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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2094 COMMUNISM IX HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Wheeler. Hollywood Motion Picture Democratic Committee ? Mr. Shayne. No, sir. Mr. Wheeler. Arts, Sciences, and Professions? Mr. Shayne. No, sir. Mr. Wheeler. People's Educational Center? Mr. Shayne. I went to school there once 3 or 4 years ago and took a screen-writing course, but that's all. Mr. Wheeler. Do you recall who the instructor was ? Mr. Shayne. No, sir, I don't. Mr. Wheeler. May we have a few minutes recess, Mr. Chairman? Mr. Jackson. Yes; declare a 5-minute recess. If you [addressing witness] will hold yourself available outside the committee room, please. (A short recess was taken.) Mr. Jackson. Mr. Shayne, you say that at the time of the service •of the subpena you had some work which was effective and that you were out of a job as a result of the service of this subpena ? Mr. Shayne. That's correct. Mr. Jackson. Where was that job? Mr. Shayne. I was employed at Superman Productions, television film over at the RKO-Pathe Studios. My producers told me that they asked for a postponement so that I could do the job yesterday, today, and tomorrow, but if they talked with someone it was declined. Mr. Wheeler. They didn't talk to me. Mr. Shayne. I might add that while you are asking me this, that I consider the way the subpena was served upon me as not in the best of, let us say, spirit. Mr. Jackson. We have tried serving subpenas in the best of spirit on a number of people. The next we hear of them they are in Mexico or France, or something. Mr. Shayne. Well, the point I want to make is that the subpena had my residence address on it. I could have been served out there just as easily without it being brought to such—the attention of studio employees, because the fact that a person is called before this committee, although they may be friendly or not, far too often is tantamount to being guilty of something or other, whatever that may be. Mr. Jackson. Well, of course, the assumption or any assumptions that are left in the minds of the American people as a refusal of witnesses to testify is a logical assumption and, more often than not, correct. At least, that has been our experience in the committee. We certainly have no desire to persecute or prosecute anyone. Mr. Shayne. I have no employment. Mr. Jackson. Instead of blaming the committee, I think a lot of the witnesses would be well advised to blame themselves for not look- ing around to see where they were going some years ago. However, that is not in line with the questioning I wanted to continue. You say that you don't know who recruited you into the party ? Mr. Shayne. I do not remember, no. Mr. Jackson. How many meetings did you attend during the course of time you were a member of the Communist Party? Mr. Shayne. I think I answered that. So far as I can recall, it must have been a half a dozen. Mr. Jackson. Where were these meetings held, Mr. Shayne ?