Baba was interviewed later that same day by the Los
Angeles Times and was asked, "What do you hope to accomplish in the
United States?"
Baba answered, "A general
awakening which will affect the whole of mankind and will eliminate depression
and dissatisfaction existing in the world today."
The next day, Baba visited Paramount Studios accompanied by
Quentin and the mandali. Lal Chand Mehra, an Indian-born actor who was a friend
of the Joneses' also went with them.1 On one lot, The Devil and the Deep was being
filmed. Quentin had known the American actress Tallulah Bankhead and the actor
Charles Laughton in London when they worked in the theater, and he introduced
them to Baba. They in turn introduced Baba to another actor, Gary Cooper.2 Baba stayed
to watch a couple of scenes being filmed and afterward was photographed with
Tallulah. The visit lasted almost two hours.
According to a newspaper account
(which may not be accurate), Baba spelled on the board to Tallulah, that one of
the reasons he had come was that, in Hollywood, there was an "equal balance
between the spiritual and material forces."3
After lunch, Baba and a few others went to Universal
Studios, where Baba stayed for one and a half hours and met the cowboy-actor Tom Mix (who was photographed with Baba) and an Indian-born director named
Ezra Mir.4 Quentin returned to Paramount Studios to pick up Tallulah Bankhead, 30, who had
an interview with Baba at 5:30 P.M. She had a long talk with Baba and said she
was on her way to see the actress Greta Garbo and would tell her of him.
That night at 8:30 P.M., a large reception of almost 1,000 people
took place at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood. Many from Los Angeles
and the surrounding area came to the love-gathering. There were so many people
that the hall had to be cleared of all furniture. Men, women and children stood
in line, waiting to meet Baba. In a theatrical setting, Baba was seated on an
elevated seat with the four Eastern mandali on one side and six Westerners on
the other, forming a semicircle. Behind Baba, like two angels, two harpists
played softly.
Visitors were admitted one at a time
through a side door of the hall. Each was introduced to Baba, receiving a
handshake and his radiant smile. Passing in a circle through another side door,
they were then led outside to the lounge where refreshments were served.
Footnotes
- 1.Lal Chand Mehra's career began with Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings (1927), a "biopic of Jesus Christ. Made during the silent era, the movie depicts Christ's many miracles, including the reforming of Mary Magdalene. Mehra played a key role in the Hindustani subtitling of the film, and was also one of the extras in the first of several uncredited roles." [https://scroll.in/reel/813383/that-man-in-the-turban-in-the-background-it-must-be-lal-chand-mehra]
- 2.Tallulah Bankhead's flamboyant personality, wit and feisty roles in films made her a legend in the movie industry. She was born on 31 January 1902.
- 3.New York Times, June 1932, p. X3.
- 4.Another actor, Bruce Evans, also had his picture taken with Baba, but these photographs are untraceable. Ezra Mir (né Edwin Meyers 1900–1993) was born in a reputed Jewish family of Calcutta. He went to Hollywood and gained experience in different facets of film production. On his return to India, he was appointed the Chief Producer, Films Division, where he directed/produced more than 300 documentaries. He is considered the doyen of documentary film production in India.