November 25th

On this day – 25th November 1947 – The first systematic Hollywood blacklist was instituted.

The Hollywood blacklist was a part of the anti-communism, or red scare, in the US. Hollywood members who committed to, or were assumed too, having been a part of the communist party was denied entertainment job in Hollywood, and thus they carer suffered.

The first names on the list were mentioned in a column called "A vote fore Stalin" and it was published by William R. Wilkerson. Wilkerson published new names in August and September and the list became known as "Billy's list" or "Billy's blacklist. Years later in 2012, Wilkerson's son apologized for the part the newspaper played. He said his father was driven by revenge since he could not realize his ambition to own a studio. On the 24th of November were ten Hollywood members held in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify. They were collectively known as the Hollywood 10. They had relied on the right of freedom of speech and on freedom of thought, but their defence failed. They were sentenced to jail for between 6 months and one year, and fined for up too 1000$. On the 25th of November were therefore the first systematic blacklist in Hollywood instituted. It was not illegal to be a member of the communist party, and today the whole investigation can be said to have been questionable. In general, the whole "McChartyism", or scare for communism in the US at the time can be said to have been rather questionable. Although, perhaps not Americas proudest part of history, it is however, we believe, an important part of history which should not be forgotten about.

The blacklist lasted until 1960 when Dalton Trumbo, a Communist Party member from 1943 to 1946, was credited as screenwriter in the film Exodus.

The Hollywood Ten