The Red Scare & Why It Matters Today

During my research for these articles, I’m often reminded of the terrible treatment some of our most beloved classic movie stars endured during the 1950s era of what became known as ‘McCarthyism”.

mccarthyism, the red scare, classic movie stars, old hollywood

In the early 1950s, American politicians were feverishly telling the public they should be fearful of the dreaded Communist influence in their lives.

Communists could be lurking anywhere, they said. They could be your neighbors.

Or perhaps your school teachers or college professors.

They could be president of the PTA, even artists, or God forbid – journalists.

Of course, the fear our dear leaders were trying to beat into us was all about saving us from the agenda for world Communist domination.

This paranoia about the Communist threat to take over America—which is now known as The Red Scare—reached a fever pitch between 1950 and 1954.

Senator Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin, was a Republican and the spearhead of The Red Scare.

To put an end to the scourge of rising Communism, McCarthy lead a series of highly publicized probes into alleged Communist infiltration of the State Department, the White House, the Treasury, and even the US Army.

There were 100s of actors, screenwriters, producers and directors from Hollywood who were forced to take the stand in front of Congress. They were then expected to implicate themselves or name names.

Sometimes, testifying to overhearing someone casually discussing Communism could brand them a potential traitor and someone to be scrutinized by the FBI and others.

Here is a shortened list of Hollywood creatives that include some huge names. One of which was Judy Holliday who is featured in June’s Body House Chronicles.

This was called The Black List…

(An abbreviated list)

Paul Draper, actor and dancer*^[94]
Sheridan Gibney, screenwriter^[95]
Paul Green, playwright and screenwriter^[96]
Lillian Hellman, playwright and screenwriter*^[97]
Canada Lee, actor^[98]
Paul Robeson, actor and singer^[99]
Edwin Rolfe, screenwriter and poet^[100]
Richard Wright, writer^[96]

Larry Adler, actor and musician

Stella Adler, actress and teacher

Edith Atwater, actress

*Leonard Bernstein, composer and conductor***

Paul Draper, actor and dancer
Howard Duff, actor

*José Ferrer, actor***

John Garfield, actor
Will Geer, actor
Jack Gilford, actor and comedian
Tom Glazer, folk singer
Ruth Gordon, actress and screenwriter
Lloyd Gough, actor
Morton Gould, pianist and composer
Shirley Graham, writer
Ben Grauer, radio and TV personality

*Uta Hagen, actress and teacher***

Lillian Hellman, playwright and screenwriter

Judy Holliday, actress and comedian

*Lena Horne, singer and actress***

Langston Hughes, writer
Marsha Hunt, actress
Leo Hurwitz, director

Burl Ives, folk singer and actor

Gypsy Rose Lee, actress and *ecdysiast***

*Burgess Meredith, actor***

*Arthur Miller, playwright***

Henry Morgan, actor
Zero Mostel, actor and comedian
Jean Muir, actress
Meg Mundy, actress
Dorothy Parker, screenwriter
Arnold Perl, producer and writer
Minerva Pious, actress
Samson Raphaelson, screenwriter and playwright
Anne Revere, actress
Kenneth Roberts, writer
Earl Robinson, composer and lyricist

*Edward G. Robinson, actor***

William N. Robson, radio and TV writer
Harold Rome, composer and lyricist
Norman Rosten, writer
Selena Royle, actress

*Artie Shaw, jazz musician***

*Fredi Washington, actor***

Margaret Webster, actress, director and producer

*Orson Welles, actor, writer and director***

*Richard Attenborough, actor, director and producer***

Orson Bean, actor^[107]

Harry Belafonte, actor and singer^[108]

Barbara Bel Geddes, actress^[109]

*Charlie Chaplin, actor, director and producer***

During Eisenhower’s first two years in office, McCarthy was such a vocal influence that it created tremendous tension within the White House and across the country.

No one dared disagree with McCarthy for fear of being labeled a “Commy-lover.”

My main reason for bringing this to your attention is the disturbingly similar tactics and attitudes used by today’s powers-that-shouldn’t-be.

And let’s be honest….

Our government has now pushed the US toward the brink of Communism. What we are living with today, 2024, makes The Red Scare look like child’s play.

Below is what McCarthy said in the 1950’s;

“Any man who has been named by either a senator or a committee or a congressman as dangerous to the welfare of this nation, his name should be submitted to the various intelligence units, and they should conduct a complete check upon him. It’s not too much to ask.”

Senator Joseph McCarthy, 1953

This is already happening, to millions of us, daily.

We are all surveilled, this we know, but a good chunk are being looked into more closely.

However, then there is the group of people who are never left alone by our government. Their every move is monitored and actions taken against them in response to those movements.

Communism’s main tenant is taking our right to own property away from us.

What have we heard over the last several years?

“You’ll own nothing and be happy.”

Perhaps the biggest irony here is that this has absolutely nothing to do with Communism. Not in the 1950s and not now.

It’s all about control.

If you’re here on and have read this far, then you’re one of the dissenters, the rebels, and the errants who are throwing a monkey wrench into this ridiculous plan…