Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1947)

We may not have been very smart in the way we did things, may have been dopes in some people’s eyes, but we were American dopes! Actors and actresses always go overboard about things. Perhaps that’s why we play benefit shows night after night, why we contribute money so freely to causes we believe just and good, why we volunteer our time and services to help sell bonds or just sell America to the rest of the world. So why is it that as loyal American citizens and taxpayers, we shouldn’t raise our voices in protest at something we believe to be wrong? It was our belief, and it still is, that the House Committee easily could have identified the very small percentage of Communists in Hollywood through the r^ords of the FBI. There was no necessity for the vaudeville show — the Klieg lights, newsreels, coast to coast radio broadcasts — and the dirtying of many good names with no right to speak in their own defense. Honest Infun’ •• . WHY single out Hollywood? As Bob Montgomery and Ronald Reagan said, we have a minute percentage of Commies, but they are under control. Why didn’t Washington single out the auto industry, the coal industry or the Newspatier Guild? Why smear Hollywood? It seems to me that the thing to be kept in mind is this: On the left, in America, we have the Communists, not many, but tightly organized. On the right, we have the bulk of our population, who believe with me, that cures can be effected within the framework of our democracy. In the middle, however, there are a great many Americans, liberal in thought, who are stoned by the unthinking, who don’t realize that these liberal-minded folks are pure Americans. Let’s realize that these liberals are devoted to our democracy. Let us trust that what happened to us, in Washington, does not discourage actors and actresses from taking active, constructive interest in our form of government. It would be tragic, if, because circumstantial evidence created the wrong impression at Washington, actors should withdraw to the political sidelines. 'That would be downright cowardice. So long as we are opposed completely to Communism and do not permit ourselves to be used as dupes by Commie organizations, we can still function as thoughtful American citizens. In the final analysis, this House Committee probe has had one salutary effect. It cleared the air by indicating what a minute number of Commies there really are in the film industry. Though headlines may have screamed of the Red menace in movies, all the wind and fury actually proved that there’s been no Communism injected on America’s movie screens. As I said, I’m no Communist. If you thought so, you were dead wrong. But, brother, in this democracy, no one’s going to shoot you for having thought so! The End ^’^REAL LIFE . . . CONDENSED INTO 25 THRILLING MINUTES’^ Listen every day to "MY TRUE STORY" A complete drama every morning, Monday through Friday. American Broadcasting Stations 10:00 EST 11:30 mST 9:00 CST 10:30 PST ''RC tastes best!" says WANDA HENDRIX See her in "MY OWN TRUE 1 A Paramount Picture WANDA TAKING THE FAMOUS TASTE-TEST "The taste-test proved It beyond any doubt!" says pretty Wanda Hendrix. “I tried the leading colas in paper cups, then picked one as best-tasting. It turned out to be Royal Crown Cola— so I’ve been serving it in my home ever since!” Yes, only RC gives you all three: 1. Cool refreshment! 2. Two full glasses in each bottle! 3. Best by taste-test quality! r 87