland.

[westegg]

Great!