Blacklisted! "Are you now or have you ever been a Communist?" That question divided Hollywood--and America--during the Cold War.* OBJECTIVE Students should understand: * a Cold War scare over Communist influences in the U.S. caused hysteria--including congressional hearings and a Hollywood blacklist The Hollywood blacklist—more properly the entertainment industry blacklist, into which it expanded—was the mid-twentieth-century list of screenwriters, actors, directors, musicians, and other U.S. that ruined careers. * BACKGROUND The House Committee on Un-American Activities grew out of other temporary committees created to investigate Nazi propaganda Nazi Germany was noted for its psychologically powerful propaganda, much of which was centered around Jews, who were consistently alleged to be the source of Germany's economic problems. and Communist influence in the U.S. HUAC HUAC abbr. House Un-American Activities Committee was made a standing committee in 1946. J. Parnell Thomas John Parnell Thomas (January 16, 1895 – November 19, 1970) was an American lawyer, stockbroker, politician and convicted criminal who was elected to seven terms as a U.S. Representative from New Jersey. became chairman in 1947, after Republicans won the House in midterm elections. After the Hollywood Ten Hollywood Ten Group of U.S. movie producers, directors, and screenwriters who refused to answer questions about communist affiliations before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947. hearings, Thomas found himself before a grand jury on corruption charges--and refused to answer questions, as the Ten had. He was convicted, and served time in Danbury, Pa., Prison with two of the Ten, whom he had sent there. HUAC was abolished in 1975. * CRITICAL THINKING COMPREHENSION: The Hollywood Ten were convicted on what charge? (contempt of Congress Noun 1. contempt of Congress - deliberate obstruction of the operation of the federal legislative branch contempt - a willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body ) FORMING SUPPORTED OPINIONS: Do you agree with Dalton Trumbo's 1970 statement that the blacklist (1) A list of e-mail addresses of known spammers. See spam, spam filter, Blacklist of Internet Advertisers, greylisting and blackholing. Contrast with white list. (2) A list of Web sites that are considered off limits or dangerous. period had no villains or heroes? Why or why not? Would you call any of the characters in this play a villain or hero? Explain. (Answers will vary.) * ACTIVITY DISCUSS, DEBATE, or ROLE-PLAY: Witnesses before HUAC had to consider many factors, including loyalty to friends of family, obeying the law, and where to draw the line between hurting themselves and hurting others. Have students imagine the thoughts of someone about to testify at a HUAC hearing. Whose approach do they prefer: Dalton Trumbo's, Larry Parks's, or Lillian Hellman's? Why? STANDARDS SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8 * Civic ideals and practices: How the actual conduct of government and social groups can fall short of their stated ideals. * Individual development and identity: How people called before HUAC responded to the pressures of the investigation. RESOURCES * Gottfried, Ted, The Cold War (Lerner Publishing Group, 2003). Grades 6-10. * Zeinert, Karen, McCarthy and the Fear of Communism in American History (Enslow Publishers, 1998). Grades 6-12. WEB SITES * Hollywood Remembers Its Red Scare Throughout much of the twentieth century, the United States worried about Communist activities within its borders. This concern led to sweeping federal action against Aliens and citizens alike during periods known today as Red scares. Victims edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9710/28/blacklist.remembered * Lillian Hellman's HUAC letter historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6454 CAST OF CHARACTERS Dalton Trumbo Noun 1. Dalton Trumbo - United States screenwriter who was blacklisted and imprisoned for refusing to cooperate with congressional investigations of communism in America (1905-1976) Trumbo , a screenwriter John Howard Lawson John Howard Lawson (September 25, 1894 - August 11, 1977) was an American writer, and head of the Hollywood division of the American Communist Party. He was also that cell's cultural commissar, answering directly to V.J. Jerome, the Party's New York-based cultural comissar. , a screenwriter Ring Lardner Noun 1. Ring Lardner - United States humorist and writer of satirical short stories (1885-1933) Lardner, Ringgold Wilmer Lardner Jr., a screenwriter Robert W. Kenny Robert Walker Kenny (August 21, 1901-July 20, 1976) was the 21st Attorney General of California. Kenny, a Democrat, was an early advocate for civil rights in California. He was instrumental in abolishing the legal existence of the Ku Klux Klan in California. , a lawyer Robert E. Stripling, HUAC chief investigator Frank S. Tavenner, HUAC lawyer Larry Parks, an actor Lillian Hellman Noun 1. Lillian Hellman - United States playwright; her plays were often indictments of injustice (1905-1984) Hellman , a screenwriter John S. Wood, HUAC chairman, 1949-1953 Voice from the House gallery * Narrators A-D A-D Advance-Decline, or measurement of the number of issues trading above their previous closing prices less the number trading below their previous closing prices over a particular period. * An imaginary character who is a combination of several real people. All other characters were real people. INTRODUCTION During the early 20th century, Americans argued about how to correct society's inequalities. Many people turned to progressive social movements This is a partial list of social movements.
