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The House Committee on Un-American Activities' Entertainment Hearings and Their Effects on Performing Arts Careers

Whitlatch, Michael D.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048513763

Abstract Details

1977, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, Communication Studies.
The House Committee on Un-American Activities conducted a series of nine hearings during the years 1947-1958 to investigate the motion-picture industry and the professional theatre. This study examined those hearings and the entertainment industry's reactions to them, and the pre-and post-hearing careers of the people who testified before the Committee. The main focus of the dissertation was the investigation of the possibility that certain individuals in the performing arts suffered financially and professionally because of the nature of their testimonies, while others did not. A detailed examination of the complete transcripts of the Committee's hearings, the Committee's annual reports, and published books and articles on the Committee provided the necessary background material. Film, television, and theatre periodicals and directories; newspaper accounts; and information acquired from a questionnaire, taped interviews, and personal correspondence furnished the data regarding the industry's reactions and the careers of the witnesses. In light of its designated purpose, the Committee failed to complete its task; no legislation was ever produced as a result of the entertainment hearings. Those witnesses who cooperated with the Committee by volunteering names and/or information regarding Communism in Hollywood and New York were able to continue their careers in films, television, and theatre. The witnesses who chose not to volunteer information or answer questions experienced career setbacks, financial difficulties, and personal crises as a result of their uncooperative Committee appearances. The response by the motion- picture and television industries to the hearings involved the blacklisting of employees, the establishment of "clearance" systems, and the production of a series of anti-Communist films. The professional theatre, however, was relatively unaffected by the hearings and continued to employ those whom the Committee considered to have questionable political affiliations.
Norman Myers (Advisor)
Communication

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Whitlatch, M. D. (1977). The House Committee on Un-American Activities' Entertainment Hearings and Their Effects on Performing Arts Careers [Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048513763

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Whitlatch, Michael. The House Committee on Un-American Activities' Entertainment Hearings and Their Effects on Performing Arts Careers. 1977. Bowling Green State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048513763.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Whitlatch, Michael. "The House Committee on Un-American Activities' Entertainment Hearings and Their Effects on Performing Arts Careers." Doctoral dissertation, Bowling Green State University, 1977. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1566463048513763

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1566463048513763
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