Communist infiltration of Hollywood motion-picture industry : hearing before the Committee on Un-American activities, House of Representatives, Eighty-second Congress, first session (1951)

104 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Tavenner. Yes. Now he testified before this committee with regard to the Laboratory Theater as follows: Well, in the old days we used to have youngsters who had a chance to study to become actors and actresses through the stock companies. Every city had two or three stock companies. But now most of them have been eliminated. They have to go to these schools. They put on plays. They get parts. They study and become efficient, and we see them in the theaters or see them in some Pasadena Playhouse or something like that. But the Laboratory Theater I think is definitely under the control of the Communist Party and the people that teach there. Any kid that goes in there with American ideals hasn't a chance in the world. Do you agree with his statement ? Mr. Parks. I disagree with this emphatically. I disagree with it emphatically. Mr. Tavenner. But do you agree that Mr. Wood is a man or honor and integrity? Mr. Parks. I agree that Mr. Wood is a man that turned out many fine motion pictures. I don't know the gentleman. I never knew him, and I don't recall ever having met him. But I disagree with this emphatically. Mr. Tavenner. But do you still feel that in light of that testimony regarding Mr. Wood you should be the judge as to whether or not you testify as to who were connected with the theater Mr. Parks. No. At no time did I say that I was to be the judge. I was explaining my position to you. I have opened myself to you. And I am asking you gentlemen to be the judge, because this is not my duty here. I am a witness. You gentlemen must be the judge of this. Mr. Tavenner. But you see there is a vast difference apparently be- tween your opinion of the activities of that organization and the opinion of others who have testified before this committee. Mr. Parks. Well, let me tell you then about the activities of this organization, and then you form your own opinion. This I think would be the only fair thing to do. Mr. Tavenner. Proceed. Mr. Parks. The activities of the Lab I think were admirable. I didn't happen to agree with certain of the objectives from a profes- sional point of view. This was my disagreement. The work of the Lab I think has been very fine. I think that from a standpoint of-— Mr. Wood was quite correct when he said that there is no place, hardly, today where an actor can get his training as he used to, except nowa- days recently the summer theaters have come up. I feel that the Actors' Lab as a training ground for actors was prob- ably the finest of its kind, with the finest courses and the finest direc- tors. It had the cream of the talent appearing on its stages and for the Army. I personally, for instance, appeared in three shows that we toured all over the Army camps, like T'iree ir en on a Horse, Arsenic and Old Lace, Kiss and Tell. They had the greatest casts. You couldn't possibly have afforded these kinds of casts on Broadway. No producer could be this rich. Because these people from the bits to the starring parts were giving of their time. These are the reasons. I think the record of the lab speaks for itself as far as its activities are concerned and the good that it has done. And I can't prove to you that it was a good acting school. This is impossible. But in my opinion as an actor, this was a fine acting school.