64 years ago - November 25, 1947, A meeting of 48 Hollywood executives results in the firing of the "Hollywood Ten," the group of mostly screenwriters who the day before had been held in contempt for refusing to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. The next week, the executives release the "Waldorf Statement," which declares they "will not knowingly employ a Communist." Blacklisting will continue until the 1960s. It wasn't until 1997 (yes - 1997!) that the Writer's Guild of America reinstated credit on 24 movies to reflect the actual writers who couldn't publicly use their real names.
Writers certainly were not the only artists affected. Directors, producers, Actors (Cliff Robertson, for one) and others lost their livelihoods. All because they might have made an off handed comment years earlier that was taken as pro-Communist. When Lucille Ball was accused, because of her Grandfather's involvement years earlier, Desi Arnaz famously quipped, "The only thing red about her is her hair color."
One of the things we writers should be thankful about this season is that the witch hunts are over. Writers, and all artists, are at liberty to say/write/express what they feel without repercussion.
"The Only Living Man With A Hole in His Head" arc copies are going out this week. Official publication is February 13th.
Very interesting post! We should all be thankful that we are able to write freely. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete~Jess
http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/