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The Red Scare and the Hollywood Blacklist: Insights into America's Fear of Communism

This piece delves into the complex landscape of the Second Red Scare in the United States from 1945 to 1957, examining how post-WWII geopolitical shifts, rising fears of nuclear threat, and domestic Communist activities fueled suspicion and paranoia. It discusses the formation of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the Federal Employees Loyalty Program, as well as the Hollywood Blacklist, which targeted artists and intellectuals for alleged Communist ties. Key figures like Julius and Ethel Rosenberg and the Hollywood Ten are highlighted, illustrating the human cost of McCarthyism.

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The Red Scare and the Hollywood Blacklist: Insights into America's Fear of Communism

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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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