November 25, 1947:
Ten film screenwriters/producers/directors were cited for contempt of Congress and blacklisted after refusing to answer questions about their alleged involvement with the Communist Party:
Wiki:
Seventy years ago today. This was the only first wave of mass ideological anti-American witch hunts in movies, television and music. Some went years before they were allowed to work; some never got another chance at all. Hundreds of writers, actors, musicians and other personnel in various parts of the entertainment field were blacklisted in the same sweep over the next decade, especially upon the arrival of an extremist right-wing booklet called "Red Channels" listing scores of insinuations. Among these were Leonard Bernstein, Oscar Brand (who was Canadian), Lee J. Cobb, Aaron Copland, Richard Dyer-Bennett (British), Ruth Gordon, Yip Harburg, Nat Hiken, Langston Hughes, Lena Horne, Burl Ives, Sam Jaffe, Gypsy Rose Lee, Alan Lomax, Burgess Meredith, Arthur Miller, Henry Morgan, Zero Mostel, Dorothy Parker, Edward G. Robinson, Artie Shaw, Howard K Smith, Orson Welles and Josh White.
And those are just a few of those who managed to break the hold. Among those who never did break free from the slur was Philip Loeb, a central and favorite actor on Gertrude Berg's hugely popular radio-and-then-television program The Goldbergs. Loeb was blacklisted in 1950, the sponsor pulled out, CBS demanded he be dropped, and Berg, the creator, writer and owner of the show, to her eternal credit, flatly refused. CBS soon dropped the show but due to its popularity it was picked up by NBC, who also insisted on jettisoning Loeb, and Berg finally relented, though again to her credit, continued to pay a salary to Loeb. Soon after, Loeb resigned, was unable to work after 1952, and committed suicide in 1955.
Seeger mentioned above, and activist musician and longstanding advocate of civil rights, labor rights and pacifism, was called before Congress in 1955, where he famously told the witch hunters: "I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this." Though he continued to record for the independent Folkways label and perform internationally, his national public performance blacklist lasted until February of 1968 when the Smothers Brothers presented him on their Comedy Hour --- but he had been censored off the air by CBS Television just a few months prior.
All this shit began seventy years ago today -- well within the lifetime of many people still living -- in the purported Land of the Free.
Let us remember and vow, Never Again.
Ten film screenwriters/producers/directors were cited for contempt of Congress and blacklisted after refusing to answer questions about their alleged involvement with the Communist Party:
>> In late September 1947, HUAC subpoenaed 79 individuals on a claim that they were subversive and the supposition that they injected Communist propaganda into their films. Although never substantiating this claim, the investigators charged them with contempt of Congress when they refused to answer the questions about their membership in the Screen Writers Guild and Communist Party. The Committee demanded they admit their political beliefs and name names of other Communists. Nineteen of those refused to cooperate, and due to illnesses, scheduling conflicts, and exhaustion from the chaotic hearings, only 10 appeared before the Committee. These men became known as the Hollywood Ten.[72]
Belonging to the Communist Party did not constitute a crime, and the Committee's right to investigate these men was questionable in the first place. These men relied on the First Amendment's right to privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of thought, but the Committee charged them with contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions. Later defendants – except Pete Seeger – tried different strategies.[73]
Belonging to the Communist Party did not constitute a crime, and the Committee's right to investigate these men was questionable in the first place. These men relied on the First Amendment's right to privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of thought, but the Committee charged them with contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions. Later defendants – except Pete Seeger – tried different strategies.[73]
Seventy years ago today. This was the only first wave of mass ideological anti-American witch hunts in movies, television and music. Some went years before they were allowed to work; some never got another chance at all. Hundreds of writers, actors, musicians and other personnel in various parts of the entertainment field were blacklisted in the same sweep over the next decade, especially upon the arrival of an extremist right-wing booklet called "Red Channels" listing scores of insinuations. Among these were Leonard Bernstein, Oscar Brand (who was Canadian), Lee J. Cobb, Aaron Copland, Richard Dyer-Bennett (British), Ruth Gordon, Yip Harburg, Nat Hiken, Langston Hughes, Lena Horne, Burl Ives, Sam Jaffe, Gypsy Rose Lee, Alan Lomax, Burgess Meredith, Arthur Miller, Henry Morgan, Zero Mostel, Dorothy Parker, Edward G. Robinson, Artie Shaw, Howard K Smith, Orson Welles and Josh White.
And those are just a few of those who managed to break the hold. Among those who never did break free from the slur was Philip Loeb, a central and favorite actor on Gertrude Berg's hugely popular radio-and-then-television program The Goldbergs. Loeb was blacklisted in 1950, the sponsor pulled out, CBS demanded he be dropped, and Berg, the creator, writer and owner of the show, to her eternal credit, flatly refused. CBS soon dropped the show but due to its popularity it was picked up by NBC, who also insisted on jettisoning Loeb, and Berg finally relented, though again to her credit, continued to pay a salary to Loeb. Soon after, Loeb resigned, was unable to work after 1952, and committed suicide in 1955.
Seeger mentioned above, and activist musician and longstanding advocate of civil rights, labor rights and pacifism, was called before Congress in 1955, where he famously told the witch hunters: "I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this." Though he continued to record for the independent Folkways label and perform internationally, his national public performance blacklist lasted until February of 1968 when the Smothers Brothers presented him on their Comedy Hour --- but he had been censored off the air by CBS Television just a few months prior.
All this shit began seventy years ago today -- well within the lifetime of many people still living -- in the purported Land of the Free.
Let us remember and vow, Never Again.
