Owner Comments:
Medal, 1941, Ni plated Cu, PARAMOUNT PICTURES 30TH ANNIVERSARY, Hollywood, CA, So Called Dollar HK-740, Nickel plated Copper, NGC MS63, Cert# 2619469-045. This is the single MS63 graded example, with none higher. Obv. Standing female figure, 3 stars at l. of head, 6 stars around at r.; l. arm holds basket of fruit, r. hand rests on or holds square shield; on shield 1941, 4 stars below; at bottom edge, microscopic Acme Metal Die; Rv. In center is familiar Paramount Pictures emblem or trademark i.e. a mountain; above Paramount; across mountain Pictures--all mostly within center circle; outside circle, immediately around are 24 stars; above all, at upper border Paramount Pictures Inc. Rarity-6. Finest Known. History of Paramount and Medals: Paramount Pictures thru Adolph Zukor issued 15th Anniversary HK-738 in 1926. Paramount Pictures thru Adolph Zukor issued 30th Anniversary HK-740 in 1941. Hibbler/Kappen missed Paramount Pictures 25th Anniversary in 1937. Interestingly, Adolph Zukor listed 1911 for his start year on 15th Anniversary, 1912 for his start year on the 25th Anniversary and back to 1911 for his start year on 30th Anniversary. The 25th Anniversary was a long (Jan 3rd to May 1st 1937) East Coast to West celebration kicked off Jan 3rd in New York City with the entire Dinner Celebration of Paramount dignitaries, New York Mayor and other politicians and National celebrities. The entire affair was broadcast for its hours long dinner over a New York radio station possibly owned by Paramount. Tapes exist for the entire aired program. In early January 1937 the the Hollywood Paramount Pictures kicked off the west coast with a dinner party in Santa Barbara California.
The reverse die used for the 1937 Medal is the same die used on HK-740. The die was already owned by Paramount and reused in 1941. The obverse die was produced by ACME METAL DIE AND STENCIL CO established in 1921 at 212 E. 17th St Los Angeles not far from Paramount Hollywood. They did not sign this 1937 die but did sign the obv of the HK-740 1941 die. There is also conjecture that the reverse die was originally made by L.A. Rubber Stamp Co.
The obverse of this 1937 So Called is the Santa Barbara Spanish Mission cemetery and mausoleum. The towers are from the Santa Barbara Spanish Mission and what is now Spanish Mission Museum Building which was was in 1937 a private spanish colonial mansion. The mountain and mountain range with the rising sun are the Santa Ynez Mountains behind the mission and behind Santa Barbara. The water the Pacific Ocean.