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3478 COMMUNISM IN HOLLYWOOD MOTION-PICTURE INDUSTRY Mr. Tavenner. At page 3, did you say ? Mr. Odets. I didn't mention the pages. Mr. Tavenner. Well, at page 5, February 20, 1935—well, at any rate, that is February of 1935. When was the play produced ? Mr. Odets. I would think that this was a review of the first produc- tion of it. Mr. Tavenner. And when was the first production ? Mr. Odets. Well, I would say from this date it was some time early in February of 1935. Mr. Tavenner. Well, now, the same reviewer, in the issue of Janu- ary 12, 1935, which is some time earlier than the one you referred to, had this to say: Propelled by his burning revolutionary fervor, and by an essentially clear guiding idea, this young playwright swept the audience off its feet by the sheer power and sincerity of dramatic utterance which was amplified and given vibrant resonance by the magnificent performance of the Group Theater players. In the issue of January 5,1935, the same reviewer, that is Nathaniel Buchwald, does criticize certain technical matters which he set forth, but he also says this. He concedes that Odets will learn and that he is splendidly equipped for a young revolutionary dramatist, and that the play is— A high watermark of revolutionary drama and probably the most effective agit- prop play written in this country thus far. Now, that is a very high commendation, is it not, of your work ? Mr. Odets. I think so; yes, sir. Mr. Tavenner. Particularly from the Communist standpoint. Now r what is meant by agit-prop play, when he says it is a most effective agit-prop play ? Mr. Odets. Agit-prop is short for the phrase agitational propa- ganda. (Representative John S. Wood left the room at this point.) Mr. Tavenner. Though he criticized certain technical aspects of your plays, would you not say that at that time, in January of 1935,. that the Communist Party was very enhtusiastic about Waiting for Lefty? Mr. Odets. Yes; I remember telling you distinctly in our last meet- ing that they were delighted with the play. I was very clear to make the points that they thought it was a wonderful play. If I had to hazard a guess about what would happen, it would be that a reviewer would set down what he thought about the play, and then someone else in the Communist Party would say, "Look, don't you be so harsh with him. You better write another review and take that back. We can't afford to lose that fellow." This would be my idea. Mr. Tavenner. This one of January 5, 1935, was the first ? Mr. Odets. Well, I have one here of February 1935. Mr. Tavenner. January 12 is earlier. Mr. Odets. Fortunately all of the others I have dated exactly on the exact date. (Representative John S. Wood reentered the room at this point.) Mr. Tavenner. I find the New Masses review in its issue of Janu- ary 29, 1935, in which Joshua Kunitz was reviewer, also published a, review of your work. Are you acquainted with Joshua Kunitz ? Mr. Odets. I know the name.