Reading a new Wiki entry on Otto Preminger, described as "the classic author and director par excellence, master of precision and finesse, sometimes tyrannical sometimes engaging on his sets, fervent defender of democracy and always in conflict with established conventions," I couldn't help think about Vera Caspary's experiences with him.

The New Yorker just reviewed Paramount+'s new streaming series, Fellow Travelers. I'm so glad to see more media about the blacklist era, especially stories that explore the sordidness of anti-communists like Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn (who were front men for a dense network of gossips and homophobes). 

Barry Levitt writes about blacklisted writer Lillian Hellman's prescient The Children's Hour--a play that as he puts it, shows that the "grooming" narrative has deep roots in US culture. You can see the chilling trailer for William Wyler's film version here. 

You can read an excerpt from Donald Bogle's new book on Lena Horne in The Hollywood Reporter. And if you haven't already, read his groundbreaking Brown Sugar: Over One Hundred Years of America's Black Female Superstars as well.

Finally--a book about Hannah Weinstein, who hired and supported blacklisted writers like Joan LaCour Scott, Adrian Scott, and Ring Lardner, and introduced the costume drama craze to England that influenced a generation of filmmakers (and comedians, like Monty Python). See this article about Julia Bricklin's just published Red Sapphire.

Choreographer, dancer, teacher, and activist Helen Tamiris recently received a posthumous award from Dance Magazine, honoring "the artistry, integrity, and resilience that dance artists" have exhibited. Born Helen Becker, she took the name Tamiris for the Massagetaen queen Tomyris, who defeated and killed Cyrus the Great and his invading army in 530 BCE.

Great to see the inimitable Hazel Scott getting a shout-out in Teen Vogue! Scott was a jazz pianist, performer, and media royalty of her time. Unlike traditional royalty, she was also a powerful voice for change before being blacklisted. 

Great piece on Shirley Graham's opera, Tom-Tom, and other works by Black women composers.

Great article by Jacobin's Eileen Jones on Vera Caspary and the impact of anti-communism on film and television (grateful for the shout out to The Broadcast 41!).