Song for Rent (1969)

During its 1969 showings at the Elgin Theater No President was preceded by the color short filmed according to Smiths direction by photographer Don Snyder who also shot slides during the same session Smith appeared as his redwigged plasticjawed alter ego Rose Courtyard seated in a wheelchair amid the detritus of the Plaster Foundation The film was accompanied by two rounds of Kate Smith singing God Bless America Dressed in a red satin gown clutching a bouquet of dead roses Rose is finally moved to stand up and salute The film was found in a can labeled Song for Rent title of a 1971 mixed media production in which Smith appeared J Hoberman