Shocking Exhibit Unveiled: The Hollywood Ten Blacklist Scandal Explained!

Many have drawn parallels between the second Trump administration and the rise of 1930s Nazi Germany. However, a more fitting comparison might be with the Red Scare in post-World War II America. A new exhibition at New York Historical, titled Blacklisted, examines the lives of the Hollywood Ten, a group of entertainment professionals who suffered greatly during the communist witch hunts, with repercussions that lasted for decades. The exhibition highlights unsettling similarities to the political persecutions occurring in the US today.

“Television was just starting to gain influence at this time,” noted Anne Lessy, the assistant curator responsible for organizing the exhibition. “There was significant concern about the power of these mass entertainment mediums, partly because they had been so effectively used for propaganda during the Second World War. Many of those who were blacklisted had been instrumental in those efforts,” she added.

Lessy also pointed out that along with the growing influence of television, there were severe backlashes against increasing equality, which fueled racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism. Opportunistic politicians exploited these societal divisions, targeting the Hollywood elite as a means to further their careers.

“Targeting these individuals was a way to significantly boost your political career,” Lessy explained. “A young congressman at the time, Richard Nixon, was a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and within a few years, he was elected as a senator from California, and shortly after, as vice-president. It clearly became a stepping stone for many ambitious politicians.”

The exhibition Blacklisted delves into the poignant histories of various Americans, including the Hollywood Ten—screenwriters and directors held in contempt of Congress for their refusal to answer HUAC’s inquiries. Conceived initially by the Jewish Museum Milwaukee in 2018, its relevance has only grown amid increasing political tensions and censorship in the US.

Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of New York Historical, remarked that discovering the Blacklisted exhibition was an eye-opener. “A member brought it to our attention after seeing it at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles a few years ago. Even then, we were beginning to see a surge in censorship of school library books and school curricula across the country. The theme of blacklisting seemed very timely and critical for our audience,” she said.

One key figure highlighted in Blacklisted is Dalton Trumbo, an acclaimed screenwriter known for films like Roman Holiday and Spartacus. Trumbo was forced to work under pseudonyms due to his blacklisting, and he could not claim credit for his award-winning contributions until many years later. “Many screenwriters were compelled to use fictitious names or surrogates,” Lessy commented, noting that it wasn’t until the 1980s and 90s that many received proper credit for their work.

The repercussions for blacklisted writers and actors were severe, extending well beyond their professional lives. The exhibition includes the unemployment benefits application of actor Madeleine Lee, whose career was decimated by the witch hunts. “These artists struggled to make ends meet, and the impacts were often felt for decades. Even into the 80s and 90s, many were still not receiving accurate pensions, and films continued to credit an alias or front,” Lessy explained.

Despite such persecution, the blacklisted Hollywood community showed remarkable resilience. They leaned on community support and continued their creative endeavors outside the mainstream film industry. The New York theater scene, which never formally adopted a blacklist, served as a vital refuge, according to Lessy. “Actors’ Equity was one of the few entertainment unions to pass a resolution against blacklisting,” she noted.

Blacklisted also examines the adaptation of the book The World of Sholom Aleichem into a popular stage production, which later made its way to prime-time television. “This adaptation of a Russian-Jewish folktale became incredibly popular and was staffed largely by blacklisted personnel,” Lessy added.

The exhibition also examines how New York provided a crucial lifeline for playwrights like Arthur Miller and Lillian Hellman, who were blacklisted from Hollywood. “Their undeniable talent continued to shine on the New York stage,” said Lessy.

Ultimately, the pushback from ordinary citizens played a key role in curbing the powers of HUAC. Lessy highlighted the 1957 Supreme Court case, Watkins v United States, where labor organizer John Watkins successfully challenged the committee’s overreach. “It’s inspiring that the legal constraints on HUAC were significantly championed by an ordinary person standing up against them,” she remarked. Further rulings continued to limit Congress’s ability to persecute individuals, providing hope for moderating abuses of power and preventing further political witch hunts.

• Blacklisted: An American Story is on display at the New York Historical until October 19.