After World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. and the Soviet Union became enemies in a bitter Cold War. At the time, Americans began to worry that the influence of Communism would spread throughout the U.S. In 1947, a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, the House Un-American Activities Committee House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), a committee (1938–75) of the U.S. House of Representatives, created to investigate disloyalty and subversive organizations. Its first chairman, Martin Dies, set the pattern for its anti-Communist investigations. (HUAC), began to investigate Communist influences in Hollywood. The HUAC hearings would ruin hundreds of reputations and careers. Americans would later wonder: Had the cure been worse than the disease? SCENE ONE Narrator NARRATOR. A pleader who draws narrs serviens narrator, a sergeant at law. Fleta, 1. 2, c. 37. Obsolete. A: One day in September 1947, 19 people in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , California, receive subpoenas (legal summonses) to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Most of the 19 are members of the Screen Writers Guild. Worried and angry, they meet with their attorneys. Dalton Trumbo: I can't believe the U.S. Congress wants us to defend our political beliefs. I thought this was supposed to be a free country! John Howard Lawson: It's perfectly legal to belong to the Communist Party Communist party, in China Communist party, in China, ruling party of the world's most populous nation since 1949 and most important Communist party in the world since the disintegration of the USSR in 1991. . I will defy anyone who says otherwise. Ring Lardner Jr.: People who simply went to a Communist Party rally or put their name on a petition for a good cause 20 years ago are being accused of treason. The country has become hysterical. Trumbo: Meanwhile, people like Parnell Thomas, the committee chairman, are using fear about Communists to advance their careers. Robert W. Kenny: Look, fellows. This House committee is not a real court. As your attorney, here is what I advise: Don't tell them anything that can be used against you. In fact, don't tell them anything at all. Narrator A: Kenny's advice seems solid at the time. But it will have unforeseen consequences. SCENE TWO Narrator B: The HUAC hearings are held that October. The committee, led by J. Parnell Thomas, begins by calling several witnesses from the Hollywood entertainment world who are considered "friendly." But the testimony from "unfriendly" witnesses, such as Dalton Trumbo, does not go as smoothly. Robert E. Stripling: Mr. Trumbo, are you now or have you ever been "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" is episode 2 of season 2 in the television show Angel, originally broadcast on the WB network. In this episode, Angel recalls his traumatic experience at the Hyperion Hotel during the 1950s. a Communist? Trumbo: By requiring anyone to parade for your approval his opinion upon race, religion, politics, or any other matter, this committee is violating the First Amendment! Thomas: The witness is excused! Trumbo: You won't let me speak? This is the beginning of an American concentration camp! Stripling: You're using typical Communist tactics! Narrator B: After 10 unfriendly witnesses have testified, the hearings are adjourned. Now the group, called the "Hollywood Ten," finds that they are in big trouble. First, they are blacklisted (denied work) by the film industry. Then the House of Representatives votes that the writers are in contempt of Congress--a serious violation of the law. The Hollywood Ten are sentenced to a year in prison for not answering HUAC's questions. SCENE THREE Narrator C: The HUAC hearings send a wave of fear throughout the movie industry. In 1951, a new round of hearings begins. As actor Larry Parks finds, it is not good enough just to testify about oneself. The committee wants to know the names of other one-time Communists. Frank S. Tavenner: Are you now or have you ever been a Communist? WORDS TO KNOW * Cold War: a state of political tension and military rivalry that stopped short of full-scale war. This conflict unfolded between the Soviet Union and the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and their allies between 1945 and 1990. * Fifth Amendment: an amendment to the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution that says an individual cannot be forced to be "a witness against himself" in a courtroom. * progressive: making use of new ideas "New Ideas" is the debut single by Scottish New Wave/Indie Rock act The Dykeenies. It was first released as a Double A-side with "Will It Happen Tonight?" on July 17, 2006. The band also