Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1940)

July 13, I 940 MOTION PICTU RE HERALD 31 Congressman Hits 'Red' Actors, They Demand Apology Actors who had asked Government aid for their unemployed were answered on Monday by Congressman Wm. P. Lambertson, Republican from Kansas, who charged that Communists rule them ; that they have had an opportunity to "clean house" since last Summer, but didn't use it; and that there would never be another Federal Theatre Project while "Red" rule lasted. Apologies Demanded His charge was inserted in the Congressional Record and carried by wire to the rest of the land, and immediately, there arose a clamor of counter charges and demands for apologies by some of the actors named as "Red." Mr. Lambertson's tenor of comment was an echo of that which rang through Congressional halls last spring, and which ended the WPA project. Congressmen at the time stepped past the New Deal tendencies of some of the plays by the project, and plunged into the deeper implications of Communist propaganda indicated by certain other plays presented by the project, and, more, by the affiliations and expressed opinions of some of the directors and personnel. Mr. Lambertson, in Monday's statement, said, "Deserving actors and actresses all over the country" were lacking, and would continue to lack, the benefits of a work relief unit such as the project, because the Communists had "taken over" key positions in the theatrical profession. "Seven Communists" are on the governing council of Actors' Equity, Mr. Lambertson charged, naming Sam Jaffe, Phillip Loeb, Emily Marsh, Hiram S. Sherman, Leroy Maclean, Edith L. Van Cleve, and Alan Hewitt. "Other key positions in the profession have been taken over by Communists," he continued. "George Heller is now executive secretary and treasurer of the Radio Actors Guild (sic). The new executive secretary of the American Guild of Variety Artists is Hoyt Haddock, a former C.I.O. organizer, of distinct Communist sympathies, whose appointment was protested by the American Federation of Labor." Mr. Lambertson described Mr. Jaffe, of Actors Equity as an "avowed Communist" ; cited his election to the unit's council "as recently as May 14th" in proof the actors were still as they were; and charged that Mr. Jaffe was elected "in preference to an outstanding American actress, Talullah Bankhead." It seemed to the Congressmen that the voting power in the Equity was now "in the hands of Communists and fellow travelers in the New York City area." Actors Reply From their New York posts, the actors named by Mr. Lambertson issued denials of his charges. For Actors Equity, Alfred Harding, editor of "Equity Magazine," replied that the seven persons called Communist by the Congressman had "neither by their speeches at Equity council meetings, nor by deeds outside of Equity activities" shown that they were Communists. He then pointed out that, even if the seven were Communists, there were 48 non-Communist members on the Council ; hence, the votes of the seven could not be presumed to govern the organization. Messrs. Jaffe, Loeb, and Sherman jointly told the newspapers, "It would be a cinch to prove the Congressman guilty of hysteria and inaccuracy. "The day that Congressman Lambertson has restored the Federal Theatre to full activity, we will resign from the council of Actors Equity," the statement from the three men said. Alan Hewitt denied that he is, or had been, a Communist, and asserted Mr. Lambertson was "day-dreaming." Bert Lytell, president of Equity, said Tuesday he would "welcome an investigation of Actors Equity." Th Equity Council on the same day adopted a resolution denying it was Communist. Few Closings in Kansas City Area Summer closings in the Kansas City area are fewer than in 10 years. This has been due not to good business but to cool weather, although theatre grosses would have been down further if the area had its normally hot summer. Receipts are off almost 25 per cent, and have been since early spring; yet prospects are better, since the wheat harvest in Kansas is greatly over expectation, and spending as the result of the defense program is expected eventually to aid general business conditions. Less than ten theatres have been closed for the summer so far. Fox Midwest is closing half a dozen secondary houses, two of them as of July 13th, which is much later than usual for these and the others. In a few country towns matinees on five week days are being eliminated for the summer. H. J. Griffith Theatres, Inc., closed the Carlton, Manhattan, Kan., earlier this spring, but this was not a summer closing; no other closings are planned. Commonwealth Theatres are not closing any. Herman Lee has closed the Lee at Hillsboro, Kan., for July. In Kansas City the Orpheum, RKO's first run, closed for the summer following roadshowing "All This, and Heaven Too."