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

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COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY 1469 Mr. Tavenner. Well, now, tell us more about your duties as a collector. Mrs. Ashe. Well, my duties were—I had a list of people who con- tributed each month, and I contacted them at a place that they desig- nated, picked up the money, gave them a receipt always made out to a name that would be comparable to a party name. I mean, their own name never went on a receipt, but they received a receipt that had the party seal on it, and I brought the money into the office. Mr. Tavenner. When was this? Mrs. Ashe. In 1934. Mr. Tavenner. What territory or area did you perform those serv- ices in ? Mrs. Ashe. Well, Los Angeles, Hollywood, a time or two I even went down to Malibu Beach. It was southern California,—I mean, it was the Los Angeles area. Mr. Tavenner. Did you seek contributions from persons engaged in the moving-picture industry? Mrs. Ashe. There were a few; yes. Mr. Tavenner. In receiving those donations, did the donor under- stand the purpose for which the money was being given? Mrs. Ashe. Yes; they understood it perfectly. Mr. Tavenner. They understood that it was for the Communist Party? Mrs. Ashe. Yes; they understood that. Mr. Tavenner. And you gave them receipts in fictitious names? Mrs. Ashe. That's correct. Mr. Tavenner. Can you give us the names at this time of persons in the industry—moving-picture industry? Mrs. Ashe. Well, I can only give you a few, because my memory isn't good on it. J. Sanders was on my list. That is Lionel Stander, as he is known professionally. Mr. Tavenner. How frequently did he make contributions? Mrs. Ashe. Once a month. I know he used to complain because he said he was a fatted cow for the party, and that was all. Mr. Tavenner. He was what? Mrs. Ashe. A fatted cow. He was making a lot of money. Mr. Tavenner. Well, were these special contributions or were they dues ? Mrs. Ashe. No ; they were not dues. They were voluntary contri- butions to the Communist Party for use in party work. Mr. Tavenner. Did you receive donations from persons who were not members of the party? Mrs. Ashe. Well, at the time I was collecting from Mr. Stander we didn't know he was a party member. Mr. Tavenner. How is that? Mrs. Ashe. We didn't know he was a party member at that time. Mr. Tavenner. Yes. Mrs. Ashe. This was before Z-100 and Z-150 were organized. Mr. Tavenner. It was after that that he became a member of the Communist Party Cell Z-100? Mrs. Ashe. Yes, that's correct. Mr. Tavenner. Who else in the industry did you receive donations from?