recorded a video for the track. . Republic can members of HUAC in 1948, including Chairman J. Parnell Thomas of New Jersey (second from left) and Richard M. Nixon of California (right). Nixon would later be elected President of the U.S. Larry Parks: Yes, between 1941 and 1945. Tavenner: Who else did you know who was a Communist? Parks: I would prefer not to mention other people's names. Tavenner: Answer the question. Parks: What a choice! If I refuse to answer, you cite me for contempt, and I go to jail. If I do answer, you force me to crawl through the mud to be an informer Informer Battus revealed theft by Mercury; turned to touchstone. [Gk. and Rom. Myth.: Walsh Classical, 47] Cenci, Count Francesco old libertine ravishes his daughter Beatrice. [Br. Lit. . Tavenner: Just answer the question. Parks: I beg you not to force me to do this. I have two children. Is this the kind of heritage that I must hand down to them? Narrator C: In the end, Parks does give names to the committee. But his career is basically over. He has ruined himself in the eyes of both the Hollywood establishment and his old friends. SCENE FOUR Narrator D: The hearings continue with dozens of witnesses. About one third of them give names. Some, including director Elia Kazan Noun 1. Elia Kazan - United States stage and screen director (born in Turkey) and believer in method acting (1909-2003) Elia Kazanjoglous, Kazan , believe that they are fighting Communism by doing so. But opposition to the committee's tactics grows. By the time the writer Lillian Hellman testifies on Mar 21, 1952, many people in Hollywood feel that it is time to stand up to them. Tavenner: Did you ever meet Martin Berkeley? Lillian Hellman: I refuse to answer that question. Tavenner: Mr. Berkeley says that he met you at a Communist Party meeting in June of 1937. Is that true? Hellman: Please consider my letter. John S. Wood: Mr. Tavenner, why don't you put the letter Miss Hellman wrote into the record? Narrator D: Tavenner holds up the letter and reads Hellman's words aloud. Tavenner (reads): "Dear Mr. Wood, ... I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashion.... I am prepared to ... tell you anything you wish to know about my views or actions if your committee will agree to refrain from asking me to name other people. If the committee is unwilling to give me this assurance, I will be forced to plead the privilege of the Fifth Amendment at the hearing." Narrator D: A murmur goes up in the room. Voice from gallery: Somebody finally had the guts to do it! Wood: If anyone speaks out like that again, I will clear the press from the chambers. Voice from gallery: You do that, sir. Narrator D: In a little more than an hour, Hellman's testimony is over. She is blacklisted afterward. But the tide is turning against the committee. AFTERWORD af·ter·word n. See epilogue. The blacklist continued until the 1960s. Blacklisted writers could get work only by using false names. Dalton Trumbo finally received credit for the script of Spartacus in 1960. Actors were not so lucky. The era left permanent scars. Many writers and actors lost their careers. A few committed suicide. Often, those who named names to HUAC were tormented by guilt. In 1970, Trumbo addressed an audience of writers about the hearings. "It will do no good to search for villains or heroes or saints or devils, because there were none," he said. "There were only victims." Your Turn THINK ABOUT IT 1. What was Larry Parks's view of the HUAC hearings? 2. When is it right to "name names," and when is it wrong? Explain. * Write the letter of the correct answer on the line before each question. --16. Who claimed that the House Un-American Activities Committee was violating the First Amendment during his testimony? A. Larry Parks B. Dalton Trumbo C. Robert W. Kenny --17. Who was the chairman of HUAC when the Hollywood Ten hearings took place? A. J. Edgar Hoover Noun 1. J. Edgar Hoover - United States lawyer who was director of the FBI for 48 years (1895-1972) John Edgar Hoover, Hoover B. J. Parnell Thomas C. Frank S. Tavenner --18. What did Larry Parks find he was forced to do before the committee? A. name names of other one-time Communists B. take blame for Communist influence in Hollywood C. refuse to testify and go to jail --19. What did it mean to be blacklisted? A. You automatically went to jail. B. You were called before HUAC. C. You were denied work by the industry you worked in. --20. Which event would seem to indicate that the blacklist was ending? A. Dalton Trumbo received a screenwriting credit for Spartacus. B. Lillian Hellman pleaded the Fifth Amendment before the committee. C. Many who named names were tormented by guilt. |
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