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The Red Scare & The Hollywood Blacklist

The Red Scare & The Hollywood Blacklist. Modern details behind The Crucible. 2 nd Red Scare – 1945-1957. After WWII – Communist activity Soviet Union (USSR) controlled most of Eastern Europe Korea, China, Italy Soviets had nuclear bomb Americans feared nuclear attack.

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The Red Scare & The Hollywood Blacklist

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  1. The Red Scare &The Hollywood Blacklist Modern details behind The Crucible

  2. 2nd Red Scare – 1945-1957 • After WWII – Communist activity • Soviet Union (USSR) controlled most of Eastern Europe • Korea, China, Italy • Soviets had nuclear bomb • Americans feared nuclear attack

  3. Communist organizations in the US • Fear of communist sympathizers (pinks) & spies • Julius & Ethel Rosenberg • Smith Act: passed by Congress in 1940 • Illegal to be a part of a “subversive” organization (like a communist organization) • Foreign nationals required to register with the federal government

  4. Suspicion turns to Investigation • 1946: birth of HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) • 1947: Pres. Truman creates Federal Employees Loyalty Program • Wisc. Senator Joseph McCarthy led many investigations

  5. Other Red Scare Effects • Fallout shelters • “Duck-and-cover” drills • Cincinnati Reds became the “Redlegs” to avoid association to communism

  6. The Hollywood Blacklist • CPUSA attracted many young people in show biz • October 1947: 43 people called as witnesses in an investigation to see if Communist messages were in movies • Ronald Reagan & Walt Disney testified that there were communists in Hollywood

  7. The Hollywood 10 • 19 refused to testify; 11 were called before HUAC • Bertolt Brecht – YES, I’m a communist! • The other 10 refused to speak; citing 1st Amendment rights • Arrested for contempt of court • Hollywood 10 were fired & denied any more work

  8. The Blacklist • Edward Dmytryk – admits & gets job back • American Legion & Red Channels • Together, name ≈ 225 “communists” in show biz • All denied employment (blacklisted); many called before HUAC • Defendants pleaded the 5th – immediately blacklisted

  9. Witnesses • Either “friendly” or “unfriendly” • Friendly witnesses were required to admit to being a communist at one time and name the names of other communists • Unfriendly: Arthur Miller

  10. Ruined results of the Blacklist • Blacklisted workers had to leave the US to get work • Salt of the Earth • Richard Collins (friendly) divorced wife Dorothy Comingore (unfriendly) • Died at age 58 of alcoholism • suicides • Premature strokes & heartattacks

  11. Things die down… • Edward R. Murrow works to censure Sen. McCarthy • 1957: John Henry Faulk, radio personality, sues CBS for firing (wins) • 1958: Blacklisted names fade, but some don’t work until 1960s or later • HUAC loses power; is disbanded in 1968

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