A piece of Dixon history: How Neil Reagan became popular in Hollywood

Editor’s note: This is part two of a three-part series on Ronald Reagan’s brother. Part 1 was published Jan. 17. Look for part 3 on Feb. 14.

DIXON – In 1937, Ronald Reagan’s radio fame caught the attention of Warner Brothers studios in Hollywood.

After nailing a winning audition, Warner offered him a lucrative contract to join their family of movie stars. Being single and 26, Ronald then left Des Moines and moved to Hollywood in May 1937. Still close to his family, he quickly moved his mother and father from Dixon to California.

By fall 1937, Neil was the only Reagan family member remaining in the Midwest. His career was flourishing but not at the meteoric pace of his little brother. WOC soon promoted him to program director in Davenport.

On to Hollywood

In 1939, brother Ron, now a movie star, urged Neil to visit him in Hollywood and tour the Warner Brothers studios. At the same time, Ronald arranged for Neil to take a screen test. The audition was so successful that Neil left his radio job in Davenport as he and Bessie moved to California in early 1940.

But his movie career was short-lived as he was cast in only minor roles in a handful of films such as “Tugboat Annie Sails Again,” “Destroyer,” “After Midnight with Boston Blackie,” “Doughboys in Ireland” and “This Is Your Life.” By November 1940, however, Moon found stable employment again in radio, working as a newscaster and sportscaster for KFWB radio, the Warner Brothers-owned station in Hollywood.

Becoming a media expert

After the war broke out in late 1941, Ronald became a public relations officer for the Army Air Force. The military, however, rejected 33-year-old Neil because of a defective eardrum. So, while millions of men were interrupting their careers and going off to war, Neil continued to immerse himself in the world of broadcasting.

By 1943, 36-year-old Neil Reagan was one of very few Californians who had 10 years of on-air and management experience in the popular field of radio, which vastly overshadowed TV, then in its infancy. In 1944, he joined CBS as a senior director, producing its “Romance of the Ranchos,” a nationwide weekly 30-minute radio show.

But after only 11 months at CBS, Neil was hired in 1945 at McCann-Erickson, one of the world’s largest advertising agencies. By then, ad agencies knew the power of radio, and they sought experts who understood it. By hiring Neil Reagan, McCann gained Neil’s background at CBS, his extensive experience in radio and in Hollywood, and his knowledge of the motion picture industry gained through his close association with his brother, the popular movie star.

Neil’s career blossomed at McCann Erickson as he continued to produce and direct popular nationwide radio shows such as “Dr. Christian,” a long-running weekly radio show on CBS. By 1948, McCann Erickson promoted him to manager of its important Hollywood office in the heart of the global entertainment industry.

Elected president

As Neil’s prowess in media became well known, his peers elected him president of various advertising associations. In 1951, the prestigious Hollywood Advertising Club elected him as its president.

Later that same year, the large Advertising Association of the West elected him as president at their annual meeting in Denver. This role took him throughout the western states – and even to the White House – on speaking engagements as a media expert in advertising, radio and the growing medium of television.

Recognizing his expanding influence and stature, McCann Erickson promoted him to vice president in 1952. In 1960 he was elected president of Radio, TV, and Recording Advertising Charities, as well as president of the Los Angeles Advertising Club.

All in the family

Throughout the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, he continued regular contact with his brother in telephone conversations, at social events and at lunch in Hollywood-area restaurants. For decades, the Ronald and Neil Reagan families gathered together every Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Since Moon and Bessie were childless, they developed a relationship with Ronald’s children. Even though Ronald had a reputation as an excellent swimmer at Lowell Park and on the Eureka swim team, it was Uncle Neil who taught Maureen Reagan, Ronald’s firstborn, how to swim.

Democratic roots

Both Neil and Ronald had been Democrats since youth. Historian Anne Edwards described their Irish Catholic father, Jack, as a “fervent Democrat.”

During the Roosevelt administration from about 1932 to 1936, Jack held a federal job in Dixon, administering federal relief supplies from an office in the Lee County courthouse. He may have received the job as a result of his loyalty to the party.

In spite of his father’s strong Democratic leanings, Neil left the Democratic party as early as 1933. Neil’s role in turning Ron to the Republicans is not known. But as one historian said, “Reagan respected Moon’s opinion and liked to have him near at hand.”

By the 1960s, Ronald joined Neil as a Republican. Ronald even got heavily involved with Sen. Barry Goldwater’s 1964 presidential campaign.

Politically media savvy

Ronald noticed that Goldwater’s TV commercials were lacking, and he urged the senator to contact his brother, Neil, at McCann Erickson. Goldwater did, and McCann Erickson ended up landing the huge Goldwater account.

Handling Goldwater’s advertising was a significant business deal for Neil Reagan and for McCann. More importantly, it gave Neil and his agency rich experience in managing the media for a national political campaign.

But Neil’s help was too little, too late. Goldwater lost the election, but the experience helped to prepare Moon for another significant campaign — one that would launch the political career of his brother.

In part 3 on Feb. 14, we’ll chronicle the pinnacle of Neil’s remarkable career and how his thoughts turned back to Dixon and Illinois in his declining years.

• Dixon native Tom Wadsworth is a writer, speaker and occasional historian. He holds a Ph.D. in New Testament.