A view of Los Angeles Mayor Frank L. Shaw, Howard Hughes, and California Governor Frank Merriam (left to right) dining together at a banquet for Howard Hughes in Los Angeles, California.
A view of Howard Hughes (left), California Governor Frank Merriam (center, front), and Will Hays (center, back) at a banquet held for Howard Hughes in the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
A view of Howard Hughes giving a speech at a banquet dedicated to him located inside of the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California. California Governor Frank Merriam can be seen sitting behind Howard Hughes, sitting second from the left.
Description given with photo: "Losing Money on Flying Boat, Says Hughes, Culver City, Calif.: Howard Hughes (center, facing camera) makes his first appearance before the press since the start of the senate investigation into his multi-million dollar plane contracts. Hughes said the government is getting its $18,000,000 worth out of his big, eight-engined flying boat but he's losing money. the plane has yet to be flown. Credit (ACME). 7-30-47."