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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1500 COMMUNISM IN MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY picture called Crimson Canary and so, therefore, they put the title of Crimson Canary on the picture. Mr. Tavenner. Mr. Blankfort, I would like to ask you a few ques- tions regarding your possible association with certain organizations which have, from time to time, been cited by the Attorney General of the United States, or this committee, as being of a subversive charac- ter or as being Communist. Mr. Blankfort. This is your privilege, and while you are looking this up, Mr. Tavenner, as long as you brought up the lists cited by the Attorney General, I would like to point out that it is public knowledge that none of these organizations were entitled to a hearing. It is public knowledge that these were cited by the opinion of the Attorney General himself, and also, I believe, by the California Committee on Un-American Activities whose late chairman, Mr. Tenney, has now decided to try to legalize ghettos and segregation with another amend- ment to the Constitution. Mr. Tavenner. I show you a photostatic copy of a ballot for election of officers for the Hollywood Democratic Committee, dated July 26, 1944. The name of Henry Blankfort appears as a candidate on this ballot for the position of executive board member. Were you a candi- date for the executive board member ? Mr. Blankfort. I must refuseā€”I will refuse to answer this ques- tion on the grounds of the fifth amendment, because to answer this, in a sense, might tend to incriminate me. Mr. Tavenner. Was the Hollywood Democratic Committee an out- growth of the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League, to your knowledge? Mr. Blankfort. I must decline to answer this question, sir, on the same grounds. Mr. Tavenner. Did the Hollywood Democratic Committee become the Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions in July of 1943 ? Mr. Blankfort. I must decline to answer this question Mr. Tavenner. 1945. Mr. Blankfort. Sir, on the same grounds. Mr. Tavenner. I show you a photostatic copy on the letterhead of the Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions, dated December 10, 1946, and call your attention to the bottom of the letter where the members of the executive council are listed. I believe the name Henry Blankfort appears there. Were you a member of the executive council Mr. Blankfort. I must decline to answer this. Mr. Tavenner. Just a moment. Just a moment. Were you a mem- ber of the executive council of the Hollywood Independent Citizens Committee on the Arts, Sciences, and Professions as indicated by that letterhead ? Mr. Blankfort. I do decline to answer this question on the basis of the fifth amendment, and I would like to added at this time that I believe this committee's effort is to stifle all political opposition. Air. Tavenner. Mr. Blankfort, the committee has information that on February 5, 1945, you met in the home of Eichard Collins with certain other individuals to discuss the financial situation of the Communist Party in the motion-picture industry. Do you recall having attended such a meeting?