Linda J. Alexander http://www.lindajalexander.net
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Glenda:
You have some politically-active favorites!
Bette Davis: she & actor, John Garfield (a notable part of Hollywood's HUAC, Communist period), joined together to form the Hollywood Canteen. This became even more politically-involved because not only was it part of the WWII effort, Bette Davis was instrumental in the fight to allow African American soldiers free & unfettered access to such places. She also made sure they had the freedom to dance w/white partners, should they so desire.
Joan Crawford: Donated portions of her income to pay for medical assistance for underpriveleged people. For years she financially supported a medical ward at a local hospital. Every piece of fan mail she received was answered -- if not by her, then by her assistants. In fact, in 1928, when she first became known on screen in "Our Dancing Daughters," she personally answered each letter, stamped the letters & drove them to the post office to mail.
http://jayspace.wordpress.com/tag/star-of-the-month/page/2/
Katherine Hepburn: The studio system successfully contained Kate Hepburn's political forwardness. During the HUAC period, she stepped back from her political positions because of the hard-line contract system. October 20, 1947, she was denounced by HUAC along with others as a "left wing sympathizer." There were generally known to be 3 groups during this period: Friendly Witnesses (Robert Taylor was one), Unfriendly Witnesses, & Liberals opposed to the Hearing -- Katherine Hepburn was part of the 3rd.
http://www.terramedia.co.uk/Chronomedia/years/1947.htm
http://web.syr.edu/~dwdeacon/Truman.pdf
Jimmy Stewart: Communists working as writers & directors attempted to color "red" many a film during the HUAC period. Lines deeply embedded in one of our country's most famous holiday films, "It's A Wonderful Life," and given to Jimmy Stewart to emote, failed to take away the "milk glass" image of sweetness and light and love. As late as 1987, Jimmy Stewart lobbied against film colorization for Screen Actors Guild.
http://www.wbai.org/artman/publish/article_686.php
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=guildawards2001&nav=news&content=story&articleID=VR1117794989
Humphrey Bogart: Oh, Humphrey Bogart! HE had a notable part in the HUAC era. He and wife, Lauren Bacall, led a group of Hollywood liberals called the “Committee for the First Amendment”. This bunch, including John Huston, William Wyler, Gene Kelly, went to Washington in support of the now-infamous "Hollywood Ten," another group of Hollywood-ites, subpoenaed to appear in front of the HUAC committee in 1947. The Hollywood Ten had made it known they'd be "unfriendly witnesses," & Bogart & his group intended to support their right to free speech. It all backfired, though. Bogart's group were appalled at how they reacted, the histrionics displayed, the ways they harangued committee members in front of the TV cameras. His group returned to Hollywood, & Bogart wrote an article for the March 1948 issue of Photoplay magazine titled "I'm No Communist." He claimed he'd been "duped." The trip had been "ill-advised."
Hmmm. . . . So much good stuff here! I'm going to have to continue tomorrow, if you're still interested.
Blessings -- Linda
Linda J. Alexander, Books For The Thinking Reader
http://www.lindajalexander.net
http://www.authorsden.com/lindajalexander
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