blacklist

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.

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. 

Marsha Hunt, the longest-lived of the 41 women listed in Red Channels in 1950, died last week. 

Along with Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Danny Kaye, John Huston, and Katherine Hepburn, Hunt joined the Committee for the First Amendment, a group the grew out of attacks on the Hollywood writers, producers, and directors who became known as the Hollywood Ten and challenged the House Un-American Activities Committee's attacks on progressives in the film industry.

A nice tribute to Judy Holliday, by film and video archivist and appraiser Audrey Kupferberg! Holliday was born 100 years ago today, and died tragically young of cancer, at the age of 44. 

A Terrible Silence focuses on five of the 41 women who were blacklisted in television in 1950. The play tells something of their lives, their dreams, their prolific talents and their silencers. 

Listen to this Studio 360 interview with actress Uta Hagen--great material on her commitment to civil rights. She was one of the youngest to be blacklisted in 1950.

World premiere of Ordinary Americans, about radio and TV superstar Gertrude Berg this month in West Palm Beach Florida.

Bonus article below about the incredible Gertrude Berg.

Next week at SUNY Plattsburgh, a two night event about the brilliant Uta Hagen, titled "The Artistry and Politics of Uta Hagen--A Centennial Celebration of Her Life." You can listen to a piece about the event here.