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Benzedrine in particular and amphetamine in general were close to being an exact chemical analogue of traditional American virtuesâstamina, dedication, hard work, endurance, and the willingness to repeat mindless actions for hours on end. This fact was not ignored by capitalists and captains of industry. Far from discouraging drug use on the factory floor, a number of industrialistsâHenry Ford reputedly among themâstudied, at least in theory, the effects that the distribution of amphetamines to the labor force might have on the equation between manpower and productivity in manufacturing industries. A drug that would narrow the machine operatorâs focus, and make him or her more at one with their machine had to be good for any business from the mighty General Motors to the smallest and most sweaty of garment industry sweatshops. Meanwhile the old-time Hollywood studio bosses like Harry Cohen and Louis B. Mayer didnât bother to conduct studies. They didnât even hesitate. They saw amphetamine as a chemical tool that could reduce the budgets on their movies, and they immediately put it to use. They went right ahead and fed speed to their performers to keep them animated on camera during extended shoots. (Or, in some cases, to cure monumental movie star hangovers.) Child actors seem to have been particular targets of this chemical talent enhancement. Both Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney have made no secret of how they were constantly given speed in order to make it through grueling 12- or 14-hour, all-singing, all-dancing shoots. â Mick Farren, Speed-Speed-Speedfreak [zerogate] [via Alive On All Channels]












