On this day in Labor History the year was 1947 that was the day that the US House of Representatives found ten Hollywood writers and directors in contempt for their alleged ties to Communism.
The decision was based on the House Un-American Activities Committee’s finding the ten to be in contempt the week before.
More than forty screenwriters, directors and producers were brought before the committee to testify about allegations of rampant Communist activities in the movie-making industry.
During the Cold War fear of Communism reached a fevered pitch.
This included the fear that Communists were infiltrating Hollywood to spread their message to the public through the movies.
Ten refused to answer the committee’s questions or to name names of other potential Communists.
Each of the ten was fined $1,000, sentenced to a year in prison, and blacklisted from working in Hollywood.
Perhaps the most well-known of the ten was one of Hollywood’s leading screenwriters, Dalton Trumbo.
He served 11 months in federal prison for refusing to cooperate with House Un-American Activities Committee.
While he was blacklisted he wrote the screen play for Roman Holiday, the romantic film starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn.
Since Trumbo could not take credit for the film, another screenwriter friend put his name on it.
Roman Holiday won the 1953 Academy Award for best screenplay.
Three years later another Trumbo script, The Brave One also received the Academy Award.
Finally, in 1960 Trumbo worked on Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed film Spartacus.
Kubrick refused to remove Trumbo from the credits—busting the blacklist.
In 2015, actor Bryan Cranston starred in a film about Trumbo’s life.
During the House Un-American Activities Committee’s hearings, the Screen Actors Guild passed a resolution that members had to disavow any ties to the Communist Party.
They also elected actor Ronald Regan president of their union.
March 20 - Another Deadly Explosion
March 19 - Wartime President Pushes for Labor Peace
March 18 - Wartime Workers Betrayed
March 17 - The Hoggs Hollow Tragedy
March 16 - Big Bill Haywood Talks General Strike
March 15 - The Grapes of Wrath Opens in Theaters
March 14 - Remembering Walter Crane
March 13 - Ending Jim Crow on the Job
March 12 - OSHA Safety Incentives
March 11 - Raising Conditions for an Industry
March 10 - Radium Girls
March 9 - Striking the Mines
March 8 - IBEW Strikes to Win
March 7 - Work Faster! Work Faster!
March 6 - International Unemployed Day
March 5 -Lordstown Syndrome
March 4 - Mismanagement Kills an Airline
March 3 - Wildcat Strikes Hit Chrysler and Briggs
March 2 - Greyhound Bus Strike Begins
March 1 - The Hoover Dam Goes Public
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