From the People’s World archives comes this story by Daily Worker reporter Harry Raymond about the creation of the “Hollywood Blacklist.” On Nov. 25, 1947, the top executives of the American movie industry met in New York and decided to launch an anti-communist purge of the silver screen.
With ten of Hollywood’s most successful writers, directors, and producers held in contempt of Congress by the House Un-American Activities Committee for refusing to answer questions about their personal political opinions, the studio bosses caved to right-wing Cold War pressure and fired “the 10.”
But the Hollywood executives went further, creating a blacklist of workers whom they all collectively pledged not to hire until they declared themselves not to be Communists. Only one of the Hollywood 10 gave in; Edward Dmytryk admitted in 1950 that he had once been a member of the Communist Party and gave evidence against others. The other nine remained silent and paid the price, being unable to work for years.
A stain on the history of U.S. democracy and the country’s entertainment industry to this day, the blacklist would remain in force until around 1960. The following article by Harry Raymond appeared in the Nov. 26, 1947, edition of Daily Worker. He cornered some of the studio executives at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York as they exited their meeting and put their words on record.
Movie Moguls Launch Purge of Industry
Film ‘10’ Plan Court Fight on Moguls’ Edict
Daily Worker | Nov. 26, 1947
By Harry Raymond
NEW YORK—A sweeping purge of the motion picture industry, under the guise of anti-communism, including immediate discharge without compensation of the 10 Hollywood writers, directors, and producers who defied the political witch-hunt of the House Un-American Committee, was launched yesterday by movieland’s top brass.
Fifty film moguls, representing the entire industry, wound up a two-day meeting in the Waldorf-Astoria with a public declaration that they will not only fire the 10 but will keep them on a blacklist until they are acquitted of contempt by the Un-American Committee or have purged themselves and declare under oath they are not Communists.
The movie magnates further pledged they will “not knowingly employ a Communist or a member of any party or group which advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States by force or by any illegal or unconstitutional means.”
Demand Congress act
They called on Congress to enact legislation to assist American industry to rid itself of what they termed “subversive, disloyal elements.”
Announcement of the Hollywood purge was made public by Eric Johnston, president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers. Donald M. Nelson, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, concurred in the action for his group. Dore Schary, production chief for RKO Pictures, who had told the Un-American committee he would not fire a man because he was a Communist, said he would go along with the decision.
“The decision was unanimous,” said Schary as he left the Waldorf-Astoria’s Le Perroquet Room where the meeting was held. “What I told the committee was my own personal view. However, I stated that the ultimate policy would have to be made by the president of RKO. That policy has now been established. As an employee of the company, I will abide by the decision.
Doesn’t know how
An unidentified movie boss hurrying from the meeting was asked ho the industry would carry out the purge. “I’ll be damned if I know,” he barked as he pushed through a crowd of reporters.
Johnston said the movie financiers and executives “deployed the action” of the 10 Hollywood men cited for contempt of Congress. He stated, “We do not desire to prejudge their legal rights, but their actions have been a disservice to their employers and have impaired their usefulness to the industry.
“We will forthwith discharge or suspend without compensation those in our employ, and we will not re-employ any of the 10 until such time as he is acquitted or has purged himself of contempt and declares under oath that he is not a Communist,” Johnston declared.
The 10 singled out for dismissal are Albert Malz, writer; Adrian Scott, producer; Edward Dmytryk, director; Dalton Trumbo, Samuel Ornitz, John Howard Lawson, Herbert Biberman, Lester Cole, Alvah Bessie, and Ring Lardner, Jr., writers.
To use blacklist
Although an atmosphere of jittery secrecy surrounded the meeting, Johnston said the movie men would not be swayed by “hysteria or intimidation” in carrying out their plans.
He admitted that the policy “involves dangers and risks” and that there was a danger of “hurting innocent people.” The Hollywood talent guilds, he said, will be invited to work with the producers to eliminate so-called subversives.
Johnston concluded by stating that “nothing subversive or un-American” has appeared on the American screen. He lauded the “patriotic services of the 30,000 loyal Americans employed in Hollywood.”
Among those present at the meeting were Samuel Goldwyn, Jack Warner, Spyros Skouras, L.B. Mayer, Barney Balaban, Nicholas Schenk, Henry Cohn, Gordon Youngman, J. Cheever Cowdin, Walter Wanger, James Grainger, William Levy, James M. Byrnes, and Paul McNutt.
The 10 movie workers cited for contempt of Congress said they would go to court to keep the producers from carrying out their announced intention to fire them.
“We will not voluntarily surrender our constitutional and legal rights,” they said in a joint statement. “As citizens and as workers in the motion picture industry, we will avail ourselves of the fullest possible legal action.”
The signers accused producers of being “stampeded” and rushing into action before their case has come before the courts.
“Loyalty and disloyalty are being posed as loyalty or disloyalty to the corrupt purposes of the House Un-American Committee rather than to the principles, practices, and traditions of the American people,” the statement said.
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