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2092 COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Wheeler. Well, briefly. Mr. Shayne. The last 25 years—nearly 25 years—I have been an actor. Mr. Wheeler. Would you relate briefly what studios you have been under contract for. Mr. Shayne. The only studio I have been under contract for is Warner Bros. I came out here in February of 1943 under contract to them, and that contract was terminated in July 1945. I have been a free-lance actor ever since. Mr. Wheeler. Are vou presently employed ? Mr. Shayne. No. Well, I am and I am not. You cut me out of a job by subpenaing me today. Mr. Wheeler. Who is your agent? Mr. Shayne. Mr. Sam Armstrong. Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Shayne, during the investigation in Hollywood, information has been developed that you were at one time a member of the Communist Party. Is that a statement of fact? Mr. Shayne. One time a member ? Mr. Wheeler. Yes. Mr. Shayne. That is a statement of fact, yes. I was a member of the Communist Party back in 1935, if you want to call it that, in New York City during the depths of the depression. I was not a member any longer, I suppose, than—oh, a few weeks or a few months. In 1936 I tore up my card and never paid dues to the organization. I don't imagine I attended more than—oh, a half a dozen meetings. Mr. Wheeler. Are you a member of the Screen Actors' Guild? Mr. Shayne. That's correct. Mr. Wheeler. Did you ever hold any offices in the Screen Actors' Guild? Mr. Shayne. I was on the board of directors of the Screen Actors' Guild at one time. Mr. Wheeler. What year was that? You were appointed to the board on March 4, 1945; is that right? Mr. Shayne. Well, that sounds right. I am not sure. Mr. Wheeler. Then in September 1945, you ran for office and were elected to the board for a period of 1 year? Mr. Shayne. That sounds right, yes. Mr. Wheeler. All right. The following year you didn't run. Could you tell us why ? Mr. Shayne. I was not nominated by the nominating committee. Mr. Wheeler. Well, did you have any discussion with anybody in the Screen Actors' Guild that requested you not to run? Mr. Shayne. Requested me not to run ? Mr. Wheeler. That's right. Mr. Shayne. No. So far as I can recall, there was no request made for me not to run. No. Mr. Wheeler. Have you ever been a member of the Communist Party in Hollywood? Mr. Shayne. No, sir. Unqualifiedly, unequivocally, no, and I am not interested in becoming a member of the Communist Party at any time in the future. Mr. Wheeler. Well, let's go back to 1935. Will you relate the cir- cumstances, how you became a member.